Wireless not working. Wireless adapter is not available.

Question

Dear All,

I am trying to reinstall my Dell Inspiron N 5110 (after my wireless connection was disabled (I dont know how) and my efforts to reenable the wireless connection were useless). While I tried to install the drivers, the drivers suitable, as identified by dell software, was for ethernet and none of the wireless/bluetooth drivers where selected as suitable. When I go to the device manager I couldnt see any wireless adapters that need drivers. Please help me to fix this issue. It is driving me crazy and I am afraid, if it is a hardware problem. please provide me some guidance on how to fix it.

DELL-Babita S · Answer

Hi,

Welcome to Dell Community Forum.

On the Inspiron™ N5110 / 15R, use the Fn + F2 key to turn wireless On or Off. Use Windows Mobility Center in the control panel to check the status of the wireless connection

For installing drivers, click on the link below for wireless drivers for your Dell N5110. You will need to select the Operating System from the drop-down menu to select the correct driver.

http://dell.to/QtFK85

Hope this is helpful.Please reply if you have further queries.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

DELL-Babita S · Answer

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.

The R311898 driver is for Intel Centrino Wireless N-1000/Centrino Advanced-N 6230/Centrino Wirelss-N 1030.

The Dell N5110 system is offered with an option of Wifi-Bluetooth Combo card.

The following are the combo cards are offered on this system:

• Dell Wireless WLAN 1701 Half Mini-Card + BlueTooth 3.0

• Dell Wireless WLAN 1702 Half Mini-Card + BlueTooth 3.0

• Intel Centrino Wireless-N1030 Half Mini-Card + BlueTooth 3.0

• Intel Centrino Advanced Wireless-N6230 Half Mini-Card + BlueTooth 3.0

The other WLAN card that is offered with the system are:

• Dell Wireless WLAN 1502 Half Mini-Card

• Dell Wireless WLAN 1503 Half Mini-Card

• Intel Centrino Wireless-N1000 Half Mini-Card

• Intel 6150 WiFi / WiMAX Half Mini-Card

Depending on the wireless card on your system, you need to install the correct driver for the same.

Also, the absence of the tick mark when installing from the Drivers CD does not indicate that the drivers are suitable or otherwise, only whether hardware relevant to that driver is detected by the system.

You can check your system configuration by entering your Service Tag in the Drivers & Downloads section of our Support Website and then select System Configuration. The link below will take you to the recommended page.

http://dell.to/XnwO12

Let me know if further help is needed.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

chyrenram · Answer

Ms. Babitha , I tried all of those things before I started reinstalling the OS but it didnt work. Now I thought that the problem might be with the OS and started reinstalling the OS. Then I started to install the drivers from the CD that came along with the laptop. The dell software from the CD says that except the ethernet driver other drivers are not suitable (doesnt have a tick mark against it). I was searching on the internet abt the problem and in another discussion there was a link to R311898 driver which seemed to fix the problem for some users so I downloaded and installed it. when I run that software it says 'no wireless adaptor found'. May be I am doing something wrong, please guide me.

chyrenram · Answer

Ms. Babitha, I tried finding out the correct driver using my service tag but I dont get any wireless/bluetooth driver listed. I bought this laptop from Saudi Arabia. I tried to install all of the WLAN drivers all of the installation failed with 'compatible device not found' type error. still having the problem.

DELL-Babita S · Answer

Hi,

I am sorry that you are still facing problems with installing the wireless drivers on your Dell N5110.

If you are getting the message, "compatible device not found" it could mean that the wireless card on the system is not being detected, is disabled or may be turned off.

I request you to press and hold the Fn key and then press the F2 key to atlernatively turn on or off the wireless function on the computer.

Please check the link below for the list of drivers for your Dell N5110.

Under Applications, you will find a Quickset driver for your computer. Please install this driver and the Wireless driver for your computer.

http://dell.to/WXaBMH

Hope this helps.

Let me know if further help is needed.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

PudgyOne · Answer

chyrenram,

When you reinstalled the operating system, did you install the Dell System Software(if applicable) and the chipset drivers first? If not, the rest of the drivers will fail to install. How to Download and Install Drivers in the Correct Order

Start with the Dell System Software and the chipset drivers and follow the list.

Rick

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Wireless not working. Wireless adapter is not available.

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