So I was frustrated with a browser issue in Windows 8, and thought for whatever reason that linux might not have the same issues with browser prompts.
I booted Ubuntu from my USB stick to test it out, only to find out the wi-fi wouldn’t turn on. No problem, I knew it did this the last time I used Ubuntu. I’m supposed to type some “Sudowoodo apt get hibbity jibbity” in the command prompt, and then it magically starts working.
Well, my patience wore thin trying to re-diagnose the problem. I shut it down, and then rebooted back into Windows 8. Now the laptop thinks the wireless card is switched off, even here. Even though the hardware switch is on. I’ve tried deleting and re-installing the driver. I tried safe mode. I *could *“refresh” the system, but there’s too many programs that I really don’t want to re-install, that I’d rather not if it can be avoided. I’m looking for a less drastic solution. Any tips?
TLDR:My laptop thinks wi-fi hardware switch is off, but it’s not. Doesn’t seem to be a driver issue. What else can I fix?
Had this happen with kubuntu, the broadcom drivers were never installed as it was a propriarty thing. For legal reasons, they could not make it part of the distro, but included it in one of the repos.
Try disabling the device through device manager then re-enabling it.
Also, there’s could be a softkey (or whatever those keys with the blue symbols are called) that can turn the card on or off (my laptop has only a softkey for turning wireless on or off).
Finally, if you’re using a third-party app for managing your wireless connections (usually bundled with the driver and installed as the wireless manager by default) check the settings in there to make sure it didn’t get turned off in there somehow.
Disabling and enabling hasn’t worked. Nor has actually going in the device manager, deleting the driver, then going online and installing the stock manufacturer through the LAN.
I can’t find anything else for the wifi on this laptop, save the hardware button…no relevant working soft keys!
Unless wifi on your system is mediated by the BIOS and that’s where it’s locked out I can’t see how what you are describing would happen. I would suggest unplugging the machine and removing the battery and letting it sit for 10 minutes or so before restarting windows. Then reinstall the battery and boot up. Your wifi (assuming it’s not a BIOS issue ) should comeback on line.
Welp, perhaps no one gives a flying you-know-what, but I finally managed to fix the wireless on my laptop. I’m feeling pretty excited about it!
I went back to the device manager, and decided that it clearly must be the culprit. If the hardware switch is OFF, but you say that a dummy device is still working properly, you must go. Before I just uninstalled the driver by deleting it, but this time I ticked the box saying “uninstall the driver software, as well.” When I did this, and then flicked the wifi switch to ON, it created “Intel Wifi BgLINK something-or-other 1000 #2,” and now the wifi is working again. I just feel stupid that it took so many tries to fix.
