Cant' Detect Wireless Networks: Very Different Problem

Steven24 · 27 Nov 2010

I shut down my laptop on thanksgiving day and came back later that night and logged on...and My Wifi wasn't working. It doesn't show any available networks.

- My wifi switch is in the ON position
- In the Device Manager it says that it is WORKING PROPERLY
- It shows a red x in the task bar, showing that theres no connection
-When I go to Control Panel> Network and Internet> Network and sharing Center it is completely empty, nothing is there...only 4 icons...nothing else.
- It doesn't show the wireless button in Windows Mobility center anymore
- I bought a Linksys Wireless adapter and it would not work unless i enabled the windows wireless network manager...which i can't do either.
- I uninstalled and reinstalled the Drivers from the Toshiba website
- I did a system Restore
- and a bunch of other stuff.

Nothing works.

I read in other forums that its a problem with windows 7 and bad drivers and maybe a bad windows update.

If anyone can help me, I would appreciate it very much. Thank you

chev65 · 28 Nov 2010

When you mentioned this> -When I go to Control Panel> Network and Internet> Network and sharing Center it is completely empty, nothing is there...only 4 icons...nothing else.

That would indicate a system problem where you may have lost some system files. Have you tried doing a repair install from the Windows CD? The tutorial below shows you how.

Repair Install

Steven24 · 28 Nov 2010

chev65 said:

When you mentioned this> -When I go to Control Panel> Network and Internet> Network and sharing Center it is completely empty, nothing is there...only 4 icons...nothing else.

That would indicate a system problem where you may have lost some system files. Have you tried doing a repair install from the Windows CD? The tutorial below shows you how.

Repair Install

I don't have the CD anymore. Everything was working fine all I did was turned it off and turned it back on and It couldn't detect any networks.

I got the laptop from a friend and he sold it to me because he said the wifi didn't work, but when I turned it on it was working perfect for a week and everything was normal. I think a windows update might have messed something up...I don't know.

Here's a screen shot of my network and sharing center

ImJustMatter · 03 Dec 2010

I don't have the CD anymore. Everything was working fine all I did was turned it off and turned it back on and It couldn't detect any networks.

Actually, you can just create a new rec cd in windows 7. Just search for recdisc.exe in the startmenu and hit enter. This assume you have a blank dvd. If you ain't got that I think you can download an iso file from microsoft that you can "burn" to a USB drive. Just search for it a bit.

Hope this helps!

EDIT: Here is a wonderful tutorial with a lot more opportunites to make a rec dvd in win 7.

System Repair Disc - Create

Ztruker · 03 Dec 2010

That will only create a Recovery disc, not an OS installation disc. Also just noticed all you have to type is recovery to get the link to Recovery Disc. Easier to remember then recdisc.exe I think.

Steven24, what is the make and model number of the computer? If it's a large box vendor like Dell, HP, eMachines, etc then you can order the recovery DVDs from their web site. I just did this for a HP computer running Vista. Had to do this when the hard drive died.

ImJustMatter · 04 Dec 2010

But he won't need an entire os disc. Why isn't it enough with a recovery disc?

Kari · 04 Dec 2010

I would suggest to run system file checker first. Open an elevated command prompt (right click command prompt, choose Run as administrator), then type sfc /scannow to command prompt and hit Enter.

If sfc tells it found errors but couldn't fix them all, run it again.

Kari

Ztruker · 04 Dec 2010

ImJustMatter, you're right, sorry. I forgot that Win 7 has everything it needs for sfc on the boot drive.

ImJustMatter · 06 Dec 2010

Ztruker said:

ImJustMatter, you're right, sorry. I forgot that Win 7 has everything it needs for sfc on the boot drive.

Its cool:)

How are you doing Steven24? Did you work it out?

Steven24 · 08 Dec 2010

Ztruker said:

That will only create a Recovery disc, not an OS installation disc. Also just noticed all you have to type is recovery to get the link to Recovery Disc. Easier to remember then recdisc.exe I think.

Steven24, what is the make and model number of the computer? If it's a large box vendor like Dell, HP, eMachines, etc then you can order the recovery DVDs from their web site. I just did this for a HP computer running Vista. Had to do this when the hard drive died.

I have a Toshiba Satellite P505-S8980
Im gonna try everything you all say....thanks so much for the help