Stupid Laptop Problems

[AOS-]

Starting my school year and both laptops I have run into problems out of nowhere.

Just yesterday, I had an IT member on campus work his magic so my 8.1 Windows wouldn't have limited access to the school's Wifi. I later take it to class, and it goes back to Limited Access Wifi...

So I kept it offline until the end of class, I bring it back home and now there isn't a single wireless connection available in the network tab. I go to Change Network Adaptor Settings and find out the Wireless Network icon has up and vanished. No wonder there's no connection! So I'm searching for ways to get it back. Sources tell me to click on the adaptor's properties > update driver, so it will install what might be missing. But again, I can't right click on something that doesn't exist.

So here I am trying to reset my PC in hopes it will bring it back, but in case it doesn't, does anyone know where I can get the wireless network adaptor?

Quick tidbit info: I've got a Lenovo G500 pre-installed with Win8.1.

 

[ULTRAVIOLENZZ]

It seems its wifi connectivity is really problematic. https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo...0-have-any-wifi-problems/td-p/1210088/page/18

 

[DQuaN]

Right click Computer and select Manage. Go to Device Manager. Expand Network Adapters.

Any warnings?

*edit*
Or on 8.1 go to the start screen and type "Device Manager"

 

[AOS-]

Somehow the stuff came back. I think the problem had to do with solution #3 (which I've provided below).

To answer your question, @DQuaN, there was no error as the adaptor was completely missing.

Turns out other Lenovo models other than the G500 have some really dumb wifi issues, so I may as well add this in if someone is looking for an answer.

1) Open up the bottom of the laptop to access the wireless network adaptor card. There should be a black and white wire. Black wire is supposed to be hooked into the "MAIN" plug. Some laptops have been wired up in reverse.

2) Go to your "Programs and Features", or "Add/Remove Program", and uninstall the pre-installed "Lenovo Wireless Driver". Restart computer and see if the internet's good to go. If not, go to the Lenovo site, download the latest Wireless LAN adaptor for your OS, and install it.

3) If you go into Control Panel>Network and sharing Center>Change Adaptor Settings, if the icon for the Wireless Network is still there, right click that>Properties>Configure>Power Management. Uncheck the option to "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". It's a really dumb option to check off because the moment you run off the battery, the wifi will go off if you aren't using the internet for a while, and the adaptor will disappear again.


Even after all this, the internet will go down every now and then, just not as often. It is indeed the most problematic computer of the four that I own. Thanks for your help, guys!

 

[DQuaN]

The network adapter is probably faulty then.

Or it could be something annoyingly simple like a switch on the side of the laptop to turn wireless on and off!

 

[AOS-]

As annoying as that switch may be, I actually wish this laptop had one. At least then I can turn it back on with no trouble, not that I'd ever flip it off anyway.

The network adaptor is pretty bad though. The wireless went dead again just now after 8 minutes of use. I am so sick of this computer already.

 

[TB]

The network adaptor is pretty bad though. The wireless went dead again just now after 8 minutes of use. I am so sick of this computer already.

Pick up one of these.

 

[Grayfox]

How old is the laptop.

It sounds like a bad WiFi card.

See if you can get a replacement under warranty.

Before then check to see if the WiFi antenna cables are connected to the WiFi card and they are connected in the right manner.

 

[MHPALA]

^^ Warranty

Or invest in something that supports the latest wireless and Bluetooth protocols (future proofing). Purchased one myself, and it works like a charm (only needed to install the drivers). It costs a bit, but only go this route if you feel confident and have the equipment to disassemble your lappy.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-7260-...US_Internal_Network_Cards&hash=item3f3837f52a

G500 Service manual:
http://download.lenovo.com/consumer/mobiles_pub/lenovo_g400g500g405g505g410g510_hmm.pdf

Driver:
http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/downloads/ds039814

Of course use the service manual to disassemble and inspect/post pics of the wifi card before buying anything.

Try fiddling with the wifi function key too.

 

[Grayfox]

No nee to get a laptop with WiFi AC.

Nothing uses it, chances are you wont use it for 2 or 3 years.

 

[AOS-]

How old is the laptop.

It sounds like a bad WiFi card.

See if you can get a replacement under warranty.

Before then check to see if the WiFi antenna cables are connected to the WiFi card and they are connected in the right manner.

It might not be too old. It's a Lenovo G500, refurb, purchased last week. It could be a bad wifi card. If I bought one of those usb wifi adaptors, will it be an adaptor of its own that I will find in the Adaptor Settings?

I could make use of warranty, but I need this laptop pretty much all week and getting it fixed is urgent. I don't exactly have the time to wait for things to be sent out and shipped with school ongoing.

The antennae cables are fine. As I mentioned in my previous post, I had indeed inspected to see if the wires were installed the wrong way, but I confirmed it was fine (black wire under MAIN?)

Again, if the wifi adaptor TB suggested will work the way I imagined, I'll try that first before returning the laptop for something else.

If anyone knows of other quick methods of fixes, please do not hesitate to share.

Thank you guys for your continual support.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

What is brand of your current wireless device and model number? Should say in device manager under network adapters. Also have you done all Windows Updates available? Also do you have McAfee installed, if so uninstall that.

 

[AOS-]

What is brand of your current wireless device and model number? Should say in device manager under network adapters. Also have you done all Windows Updates available? Also do you have McAfee installed, if so uninstall that.

Broadcom 802.11n Network Adaptor (6.30.223.143)

I had a visit to my school's IT people, he had me install all the updates I hadn't done, and reinstalled the WLAN driver I did myself.

The issue I had was that upon installation, it failed with a error message "No appropriate drivers to install".... even though I matched the driver with my computer.

I'll arrange time to head back to the store, and exchange the computer for another one. If time wasn't an issue, I'd probably try the USB adaptor.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

Try this, looks like it will work:

# Open Device Manager (search Windows Help if you don't know what this is)

# Select 'Network adaptors' and then open (double-click) Broadcom 802.11n Network Adaptor

# Go to the Driver tab and click the Update Driver... button

# Select 'Browse my computer for driver software'

# Select 'Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer'

# Select the "Broadcom 802.11n Network Adaptor (Broadcom)" entry from the list, and click Next

Source:Link

 

[Grayfox]

It might not be too old. It's a Lenovo G500, refurb, purchased last week. It could be a bad wifi card. If I bought one of those usb wifi adaptors, will it be an adaptor of its own that I will find in the Adaptor Settings?

I could make use of warranty, but I need this laptop pretty much all week and getting it fixed is urgent. I don't exactly have the time to wait for things to be sent out and shipped with school ongoing.

The antennae cables are fine. As I mentioned in my previous post, I had indeed inspected to see if the wires were installed the wrong way, but I confirmed it was fine (black wire under MAIN?)

Again, if the wifi adaptor TB suggested will work the way I imagined, I'll try that first before returning the laptop for something else.

If anyone knows of other quick methods of fixes, please do not hesitate to share.

Thank you guys for your continual support.

See if the place you got it from will just swap it over for another unit.

 

[AOS-]

I could... there was only two units available at the time, both refurbished.

Try this, looks like it will work:

Source:Link

Ah yes, I forgot all about the "let me pick from a list".

The default driver is the 802.11n. Looks like I can pick other wireless drivers. Right now, I reinstalled the same driver again and I got my wifi back. Sometimes things look like it will be fine until the next day. I'll have tp wait and see. Thanks for the link!