Windows can't detect Wifi adapter, feels like I've tried everything

I have tried

• Updating Windows
• Updating the BIOS and installing all available drivers off of the DELL website
• Physically removing and reinstalling the adapter

Still, device manager shows several unknown devices. This is a refurbished laptop so I'm not sure what's what, although the Wifi adpater definitely worked at one point (I broke it trying to fix something else).


I am happy to provide any more details if necessary. I really need help to get this fixed as soon as I can.

Welcome to the forum. As its a Dell it should have a tag number on it goto Dells site enter the tag and it will give you all the drivers and software for it specific to your pc

samuria said:

all the drivers and software for it specific to your pc

I downloaded Dell's support application and downloaded all of the drivers I was able to, however the WLAN drivers did not download because they could not detect the adapter on the system.

Does it show with a yellow triangle in device manager or is it not seen have you turned it on?

Under Other Devices in the device manager, there is the Network Controller and two Unknown devices, all with the yellow triangle.

Probably a bad adapter that disconnected or has bad wiring. It has happened to me. Not too hard of a fix. May have to disassemble the casing and fish some wires after you find the correct wifi card on eBay or something.

Update: I am buying a USB wifi adapter on Amazon, I will see if that works.