Dell Inspiron 1545 not enabling wireless adapter, can anyone help?

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kellkelly

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Hi
Just wondering if anyone can give me any advice on how to get my wireless 1397 WLAN mini-card to enable on my network connections screen? About a month ago I pressed the f2 and fn key together to turn off my wireless and it seems to have done something as when u try to turn it on the same way it doesn't do anything? Also when I highlight the wireless network connection mini card in the network connections screen it says it disabled, I click enable this network device and the screen pops up to say its enabled yet when that screen disappears the connection is still greyed out and says disabled.
When I ask Ask my computer to diagnose the problem
It says there may be a problem with the drivers. I've uninstalled the drivers and downloaded them from the dell website and installed them
Again , still not working !!
I'm confused as everyone keeps saying on this forum to just press f2 and fn but it's not working , I would be grateful if someone could give me any advice to try and fix my problem before it sends me crazy !
Many thanks in advance
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

windows 7 home premium 64 bit[email protected] GHZ 2.19 GHZ2.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell inspiron 1545 /ins1545A1BL
OS
windows 7 home premium 64 bit
CPU
[email protected] GHZ 2.19 GHZ
Memory
2.00GB
Monitor(s) Displays
generic pnp monitor
kellkelly said:
Hi
Just wondering if anyone can give me any advice on how to get my wireless 1397 WLAN mini-card to enable on my network connections screen? About a month ago I pressed the f2 and fn key together to turn off my wireless and it seems to have done something as when u try to turn it on the same way it doesn't do anything? Also when I highlight the wireless network connection mini card in the network connections screen it says it disabled, I click enable this network device and the screen pops up to say its enabled yet when that screen disappears the connection is still greyed out and says disabled.
When I ask Ask my computer to diagnose the problem
It says there may be a problem with the drivers. I've uninstalled the drivers and downloaded them from the dell website and installed them
Again , still not working !!
I'm confused as everyone keeps saying on this forum to just press f2 and fn but it's not working , I would be grateful if someone could give me any advice to try and fix my problem before it sends me crazy !
Many thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I have to ask, the key combo is Fn +F2 Have you tried it in that order? (the order may be important.)
 

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Win 8 Release candidate 8400[email protected]4 gigsNvidia 9600M
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavillion dv-7 1005 Tx
OS
Win 8 Release candidate 8400
CPU
[email protected]
Memory
4 gigs
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia 9600M
Sound Card
HD built-in
Monitor(s) Displays
17" Wxga
Screen Resolution
1440x900
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Internet Speed
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Yes I have tried it both ways , fn then f2 , also f2 then fn but still nothing?

Im Sure my problem has something to do with the fact I have nothing showing in the screen where you can add a wireless network and when I click to add a new connection it just says an error has occurred but no error codes?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

windows 7 home premium 64 bit[email protected] GHZ 2.19 GHZ2.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell inspiron 1545 /ins1545A1BL
OS
windows 7 home premium 64 bit
CPU
[email protected] GHZ 2.19 GHZ
Memory
2.00GB
Monitor(s) Displays
generic pnp monitor
kellkelly said:
Yes I have tried it both ways , fn then f2 , also f2 then fn but still nothing?

Im Sure my problem has something to do with the fact I have nothing showing in the screen where you can add a wireless network and when I click to add a new connection it just says an error has occurred but no error codes?
Click to expand...

Are you holding down both keys together ? ;)
 

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win 7 ultimate32bit, Win8.1pro wmc 32bitamd phenom x4 9600corsair twinxs 2x2gb2x nvidia 1gb 8500gt
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
self build
OS
win 7 ultimate32bit, Win8.1pro wmc 32bit
CPU
amd phenom x4 9600
Motherboard
asus m2n32-sli deluxe
Memory
corsair twinxs 2x2gb
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onboard
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23" PB Viseo 233d
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maxtor sata 320gb
fujitsu sata200gb
PSU
oryxx tornado 750w
Case
thermaltake xaser lll
Cooling
artic freezer64 pro + 7 case fans
Yes I have tried them both together and I've held them both down for a lengthy time too
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

windows 7 home premium 64 bit[email protected] GHZ 2.19 GHZ2.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell inspiron 1545 /ins1545A1BL
OS
windows 7 home premium 64 bit
CPU
[email protected] GHZ 2.19 GHZ
Memory
2.00GB
Monitor(s) Displays
generic pnp monitor
Have you just tried pressing the F2 button without pressing FN? The function of the button before pressing the FN is to enable/disable the wifi.
 

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 7
OS
Windows 7
Yes I have tried pressing f2 on its own as well and nothing is happening
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

windows 7 home premium 64 bit[email protected] GHZ 2.19 GHZ2.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell inspiron 1545 /ins1545A1BL
OS
windows 7 home premium 64 bit
CPU
[email protected] GHZ 2.19 GHZ
Memory
2.00GB
Monitor(s) Displays
generic pnp monitor
Try this:
Click on start and type quickset in search box.Click on quickset icon from the search results.From quickset window check if wireless network shows connected or on.If this doesn't work click on start-all programs-DW WLAN card utility.Click on diagnostics and run it.Check if it finds any errors.
 

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Windows 8 Prointel i3 2.40 Ghz6 GB RAMIntegrated Intel HD
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
DELL
OS
Windows 8 Pro
CPU
intel i3 2.40 Ghz
Motherboard
DELL inc
Memory
6 GB RAM
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel HD
Sound Card
Realtek high definition SRS surround sound
Screen Resolution
1366*768
Hard Drives
320 GB
Internet Speed
1Mbps
When I type quickset in the search box nothing comes up ?? Is there anything else I can try?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

windows 7 home premium 64 bit[email protected] GHZ 2.19 GHZ2.00GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
dell inspiron 1545 /ins1545A1BL
OS
windows 7 home premium 64 bit
CPU
[email protected] GHZ 2.19 GHZ
Memory
2.00GB
Monitor(s) Displays
generic pnp monitor
I have an inspiron 1545 and you simply press the wireless key WITHOUT the fn key. I'm sure you have tried that so I would try one of two things:

Have a look in the BIOS to see if you can enable it from there.

Failing that switch off, remove battery, hold a central heating pipe or something grounded to discharge yourself, unscrew the central panel on the bottom, remove the half PCI wireless card. Replace everything without the card, boot then shut down. Put the wireless card back in (remembering to ground again and remove battery) and boot again.
 

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Windows 7 Ultimate x64Intel Core 2 Duo E840016GB OCZ GoldNVidia 9600GT 1024MB
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P
Memory
16GB OCZ Gold
Graphics Card(s)
NVidia 9600GT 1024MB
Sound Card
Focusrite Saffire Pro 40
Monitor(s) Displays
2x Samsung 2433BW
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1200
Hard Drives
Corsair Force 3 120GB SSD
PSU
BeQuiet Straightpower 600W White
Case
Lian Li Rack
Cooling
Arctic Freezer Pro
Keyboard
MS Wireless Keyboard 3000
Mouse
MS Wireless Mouse 5000
Internet Speed
8MB
Solved!!!

Has your Dell laptop got a broken keyboard... can't switch on wireless adapter by pressing F2?

This bugged me for months and didn't want to buy and fit a new keyboard. Finally figured out how to alter the BIOS settings to switch on the wifi card. Note you will need a usb keyboard plugged into the laptop to do this!

Reboot the laptop and press F2 on the external keyboard to enter the setup screen
find the wireless settings in the menu
there are two options here...
set it so that the wireless adapter is enabled but NOT that it can be toggled on/off via the switch (F2)
Apply then exit
When computer reboots right-click on network icon in system tray
open network and sharing centre
click on change adapter settings
right-click on WiFi adapter
choose connect/disconnect

Now treat yourself to a doughnut... you've just fixed it!
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

windows 8
Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 1545
OS
windows 8
Attaching an external keyboard via usb sorted it out for me. I have a feeling though it could simply be the keyboard settings.

But thankyou for sharing, great idea and saved me days of pain
 

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Windows 7 Home Premium
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium
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