Wireless Network adapter gone from laptop

Imnoexpert_2

I am working on a lenovo idea pad for a friend.

It stopped being able to work wirelessly.

I checked the slide switch at the front was on - it is on.

In contol panel the Wireless Network card doesn't show up so there is no connection and if you try and set up a new connection only the wired option shows.

Device manager only shows the wired card . There are no warnings on anything.

IPCONFIG does not show the wireless card

I have virus checked and cleaned up hundreds of PUPs

Running Windows 7. The wired connection works fine

Any ideas?

Thanks

Cycrow

If it's not showing in device manager then it means windows can't even detect it. So either it's been disabled or its faulty.

It could be a faulty switch thats not enabling it, or could be disabled in the bios

Imnoexpert_2

Thanks

It's enabled in the bios

The switch throw up a response on the screen with a little graphic showing wireless on or off.

I have done a system restore, because this seemed to happen after a windows update and the user looking at some iffy websites andting someone who 'is a computer wizard' who 'did some things '

Would a restore to bios default do anything?
would deleting the drivers and re-installing help?
Would it be easier to buy a usb wirelss dongle?

Where would you go from here?

I'm feeling a bit lost.

Fightsback

You could try running a Linux live distro from a CD/USB stick to see if it's works under Linux.

If that fails then try the wifi card in another machine. If it's a faulty card then replace wifi card.

Exact model of Lenovo please as they have issues with you being able to replace the wifi card with a generic due to whitelisting.

I personally prefer to replace the card rather than work around with a USB wifi dongle.

GunJack

Fightsback wrote: »

You could try running a Linux live distro from a CD/USB stick to see if it's works under Linux.

If that fails then try the wifi card in another machine. If it's a faulty card then replace wifi card.

Exact model of Lenovo please as they have issues with you being able to replace the wifi card with a generic due to whitelisting.

I personally prefer to replace the card rather than work around with a USB wifi dongle.

this is a good idea, however just be aware that not all linux distros will detect all wifi cards....so even if your choice of distro doesn't detect the card, doesn't mean it's faulty

When in the device manager, click the detect changes button, see if the card is detected..

Fightsback

GunJack wrote: »

this is a good idea, however just be aware that not all linux distros will detect all wifi cards....so even if your choice of distro doesn't detect the card, doesn't mean it's faulty .

Hi GJ, keeping well ?

Yes that be true but Linux isn't what it used to be regarding wifi support and lspci will tell you if it's being enumerated on the pci bus.

Imnoexpert_2

Thanks for your help

The machine is a
Lenovo IdeaPad Z575
Made in 2012 (it seems really old though)

Scan for hardware changes in Device manager reveals nothing.

Thanks fort he linux idea. I have had problems with Linux and Wi-fi before. I have a laptop running Linux myself which never managed to work with the usb dongle thing I bought for it. I'm not a confident Linux user!

I need to do some research to find where the wireless card lives on this Lenovo - and I would have to buy a card. Any recommendations?

Any other ideas?

Fightsback

Imnoexpert wrote: »

Thanks for your help

Any other ideas?

You could try reseating the card but be prepared for it not to work.

Unfortunately that model appears to have a whitelist of compatible cards and all the compatible cards are rubbish.

See maintenance manual here for listed cards:

z575 Service Manual

Your options are:

1 ) Buy a card such as one from here for £5 but its only a 1x1 card and no 5ghz:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-IBM-Lenovo-Ideapad-Z575-Mini-PCI-Express-WiFi-820-11b-g-n-Card-T77H254-00-/400847685159

2 ) Buy a USB wifi dongle

3 ) Mod the BIOS yourself, find one already modded or put in a request at BIOS mods to remove the whitelist so you can put any card in there. Of course there are obvious risks in this approach.

http://www.bios-mods.com/forum/index.php

Strider590

No WiFi icons in the taskbar?

jshm2

If you've tried uninstalling the driver, rebooting and then reinstalling the driver (ensuring to download the latest driver from the website first, of course). Then it's likely the card is faulty.

I tend to just buy a Edimax Nano USB adaptor and plug that in instead of replacing the card.

Imnoexpert_2

There is a wifi icon in the task bar but it is crossed through.

I havent' tried uninstalling the driver. Nor have I tried Linux yet.

Thanks