I tried customer support but I couldn’t understand the guy...

Long story short, my wireless on my laptop won’t work.. The light that indicates that it’s on won’t even turn on... It’s like it doesn’t realize that there is even a wireless modem..

Idk jack about computers and any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Blopez50 at unm.edu

What's your signal strength read-out? Are you trying to tap into your own network or someone else's? Are other nearby networks open that you might be able to tap into?

Little more info. might help.

Im at my house so its my internet that im trying to get on. My computer wont even show me a strenght.. there is none... when i click on "network connections" the usual "Connect to wireless network" isnt there.

The only option that it gives me is to plug into a line. Its like it doesnt even realize that it has wireless capibilities....

First thing, right click on "My Computer" and chose Properties. You need to check the Device Manager. In XP, click on the Hardware tab and then it's the first option. Open it up and click on the plus sign next to the Network Adapters.

Do you see a wireless card there?

Make sure your wireless card is "enabled"

Take your computer and smash it with a brick.

It won't solve anything, but it will sure as hell make you feel better.

Under "network adapters" I have only one thing. "NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller" is that the wireless one? It says "working properly" when i click on it

TG- Im pretty sure beating the hell outa this computer is what got me in this mess!

LMAO. I'd try disabling your wireless link. Make sure it's not partially connected, then shut it down via software--should be able to do that from the systray. Then disconnect it physically, if you can. Wait a few seconds, plug it back in. If the system doesn't automatically recognize it as being present, you may need to go back to your software connection and try to re-establish a link.

If that doesn't work, you can try the same thing from your source, which I'm guessing is a desktop computer. Especially since you seem to be able to post here.

Before you do all of that, however, I'd check to see if your internet connection is even alive. Could be an outage, and if you have a wired connection, easy to check.

If nothing else works, then yeah, a brick.

That's not the one.

Since there aren't any other adapters there, that means one of two things.

1) It somehow got disabled or

2) Your wireless card is hosed

You can try to re-enable it with the OS (software) or the BIOS (hardware).

Software is the easy way. Try the detect new hardware in the control panel.

Click on the start menu and chose Control Panel. There should be a option called "Add Hardware". Try that first, see if it detects a wireless card...

lookin like the brick option is gonna have to do it. Im on my roomates laptop now.. on the wireless.

Disabling my wireless isnt an option because the icon isnt even on my computer anywhere... it simply does not exist and idk where the hell to find it!

If you are running XP, click START - CONNECT TO - SHOW ALL CONNECTIONS

ping AV Burn

haon123, I appreciate the help man! It didnt find it and im thinkin that my wireless card is done... this computer has been a pain in the ass since day one so it wouldnt suprise me a bit.

F this.. im buying a mac!

TJ- The only option that it gives me is to plug into the interweb...

my not so professional opinion... Wireless card=dead

Wait, try one more thing.

This will require restarting the computer, but it's worth a shot. Since you are on your roommate's computer, you can read the directions at the same time as you are doing it too.

When you start the computer from a reboot, there should be an option to enter BIOS (usually says "push F2 to enter setup" or something"). Get into the BIOS and check the hardware settings. It may have been disabled in the hardware somehow.

It should be in the "Hardware Profiles" or "Advanced" section or something like that. The option would be "On Board LAN Control" or "WLAN control". Make sure that it is enabled.

Even if you can't get the wireless card to work, you can get a cheapie USB wireless network adapter for peanuts...

For example

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833314011&cm_re=wireless_adapter-_-33-314-011-_-Product 

I think that one is like $22. And it's USB, so no installation required. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than a new computer.

My network adapter is disabled... it has a ! next to it.

I cant make the ! go away though...

If i do the "System Defaults" reset, would that fix it?

Are you in the BIOS? Or are you in Windows?

Be careful mucking around in BIOS. I wouldn't want to see you lose any data by accidentally formatting your Hard Drive.