Inspiron 3511 - Realtek 8821CE WiFi cannot be enabled

I have the same problem. I tried all suggestions here but did not solve my problem. Is there any other solution?

What I did until now;

* get all updated from windows

* install Realtek 8821CE latest version (2024.0.10.136, A09)

* install the latest bios version (1.14.0, 1.14.0)

* format pc couple of times with Win 10 Pro 21H2

* reinstall ubuntu and wifi works fine in ubuntu

* Restore your Computer Using SupportAssist OS Recovery FAILED because it gives an error like "either enable WLAN in bios setup options or use wired/internet interface"

* I tried secure boot on, but it does not work. I tried secure boot off, but it does not work. 

I do not know what can I do more... Anyone, please help install windows to Inspiron 3511

You kicked the problem for me right where it needed to be. Thanks for sharing. So far so go.

First off I would like to say, I am pretty technical.  I have assisted IT in my previous job and usually have no problems troubleshooting issues.  I recently purchased this Dell laptop and I had this same problem and the laptop was brand new. I had to do a factory reset and then it stopped working.  I could not even reinstall Windows as I had no internet.  I went and purchased a ethernet dongle so I could have internet access and download the drivers.  I downloaded and installed the drivers using Dell's software but it still would not turn on.  It showed the Wi-Fi device active and working and showed up in Network Devices and in Device Manager but still would not turn on.  It looks like it tries to turn on but flips off.  There is no hard network switch on the laptop either.

The one thing that is really bizarre about this whole situation.  It works PERFECTLY in Ubuntu but not in Windows.  I even tried the Dell Factory reinstall USB but it crashed every time I tried to a reset / reinstall.  I wasted a whole weekend trying to get it up and running.

Needless to say, the best solution was to return the laptop and get my money back.  I am going to purchase a NON Dell laptop.  I had it less than a month and had horrendous issues with it besides the Wi-Fi as well.

A lot of these problems come down to the drivers and how the WiFi adapter handles certain access points. Back in 2015, I bought a HP 250 G4 laptop with Windows 7 preinstalled, which came with Broadcom BCM43142 adapter. The drivers were poorly written as the computer would randomly lose the internet connection or drastically slow down. Upgrading to Windows 10 entitled me to install a newer driver version which wasn't available for Windows 7, and afterwards the WiFi adapter worked correctly...that is, until I replaced my router, which caused the WiFi adapter to misbehave again. I switched out the Broadcom with the Realtek RTL8821CE, and the WiFi has been trouble-free with that computer ever since.

As of this post, I would say that the RTL8821CE is a bit dated, so it's surprising that Dell is still installing them in newer systems. There seems to be newer revisions with an updated Bluetooth version as well, going up from v4.2 (which is what I have) to v5.0. The best solution to address the issue would be upgrading the RTL8821CE adapter to something a bit more recent, as there could be a compatibility issue somewhere between new and old hardware. There are better adapters out there, and a lot of them can be purchased off of eBay fairly cheap. However, one of the reasons that the RTL8821CE was included in such systems is that it's antenna system is only 1x1, so the maximum speed that you're going to get is 433 Mbps. In order to achieve speeds up to 866 Mbps, the computer will need a 2x2 antenna configuration. Remove the bottom cover of the computer and verify if there's a second antenna wire present. If not, then limit replacements to 1x1 as 2x2 configurations will not work properly. Note that even though a WiFi adapter has a 1x1 configuration, it may also have a second antenna connector, which maybe unused. This doesn't make the adapter a true 2x2. I recommend using one of these adapters to ensure compatibility and the likelihood that the computer will accept the adapter. Inspiron 15 3311 Setup and specifications - Wireless

This solution solved the problem with Wifi on Windows11...

My Dell Inspiron 3511 - Intel Core i3 11th Gen with Win11 Pro.

After Windows 11 installation, make update BIOS, then install Chipset drivers and Intel Management Interface and Tuning Engine.

Install all drivers except NETWORK DRIVER

The next step is disable the PCI bus Energy Saving such as JJ____ says

Finally install the last updated NETWORK DRIVER 

It's all

Thank's JJ___

Hello,
I bought a Dell Inspiron 15 3511 laptop for a client.
For two days I couldn't get the wireless network card to work with any manually downloaded driver, so I took it to the distributor. The technical support there solved it in 5 minutes, simply saying that I had to look for the drivers by the Service Tag of the equipment on the dell.com website. It's worth a try, although the driver packages coincide by all proprieties (size, checksum, MD5, etc.).
Anyway, it's good to know that there is a simple and quick solution. We still don't know exactly which one it is.
Good luck!

One Time Boot Settings with F12 

then => device configuration 

then  => Platform Driver Override selection

then  => Clear all mapping record

F9 reset defaults

F10 save

exit

and try wifi ..

and reset 

I tried all the above options and none of them worked. Remove the back cover of the notebook, disconnect the battery, wait a few minutes and reconnect it. I turned on the notebook, it takes a while to boot, because the bios data was deleted (it gives an error that it lost the time and date), I continued and windows started, and the wifi already worked!

Probe todas las opciones mencionadas y ninguna funciono. Saque la tapa trasera de la notebook, desconecte la bateria, espere unos minutos y la volvi a conectar. Encendi la notebook, tarda un rato en arrancar, porque se borraron los datos de la bios ( da error de que perdio la hora y fecha ), continuo y arranca windows, y ya funciono el wifi!

I also had this exact problem. After two days of surfing the Internet, installing and reinstalling the system that did not give any results, I wrote to Dell and managed to solve the problem. Here is the answer that solved my problem:
Dell Cares: Please disconnect the AC adapter, Press and hold the power button for 20 seconds and try rebooting the PC.

Esta ha sido la solución definitiva.

Hay que apagar el equipo y desconectarlo del adaptador (cargador), como la bateria es interna no es necesario quitarla.

Luego hay que mantener presionado el boton encendido por unos 20 seg (mas o menos a los 15 seg se comienza a encender) y por arte de magia ya funciona el wifi

This seems to be a firmware issue, try flashing an older version of the firmware and this worked.  When I re updated the firmware, the Wi-Fi continued working fine with no issues or problems at all.

PCI express link state off worked for me