I broke my wireless. How do I fix it?

StupidUser said:

I'm trying to fix up and cleanup my friend's old laptop. I uninstalled a bunch of unneeded - or so I thought - programs. Wireless networking doesn't work anymore. I don't really know what I did - I'm really living up to my username now, huh? - but I'd like to know how I could fix this?

Before I started cleaning, I was able to connect wirelessly to my home router (so the password is entered). But now, when I click on that little icon in the icon tray (and I'm not connected by Ethernet cable), no networks even appear.

I should mention that this is a Samsung NP-Q430.

You may have inadvertently uninstalled the Samsung wireless connection software or the wireless driver.

Have you tried going into Device Manager then open Network Adaptors and reinstall the driver for the wireless NIC, it should be showing up right there.

If you can find a way to connect using a cable then just visit the Windows Update Center, Windows will reinstall or update the wireless driver if it is missing.

StupidUser said:

chev65 said:

You may have inadvertently uninstalled the Samsung wireless connection software or the wireless driver.

Have you tried going into Device Manager then open Network Adaptors and reinstall the driver for the wireless NIC, it should be showing up right there.

If you can find a way to connect using a cable then just visit the Windows Update Center, Windows will reinstall or update the wireless driver if it is missing.

Device Manager confirms that I uninstalled drivers for Network adapters. I tried to reinstall them right from Device Manager, but could not find the drivers on the disk.

The owner hasn't run Windows Update since he first got the machine. I ran it and the wireless started working again.

Thanks.

Figured that would do it, glad I could help.