My Wi-fi adapter is having problems

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › My Wi-fi adapter is having problems

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trig42

5810 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#948015 9-Dec-2013 13:18

Do you know if your computer did any updates just before it stopped working? A windows update may have stuffed up the drivers for your Wireless card.

Can you go to the manufacturers website and download the drivers for your wireless card?

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#948018 9-Dec-2013 13:24

trig42: Do you know if your computer did any updates just before it stopped working? A windows update may have stuffed up the drivers for your Wireless card.

Can you go to the manufacturers website and download the drivers for your wireless card?

Just looked at my update history and since Saturday night (When the problem started) there have been 3 updates, all 3 are "Definition updates for windows defender".

I could look online but in the device manger where it says "Update driver software" it says I have the latest updates. Would downloading from a website be any different?

andrewNZ

2487 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#948021 9-Dec-2013 13:26

Finch:
trig42: Do you know if your computer did any updates just before it stopped working? A windows update may have stuffed up the drivers for your Wireless card.

Can you go to the manufacturers website and download the drivers for your wireless card?

Just looked at my update history and since Saturday night (When the problem started) there have been 3 updates, all 3 are "Definition updates for windows defender".

I could look online but in the device manger where it says "Update driver software" it says I have the latest updates. Would downloading from a website be any different?

Don't trust windows update to update your drivers, it often doesn't know they exist. If you have problems, always try the manufacturers website.

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#948037 9-Dec-2013 13:38

andrewNZ:
Finch:
trig42: Do you know if your computer did any updates just before it stopped working? A windows update may have stuffed up the drivers for your Wireless card.

Can you go to the manufacturers website and download the drivers for your wireless card?

Just looked at my update history and since Saturday night (When the problem started) there have been 3 updates, all 3 are "Definition updates for windows defender".

I could look online but in the device manger where it says "Update driver software" it says I have the latest updates. Would downloading from a website be any different?

Don't trust windows update to update your drivers, it often doesn't know they exist. If you have problems, always try the manufacturers website.

http://www4.driveridentifier.com/scan/download.php?item_id=1013109423&scanid=1E2062C4EECE4035A94E820EB05CA531&hardware_id=PCI%5CVEN_1814%26DEV_3290%26SUBSYS_18EC103C

Is that site safe to download from?? It lists the latest update 5.0.33.1, I am on 5.0.25.0

Edit: Actually just realised 5.0.33.1 is for Asus laptops, I have HP. So my latest update will be 5.0.29.0.

Also just noticed that my laptop is 64bit, those updates are all 32bit. Does that matter?

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#948055 9-Dec-2013 13:54

This OP has the same problem as me

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-hardware/windows-8-wifi-not-working/3c88e62b-d7af-4e71-9986-666c5c895db3

Edit: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?os=4132&lc=en&cc=nz&dlc=en&sw_lang=&product=5321853#N970 That lists the latest drivers as the ones I have installed. Driver-Network, second one down.

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#948062 9-Dec-2013 14:10

Looks like I might have to do a system restore..

http://www.eightforums.com/network-sharing/15762-cannot-enable-wireless-adapter-desktop.html

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#948266 9-Dec-2013 19:14

Theres many options I can take now, don't want to choose the wrong one. System restore seems like my most likely option because it looks like somebody had the same problem as me and that fixed it.

Another option is updating the driver software from one of the links I posted above.

Third option is to just take it back to Dick Smith.

Fourth option is to buy the $20 USB Wifi adapter that somebody posted back on page 1.

5th option. Give up and sell it on Trade Me, buy a new laptop.

Equinox IT

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andrewNZ

2487 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#948295 9-Dec-2013 20:56

ALWAYS try drivers first.

A system restore isn't that big of a deal, just take note of what you have installed, back up your data and do it. Its also a good idea to create a full system backup beforehand, that way, if you find you forgot something, or you didn't need to restore, you've got options.

IMO 4 isn't a great option, and 5 is down right silly.

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#948300 9-Dec-2013 21:10

andrewNZ: ALWAYS try drivers first.

A system restore isn't that big of a deal, just take note of what you have installed, back up your data and do it. Its also a good idea to create a full system backup beforehand, that way, if you find you forgot something, or you didn't need to restore, you've got options.

IMO 4 isn't a great option, and 5 is down right silly.

Ok will try the drivers option first then

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#948311 9-Dec-2013 21:27

And we are back in action.

I went to Control Panel - Device Manager - Right click the adapter for Properties. Then I went to advanced and there was 3 options under a property heading, Multimedia/Gaming Environment, Radio and Romaing sensitivity. For radio there was Enable and disable it was on "disable". I changed it to "enable" and now all is fine. That's really weird because I didn't change it or anything.

Ah well at least it is solved now. Thank you everyone for the help :)

mclean

581 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

#948545 10-Dec-2013 10:48

.....That's really weird because I didn't change it or anything.

Something did. Now that you know how to fix it you could experiment to figure out what caused the setting to change. Places to start: wireless switch on keyboard, windows network setting, airplane mode, etc.

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