Laptop WI-FI Problem

Wattsup

Wattsup

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Joined
Feb 19, 2017
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512
Hi all,

A question for the more computer savvy out there :)

I have an issue with my Toshiba laptop. Its only purpose is the batrium software, which has been noproblem for past few months.

Its ptobably 3-5 years old.

It's in the shed which is not far from main house but on the edge of wifi reception.

I connect to watchmon via usb so haven't really needed wifi.

When trying to update batrium software recently I found I'm not able to activate wifi on the computer in the usual ways. Eg. In settings and wifi button on keyboard.

It just seems like it can't connect. I also added a wifi extender but also tried to connect inside the house.

Anyideas?
 
Could be due to no driver or it could be in airplane mode.

I would check device manager (devmgmt.msc) and check if you have a valid wireless adapter, which you should for a laptop.

Some models have a toggle switch either physical or programmable like Function+F2 on my laptop.
 
Oderus420 said:
Could be due to no driver or it could be in airplane mode.

I would check device manager (devmgmt.msc) and check if you have a valid wireless adapter, which you should for a laptop.

Some models have a toggle switch either physical or programmable like Function+F2 on my laptop.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick response!

Just to clarify, I've had this computer since new an WI-FI was always fine until recently.

I will check device manager.

This one has a touch button for wifi which, now lights up momentarily then goes out, it used to stay lit
 
Wattsup said:
Oderus420 said:
Could be due to no driver or it could be in airplane mode.

I would check device manager (devmgmt.msc) and check if you have a valid wireless adapter, which you should for a laptop.

Some models have a toggle switch either physical or programmable like Function+F2 on my laptop.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick response!

Just to clarify, I've had this computer since new an WI-FI was always fine until recently.

I will check device manager.

This one has a touch button for wifi which, now lights up momentarily then goes out, it used to stay lit
Click to expand...

Interesting. One trick that sometimes works for laptops is to power down and remove the battery. Then put the battery back in and power it up. Sometimes a full power cycle is required to fix some weird issues. Hopefully you find the solution.
 
Change your wifi channel
 
or ADHOC directly into watchmon - no router required
 
Oderus420 said:
Wattsup said:
Oderus420 said:
Could be due to no driver or it could be in airplane mode.

I would check device manager (devmgmt.msc) and check if you have a valid wireless adapter, which you should for a laptop.

Some models have a toggle switch either physical or programmable like Function+F2 on my laptop.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick response!

Just to clarify, I've had this computer since new an WI-FI was always fine until recently.

I will check device manager.

This one has a touch button for wifi which, now lights up momentarily then goes out, it used to stay lit
Click to expand...

Interesting. One trick that sometimes works for laptops is to power down and remove the battery. Then put the battery back in and power it up. Sometimes a full power cycle is required to fix some weird issues. Hopefully you find the solution.
Click to expand...
I'll try that

hbpowerwall said:
or ADHOC directly into watchmon - no router required
Click to expand...

Neither of those sound easy :p

Which is easier to try first and how do I do it?
 
ADHOC into watchmon means you connect directly to it's wifi broadcast instead of going through the router.

First off, make sure that you can even see other WiFi networks. You should see a WiFi icon (the classic 3 curved lines) down in the tray section near the clock. Click on that and see if there are networks listed. If not, you may need to reinstall the network drivers (see below). If there are networks listed, try selecting or changing from one network to another and see if it connects. Sometimes you have to manually connect to a network, even if you've been connecting to it for days/weeks/months. That happens sometimes on my tablet. The other thing, similar to what Oderus mentioned, was airplane mode. Altho, that doesn't mean it's enabled, but a similar problem happens. Click the WiFi button to turn off the wifi card. Wait about 5-10 seconds for it to fully shut down. Then click it again to turn it back on. You'll have to wait another 5-10 seconds for it to fully scan. Then try connecting to your wifi again.
It's possible that Windows did an update or something right while you were doing other stuff (there was a software update yesterday).

Failing the above, try removing the wifi device and reinstalling it. Do this in Device Manager.
Right Click the Start Button, then click Device Manager. Look to see if there are any devices with a Red X or Yellow Exclamation. If not, open the Network Adapters section, select the WiFi card, and press Delete. After successfully deleting it, you can either press the F5 button to refresh, or click on the Scan For Hardware Changes button on the menu. It will re-find the adapter and reload it.
 
Korishan said:
ADHOC into watchmon means you connect directly to it's wifi broadcast instead of going through the router.

First off, make sure that you can even see other WiFi networks. You should see a WiFi icon (the classic 3 curved lines) down in the tray section near the clock. Click on that and see if there are networks listed. If not, you may need to reinstall the network drivers (see below). If there are networks listed, try selecting or changing from one network to another and see if it connects. Sometimes you have to manually connect to a network, even if you've been connecting to it for days/weeks/months. That happens sometimes on my tablet. The other thing, similar to what Oderus mentioned, was airplane mode. Altho, that doesn't mean it's enabled, but a similar problem happens. Click the WiFi button to turn off the wifi card. Wait about 5-10 seconds for it to fully shut down. Then click it again to turn it back on. You'll have to wait another 5-10 seconds for it to fully scan. Then try connecting to your wifi again.
It's possible that Windows did an update or something right while you were doing other stuff (there was a software update yesterday).

Failing the above, try removing the wifi device and reinstalling it. Do this in Device Manager.
Right Click the Start Button, then click Device Manager. Look to see if there are any devices with a Red X or Yellow Exclamation. If not, open the Network Adapters section, select the WiFi card, and press Delete. After successfully deleting it, you can either press the F5 button to refresh, or click on the Scan For Hardware Changes button on the menu. It will re-find the adapter and reload it.
Click to expand...
Thanks
I'll try this later. It's about 40 deg c in the shed at the moment ;)
 
I'm going to take a guess and Windows 7. If you bring the laptop into the or near the house will the Wifi connect? Does it "see" any other access points?
 
jdeadman said:
I'm going to take a guess and Windows 7. If you bring the laptop into the or near the house will the Wifi connect? Does it "see" any other access points?
Click to expand...

Its Windows 10.

It's in the house now and still doesn't recognise any access points. I know the wifi is fine as I'm connected with this wifi tablet.

I have it connected to the router via ethernet which works fine but there is def something wrong with the wifi part of the laptop?

As I said when you press the wifi button on keyboard it lights momentarily only.

Just to clarify, it's not in airplane mode. And there is a red cross through the wifi icon in tray...but you can't turn it on either?
 
Some laptops have a physical button to disable the radio can you check for one on the side somewhere. might have a red marking when switched off. Some of our dells are like that. Might have to get you to take a pic of the networking page to see what's going on
 
jdeadman said:
Some laptops have a physical button to disable the radio can you check for one on the side somewhere. might have a red marking when switched off. Some of our dells are like that. Might have to get you to take a pic of the networking page to see what's going on
Click to expand...


image_ssbisk.jpg



image_mstwlo.jpg



image_pbsvcx.jpg



Here are pics of both sides and front. Theresnothing on the back.

How do I get to networking page?

Thanks


image_itwasv.jpg


Photo of wifi button and function/ F8 option
 
fist step. Hold the FN key down on the keyboard and press F8 key. Does the light just above with the same symbol light up? If not follow the steps below.


Near the clock you will see an icon that looks like a computer (with an x on it)like in image 1 or a set of bars like in image 2.

Then click on "Network and Internet settings" in the blue window that will pop up and in the new window that will open click on "Network and Sharing Center"

In this window click on "Change adapter settings" and you will see your network cards. You should have 2 or 3 depending on the networking types you have on that laptop. one being Ethernet, Once Wireless and you might have a Bluetooth.

take a screen shot of your view there and post it.

Cheers and hope this helps

sorry typed that in quick reply and adding pics now
1

image_tsrguw.jpg

2

image_wnequk.jpg

3

image_ftkevk.jpg

4

image_xffeai.jpg

5

image_cwakxu.jpg
 
You have both FN+F8 and a touchbar to enable wireless? Bizarre. Then again, you also have a COAX connection which I've never seen in all my years of being in IT.

I would start with the actual touch bar. Then I would try the FN+F8 combo. I'm guessing the touchbar is the physical enable/disable and he FN+F8 is software only but I could be wrong.
 
coax? the round thing on the right is the power cable connection
 
I have an Acer travelmate with a wonk WiFi card...

I have similar issues and uninstalling the WiFi adapter from windows device manager, then refresh for new hardware and driver reinstall seems to fix for a few weeks..

Worth a shot?
 
Korishan said:
coax? the round thing on the right is the power cable connection
Click to expand...

And on the left side there is a "coax" connector... for TV, i beleave, from looooong ago before the HDMI connectors. :D

If the wifi card is broken, a wifi dongle might be a option.
 
jdeadman said:
fist step. Hold the FN key down on the keyboard and press F8 key. Does the light just above with the same symbol light up? If not follow the steps below.


Near the clock you will see an icon that looks like a computer (with an x on it)like in image 1 or a set of bars like in image 2.

Then click on "Network and Internet settings" in the blue window that will pop up and in the new window that will open click on "Network and Sharing Center"

In this window click on "Change adapter settings" and you will see your network cards. You should have 2 or 3 depending on the networking types you have on that laptop. one being Ethernet, Once Wireless and you might have a Bluetooth.

take a screen shot of your view there and post it.

Cheers and hope this helps

sorry typed that in quick reply and adding pics now
1

image_tsrguw.jpg

2

image_wnequk.jpg

3

image_ftkevk.jpg

4

image_xffeai.jpg

5

image_cwakxu.jpg

Click to expand...


The funtion/F8 doesn't light up the icon.

Here is the photo ofthat screen


image_muzfac.jpg


Thanks
 
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