We have three laptops that connect wirelessly to the internet. One of the Dell's stopped connecting a couple days ago.
On the bottom right icon box, it says there are no connections available. However, when I go to the 'manage wireless connections' page, I can see the correct network. Once there, I can only look at the properties of the network, but not connect to it. Am I missing something really basic? Do I need to re-install from disk? The other two computers are working fine but I have little clue what to do for this one.
Thanks in advance as I know you Ws will show me something really simple to fix this!
Is it showing signal strength for the network when you can see it?
Check the wireless radio button on the laptop (its either a toggle switch on one side of the laptop somewhere, a button around the keyboard, or a function (Fn) on one of the keyboard keys). Look for the symbol of an antenna radiating waves.
If that is on, go into the windows network properties and see if you can switch whether windows is supposed to be controlling your wireless.
Originally posted by EddieBurkettIs it showing signal strength for the network when you can see it? Check the wireless radio button on the laptop (its either a toggle switch on one side of the laptop somewhere, a button around the keyboard, or a function (Fn) on one of the keyboard keys). Look for the symbol of an antenna radiating waves
If that is on, go into the windows network properties and see if you can switch whether windows is supposed to be controlling your wireless.
There is a kill switch on your laptop that turns off wireless. It's on the right side. It slides back and forth, and is red when the wireless is on (I think).
Find that switch and flip it to the other position.
It's possible that it was undone by some Windows updates. Sometimes the updates will update drivers and that might mess with your wireless.
If no other changes have been made to the laptop, you might try reverting to a restore point. That's not as invasive as it seems. Just make sure you don't have any vital programs or files that might be affected if you restore.
You can read up on it in the Action Center of your Control Panel.
Originally posted by Guru ZimThere is a kill switch on your laptop that turns off wireless. It's on the right side. It slides back and forth, and is red when the wireless is on (I think).
Find that switch and flip it to the other position.
I don't see anything like, Aaron. I even had my wife look because she knows I can't be trusted.
Originally posted by Guru ZimWhat model of Dell is it?
My last 3 Dell laptops from work have had this. It's a small slider on the right side near the USB ports normally
Inspiron 5110N
The control F2 doesn't fix the problem either.
If this is the problem, it's not Control F2, but Function F2. Function is the blue lettered button right next to Control.
If you're doing it right, the screen will display a wireless tower (if you've turned it on) or a wireless tower with a no circle (if you've turned it off.) Either way, you should see something on the screen if you've gotten the button combo to work.
No, it's function F2 and the little tower comes on saying that there is wireless. It's down on the tool bar where the signal strength is noted, it says there are no connections to be made. When you go to "manage wireless connections" it is there. Could this have anything to do with that malware crapola they were talking about hitting on Monday?
Try running the laptop "wired" to the router...if that works, then you are NOT affected by DNS changer.
My daughter's Dell netbook had a software piece that handled the network connections. I hated it, and disabled it...and nuked her WiFi. I had to restart the service to get her going.
I unfortunately don't know the name of the utility at the moment...I'm at work.
I'll have to look at it when I get home, but it's possible that this might be causing your issues as well.
I believe that it was a certain brand of WiFi adapter that used that utility.
Originally posted by piemanNo, it's function F2 and the little tower comes on saying that there is wireless. It's down on the tool bar where the signal strength is noted, it says there are no connections to be made. When you go to "manage wireless connections" it is there. Could this have anything to do with that malware crapola they were talking about hitting on Monday?
I considered that, but you reported having the problem before the government shut down the DNS changer servers, so it couldn't be that.
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
That the universe was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, I will no more believe than that the accidental jumbling of the alphabet would fall into a most ingenious treatise of philosophy - Swift
shhh - you're giving away my secret identity, Pieman.
Crap...
Try this set?
I disabled the N mode.
Windows 7.
1. Control Panel
2. Hardware and Sound
3. View Devices and Printers
4. I chose my Laptop (as my device)
5. Clicked on Hardware tab. (NOT the General tab)
6. Scrolled down to the "Intel Centrino Wireless - N 1030
7. I clicked on this one. Intel Centrino Wireless - N 1030
8. Now I am on the Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1030 Properties page.
9. Under the "General" tab, I clicked on the "Change Settings" box at the bottom of the page
10. On this new page, I clicked on the "Advanced" tab
11. In the "Property" box, I highlighted the" 802.11n Mode." In the box next to this, which is called "Value" I chose the "Disable" function.
12. Click OK at the bottom.
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
That the universe was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, I will no more believe than that the accidental jumbling of the alphabet would fall into a most ingenious treatise of philosophy - Swift
Between sometime in December, and a few weeks ago, my computer stopped assigning drive letter to my CF card reader. I thought it was maybe the reader, so I bought a new one. Still no luck.