Can't enable Dell Wlan 1395 mini card. No fn+f2 doesn't work. Checked Bios wireless controller is enabled

Tenrai,

When you installed the operating system, did you install the desktop/notebook utility and the chipset drivers first? If not, the rest of the drivers will fail to install. How to Install Drivers in Microsoft® Windows® on Dell Systems If you cannot find Windows 7 drivers, then use the Bista(or XP) drivers and install them in the Compatibility mode

Rick

Tenrai,

If it's new and under waranty, then contact Dell.

You can try...

Restarting the computer and press F2. Make sure the wireless adapter is emabled in the bios.

Look in start, control panel, device manager, network and right click on the adapter and make sure it's enabled.

Start, type

quickset

Click on QuickSet and make sure wireless is turned on and also try launching the WiFi Catcher.

Restart the computer and press F12 on startup and run the diagnostics. It will tell you if there is any problems. The full diagnostics takes about one hour.

Rick

Thank you for your Reply Rick

Well the drivers have installed fine, cause device manager confirms "The device is working properly". Plus I reinstalled Windows Vista using the recovery disk. Wlan drivers are windows native, WLAN card is properly listed in the device manager with no conflicts, the Dell utility however displays "Radio Disabled". All the hardware diagnostics results are "passed" however connection diagnostics fail citing the fact that the WLAN card is turned off.

There has been a new development, I tried an old driver of build A17 with this when I disable the WLAN card, the LED lights up. The dell wireless utility connection diagnostics tests pass up untill Authentication Test, which fails. Now this shouldn'T happen. A disabled wLan card shouldn't enable in any way. I believe this is a hardware issue either the WLAN card or the motherboard is malfunctioning. Guess I'll have to take it to dell.

I'll keep this thread updated and post back the developments.

   Tenrai

【天来】  

Thank you Rick your response.

This worked for me and I hope  and pray this solution will help resolve issue "WLan Wireless Mini card unabled to turn on"

Solution:

Only after employing all possible software solutions, did I opt for notebook disassembly.

In this particular case:

Windows 7 resumed from Hibernation but the wifi led didn't come on.

1. I tried reinstalling all released drives from old towards the latest, nothing happened, the Led remain turned off.
2. Next, I checked bios settings; Wlan controller and hotkeys were enabled
3. Next I tried turning on the Wlan card using dell utility and windows Mobile center (win+x) --Nothing
4. Next, I ran Hardware tests using dell utitlity. All of the hardware test were ''Passed''
5. Next, I ran connection tests using dell utility; the radio test failed. It said the radio was not turned on. Turn it on using fn+f2 combination or slide the Wlan switch toward on --This did not resolve the problem either.
6. next I reinstalled windows vista using the recovery media --Still nothing.
7. I installed one of the oldest driver was installed, A17 build, when I disabled the WLan card the LED came on. I figured the WLAN was functioning but had some thing amis. I ran connection tests using dell utility again; this time radio test and association passed. The WLan was disabled yet the tests were ''passed'' this hinted towards a hardware issue.
8.  I opted to disassemble my notebook.

Note: Proceed at your own peril

1. Disassembled my Vostro 1000
2. Reached the 1395 WLan wireless mini card, disconnected the antenna wires (black+white) and dislodged the Wlan card from the socket.
3. Throughly clean the Wlan card with iso propyl alcohol.
4. Let it dry out
5. I sat the Wlan card back in to the socket
6. Connected the antenna wires
7. Powered on the laptop with AC power and waited for windows to boot.
8. Windows Vista Splash screen came on and so did the WLan LED, I rejoiced and thanked Allah!
9. Ran tests using dell utility, all the tests results should be ''passed''
10. Shutdown the notebook and assemble it back.

Hope this helps , if all fails try replacing your Wlan wireless mini card with a new one.

Regards

Tenrai

I got my (non technical) boyfriend a Dell Inspiron1440 using this same card on Windows 7 (64 bit). The day I set it  up for him soon thereafter I found it disabled. Thinking back it all started when he left it on and it went into Sleep Mode. He mistakenly unplugged the power and the battery drained. Looking in Device Manager for this card (Power Mgmt tab) the default is to "allow computer to turn off to save power". Eureka! hehe. Although this is the cause of my issue (yes, I've since disabled this) I still needed to figure out how to re-enable. I'm glad I found this thread as it was very helpful! I tried reinstalling the drivers and all above mentioned suggestions (with the exception of taking apart a brandy new laptop) to no avail. Since this laptop also has no physical "on/off button". Pudgy's info. helped get me to the right area as I'm still a newbie to Win7.

If you go into the Mobility Center in the bottom half of the window for "Customized by Dell" under the "Radio Control Options" and click Launch button this is where you can enable/disable the WiFi card. I unchecked "all radios" and it came right on, just had to authen. to my wireless networks (non-broadcasted) WPA2 and I was good to go.

Personally I prefer the button I'm accustomed to using on my work laptop. Hope this helps.

Shelly

Shelly,

I'l take a Dell XPS 15 customized to my needs. :emotion-5:

I recently had my laptop stolen so I have to use my memory until my new Dell XPS 15 arrives.

Try start, control panel, device manager, network. right click on the 1395 adapter and make sure it's enabled. If there is an antenna diversity(some models have it and some don't) try changing it from Auto to Aux.

Restarting the computer may be the choice. Make sure there is not a switch on the side of the computer for the wireless adapter. Some computers use the Fn and F2 buttons at the same time and some use F2.

Very new computer, if not many things were installed, you could try using a system restore point to the first restore point before this happened. Everything should come back except...

You'll need to go in and uncheck the power management boxes, again. Programs installed and updated,like your virus protection may need looked at to make sure they're current as well as Windows updates.

If there is something more specific, can you please explain what is needed so I can try a little better.

If new computer and under waranty, you should be able to contact Dell Tech Support. You could attach the ethernet cable and they could connect remotely and fix it for you.

Rick

Shelly, thanks. After about 1 hour of research to figure out why my WLAN card would not enable, I found your article and fixed the problem in a minute. I had the same root cause, someone in the family left the laptop running unplugged. That apparently diabled the WLAN. Very frustrating that this could happen. Thanks for saving me from an even more frustrating situation of taking any number of other diagnostic measures. Ken

Ken,

Glad you got it working! :emotion-21: Thanks for posting back. My wife has the Dell Mini 10 and sometimes when her computer sleeps(she has XP) the computer still turns off the network adapter, even with the power management boxes unchecked. It only happens with XP but restarting the computer brings everything back.

Take care,

Rick