Enable wireless adaptor

[kpva33]

So I just got a brand new laptop, a Dell Inspiron. I turned it on, started adjusting properties to suit me, and tried to connect to my internet connection. In the process I wanted to disconnect from my internet, but nstead I pressed disable. Now I can't figure out at all how to enable the thing again. I try to troubleshoot it and it tells me that the wireless adaptor is disabled, but gives me absolutely no clues on how to enable it again.

How do I do this? 5 minutes old and I already have problems...

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Usually its a special keystroke, something like ALT+F8 - check above the laptop keys : are there special functions shown, perhaps a wireless icon?

If you are able to take a photo of the keyboard and post here we can solve it in two shakes of a lambs tail.

Regards,
Golden

 

[mickey megabyte]

on my (oldish) inspiron laptop, the wireless button is fn-f2 - may well be different on yours - the symbol looks like a transmission tower, broadcasting 'waves'.

when you say 'you pressed disable' - what did you press to disable it?

oh, and welcome to sevenforums, kpva33!

 

[kpva33]

It didn't help. When I pressed it, it says it is connected, but it still says the wireless network connection adapter is disabled.

 

[mickey megabyte]

ok, let's take this slowly.

what says it is connected?

and what says that it's disabled?

have you looked in device manager?

 

[kpva33]

Ah, I found it-- I went to Control Panel --> Network/Internet --> Network Connections and then right-clicked on Wireless network connection, which I could then choose to enable. So strange I couldn't find it more readily accessible.

 

[mickey megabyte]

there should be a little symbol in your notification area, near your clock.



you should be able to click that to connect/disconnect.

 

[bagavan]

It didn't help. When I pressed it, it says it is connected, but it still says the wireless network connection adapter is disabled.

click on this

open network and sharing center

Click on change adapter settings and click enable

 

[chev65]

Ah, I found it-- I went to Control Panel --> Network/Internet --> Network Connections and then right-clicked on Wireless network connection, which I could then choose to enable. So strange I couldn't find it more readily accessible.

Yep thats where the network connection are at. You can also do this in Device Manager.

 

[Eudaimonic]

I found a solution, and it involves temporarily bridging the wireless and lan connections (then unbridging). See Technopaideia: Frustrating but ultimately successful fix for Internet connectivity