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Question

Cannot enable WiFi adapter on laptop

Oct 3, 2015 6:48AM PDT

I have a laptop (Windows 7) on which I used to use the integrated WiFi adapter. For the past year I have been using ethernet (hard wired) connection on it. I want to use WiFi again, but am having problems.

Disconnected ethernet cable. Rebooted. Bottom right hand corner which shows WiFi signal strength has red cross, clicking on this icon says WiFi connections available, but no list shown of connections.

Go into Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Centre -> Change adapter settings. Wireless Network Connection has red cross (presumably when I started to use ethernet I disabled it? I cannot remember). Right click it, it has no enable option, just connect/ disconnect. Left click this, it just brings up the pop up again at bottom right hand side saying WiFi connections available as before.

So how do I enable WiFi? Any ideas?

Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Need a little more.
Oct 3, 2015 7:04AM PDT

I have seen this on say Dell and Acers where the maker uses a little app to turn on/off the WiFi.

Dell has Quickset, the other makers have other apps. There's also options on some models to use Windows or Intel or other controls to control the WiFi. There's not much standard in this area but no make, model and if the OS is stock or not means I can't guess what it is.

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Thanks R Proffitt
Oct 3, 2015 9:28AM PDT

It's HP Pavilion DM1. OS is Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

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So no answer to the stock OS?
Oct 3, 2015 11:12AM PDT

No answer so let''s go with a few issues.

1. The DM1 is a series of over a dozen models. This means I can't point to any specific app or drivers but try HP's app and driver for WiFi.
2. Try booting up a Linux Mint 17 or newer DVD. Or even PuppyLinux and see if the WiFi works. We don't install or learn Linux. We are only interested in seeing if a completely different OS works.