Windows doesn't detect wireless card in laptop - possibly broken.

I did already try that. Specifically I chose:

WLAN DRIVER P 661X
(AZUREWAVE AW766)
Version: 3.00.03 - Win 7 32bit/Win 7 64bit

I'm guessing that's the only relevant driver since the other WLAN ones are not supported on my version of windows. Tried the LAN driver as well.

If it's a hardware issue, can I just get a dongle like the one in the OP and use that for wireless connection or would you recommend a pci card?

Have you go to device manager, to check on the indication on Networks adapter for any errors & do refresh.

Click on the wired icon on the right side of the taskbar.
Click on "Network and Sharing center"
On the left panel, select "Change adapter settings".

Do be aware that some USB dongle may rely on the laptop wireless adapter.
Bought 1 and in the end i cannot disable the wireless adapter on the laptop.

Eric3742 said:

Have you go to device manager, to check on the indication on Networks adapter for any errors & do refresh.

Click on the wired icon on the right side of the taskbar.
Click on "Network and Sharing center"
On the left panel, select "Change adapter settings".

Do be aware that some USB dongle may rely on the laptop wireless adapter.
Bought 1 and in the end i cannot disable the wireless adapter on the laptop.

Yes, I've checked those things. The adapter does not show up at all, no errors or anything. It's like someone took out the wireless network capability of the pc.

This picture is from my desktop pc, but this is essentially what I'm dealing with. It just doesn't show up.
If you want a picture like this from my laptop, let me know. The only thing that would be different is the type of controller.

Have a look at the other Devices its showing as a problem.

Roy

g0aky said:

EDIT: I forgot to mention that when I did a system restore it worked temporarily and I had internet access, but after a restart it stopped working. In the past it was hit or miss whether or not it would work, so again I'm leaning towards a hardware issue. Maybe there are some things I missed, though.

If possible, redo the system restore.
If the restore is not available, try the older system restore point.

This purpose is to see at which point the wireless had disappeared.

If the system restore do have wireless, do not restart, yet.

Go thru all the device manager, especially the wireless adapter.
Then tab by tab to check the for the driver (check the name of the driver, as most probably where is the location of this driver).

Do create a system restore at this point, if the system restore is the older system restore point.

In this way, you can look thru what you have missed.
Do take note on what you had done and review it.
In this way you can repeat the system restore where the wireless is available.

In other word, create a system restore in case the wireless have disappear again.

DO NOTE:
Create a system restore and run anti-virus &or such as SUPERAntiSpyware.

There may have a possible virus/ malware deleted that driver, and other files, etc.

-------------------------------
The following involve registry, if unfamilar, don't do it.
For Registry, do export it and rename the .reg to .txt
When the wireless disappear, export to .reg and rename to .txt
I did had a little program to detect any difference between 2 text file of the registry.txt

-------------------------------

You can select which part to do first.

I stopped being lazy and booted up the laptop once again and now it actually somewhat shows a sign of life. The wifi adapter shows up in device manager now. The little blue wireless LED is on now as well. Please ignore the previous image of the settings on my desktop. Prior to this post I could not see the adapter in the device manager, though. Still no internet.



Is there another driver I should try based on this message?

EDIT:
@Eric3742 I wrote in the original post that I also formatted the HDD after system restore not having worked. I am currently on a completely clean installation of Windows 7.

Let me know if you need other info!

Interesting screenshot.
I have the same wifi adapter on my system.
However i have an additional tab for power management.
Currently using
Intel driver 14.3.2.1 dated 22/01/2012

The error message leads me more towards your motherboerd chipset driver being out of date, or WiFi being turned off in the Bios.

Roy

driver link for Mobo
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...AWRcdeKqAHMz7A

Wrong link, should have read the post not looked at the specs

MEDION - Driver Download

Roy