How do I connect to Wi-Fi when my laptop can only connect to ethernet?

For some reason, my computer has been only connecting to ethernet recently. And I don't know what's going on, except for the fact that I recently performed a factory reset on my computer, and for some reason it caused a few problems on my laptop, most of which were fixed eventually though. However, I couldn't actually get it to connect with Wi-Fi networks, and it will only let me connect to Ethernet. Thank you very much for helping.

Enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3)
then Check for Updates, install all Important and Optional Updates. After requested reboots keep checking back for more Updates until they are all done.

Look in Device Manager to make sure Wireless driver is installed and functional.

Rightclick on the network icon in System Tray, open Network and Sharing Center, click on Change Adapter Settings, make sure Wireless adapter is enabled. If so rightclick to run its Troubleshooter.

The factory WIn7 is an inferior install larded with bloatware and duplicate utilties which interfere with better versions built into Win7. Most tech enthusiasts prefer to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. At the minimum I'd Clean Up Factory Bloatware.

My brother’s computer is a CyberPower computer, not sure what model. I just factory reset it, and when Windows was reinstalled, the computer couldn’t connect to the Internet. The Ethernet drivers are unable to be found on the computer. I need to get the computer able to connect to the Internet and I don’t know how to do it. Also the computer is really low-res and expanded and I can’t figure out how to disable that. Please help.

Factory reset is an inferior install with all the bloatware and utilities so it would be better to start over to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Otherwise go to the Support Downloads webpage for your model PC or ethernet device to download to CD or stick and install the Ethernet driver. If you need the device make and model because there is no PC downloads page and it is not listed in Device Manager, use Hardware Identification to trace it to google and downoad the driver from its Support Downloads webpage.

Once online enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) and then Check for Updates to install all rounds of Important and Optional Updates with reboots as requested. After reboot go right back to Check for UPdates until there are no more. Then if any drivers are still missing in Device Manager import them the same way you did the Ethernet driver.

Everything needed to get and keep a perfect install is in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 . If you stick with the bloated factory preinstall then I would at the minimum Clean Up Factory Bloatware

gregrocker said:

Factory reset is an inferior install with all the bloatware and utilities so it would be better to start over to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Otherwise go to the Support Downloads webpage for your model PC or ethernet device to download to CD or stick and install the Ethernet driver. If you need the device make and model because there is no PC downloads page and it is not listed in Device Manager, use Hardware Identification to trace it to google and downoad the driver from its Support Downloads webpage.

Once online enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) and then Check for Updates to install all rounds of Important and Optional Updates with reboots as requested. After reboot go right back to Check for UPdates until there are no more. Then if any drivers are still missing in Device Manager import them the same way you did the Ethernet driver.

Everything needed to get and keep a perfect install is in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 . If you stick with the bloated factory preinstall then I would at the minimum Clean Up Factory Bloatware

Yeah I tried that and that's what caused the problem in the first place.

What caused the problem exactly? You said you ran Factory Recovery not a Clean Reinstall.

It says in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to put your network driver in the backup so you can get install it to get online if it isn't provided by the installer and ready to connect after install.

But you said that you ran Factory Reset which is not at all a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, and any Factory Recovery should always provide the network driver. Rightclick the network icon in bottom right System Tray to Troubleshoot. Report back results.

I just did the clean install, and it doesn't bring the ethernet drivers back.

That's why it says in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to put your Network driver in your backup so that you can install it to get online if it isn't provided during install.

I then went through fifteen minutes typing out how to locate and install your Network driver above, to which you replied "Yeah I tried that and that's what caused the problem in the first place."

If you want further help at the top tech site on the web then you need to focus on completing the steps which you are ignoring and ask back relevant questions to get them done. If you're the slightest bit more insulting, you'll get no further help at all. We have dozens of others wanting help who are cooperative.

I'm sorry if I seem insulting. It wasn't meant to come out that way, I just don't understand the concepts that well, since I'm kind of new to it. Thanks for helping.

Ask back any questions you have as you complete each step given to locate the driver.