Studio laptop - wireless switch does not work

Question

Hello,

I am hoping that someone can help me with this - it is probably just me being dumb!

My new Studio 15 laptop arrived yesterday, complete with built-in WiFi. Today I have attempted to set up my internet..... and it isn't working.

The system is telling me that the radio isn't enabled and that I need to switch it on using the slider switch on the side. I have tried doing everything with the switch in both positions (in case I was mixing up on and off) but neither way works.

When I right click the wireless icon and select 'enable radio' it tells me that I need to switch on the slider. Again, I have tried doing this with the slider in both positions.

I have shut down and restarted several times but nothing seems to work. I have emailed Dell as I can't get in touch using their online chat (using my old laptop) but I was wondering if anyone here has had this issue, or perhaps knows what I am doing wrong?

My operating system is Windows Vista - I don't know if that makes any difference at all!

Many thanks

Chelle

Larry R · Answer

Just to ensure no confusion on the switch, it has 3 positions: Off (O), On (I), and Momentary(>>) (because it moves back to the On position when you let it go).  If you have it in the On position, you might need to go into the BIOS (the Wireless section, Wireless Switch) to ensure it is enabled.

Wiz Biz · Answer

Not dumb.  Frustrated for sure!  Dell Journal ID 082481XHPL   Technical Support:  The Dell Wireless Adapter Does Not Function In XP   Guess somebody Goof!

Wiz Biz · Answer

In my case.  I had to program router for access to wireless network.  Works in Vista but will not work in XP.

ijustwanttoregi · Answer

Thanks for the replies - The switch isn't one of those that 'flicks' back - it has 2 positions 'on' and 'off'.

I've been in touch with the support line (as I got no reply by email and needed it sorting). They have fixed the problem now by me connecting with a wire and them taking control. I don't know how they did it, but I was quite put out because the guy I spoke with kept telling me that I had changed something - I know perfectly well that I didn't because I switched the laptop on, did all the forms it brought up to fill in straight away then tried to connect to the internet following the on-screen instructions and book instructions to get it to work. I didn't touch any settings so I guess they didn't enable the thing before they sent it! Grrrr..

Anyway, thank you for your help everyone.

Chelle

Larry R · Answer

Glad to hear you got it sorted out.

Its too bad he didn't explain what he did to fix it, as you could have posted that back here in case others ran into the problem. At least we know, in your case anyway, that it was a configuration problem of some kind, if not the exact issue.

ijustwanttoregi · Answer

Thanks!

I did ask him what he had done and he said "I just enabled the radio because you disabled it". I was pressing the 'enable radio' button and it told me that I had to do the switch first so I know it was more than just that he did! But he did it so quickly on the screen I couldn't see what he was doing... bit annoying as I wanted to know in case it happened again. Of course this way if it happens again I have to phone their helpline and it costs me money so it's good for them if I don't know!

If I ever find out how it worked I'll post it.

Chelle

Larry R · Answer

Well, there are different ways to enable the radio.  I thought the wireless switch on the side would have done so, but it sounds like it did not in your case.  That leaves the Fn+F2 key combination, if the system supports it (not all do), and going into the wireless utility for the card (Intel ProSet or the Dell Wireless Utility) and enabling the radio from there.  Normally you can right click on the system tray icon (down by the clock) for the utility and get an 'enable radio' option as well.  I believe you can also enable/disable the radio through the hardware properties window (Advanced tab) in Device Manager.

Youngster89 · Answer

I have the same problem with my dell Studio 15 laptop i just recieved yesterday, it keeps telling me to turn on the switch ON, but it doesn't work either way. Where did you go for them to control my laptop and fix my Dell Wireless 1510 802.11n half Mini Card.

Larry R · Answer

Youngster89, try opening the Dell Wireless Utility (in the Start menu) and using the 'Enable Radio' option in there.  That is the most likely fix based on what he said the tech was doing.  If you have an icon in the sys tray (down by the clock) for the Wireless Utility it should have a right-click menu option to enable the radio as well.

ijustwanttoregi · Answer

I feel so much better now knowing that I'm not the only one!

I tried right clicking the icon and selecting enable radio - but that didn't work! Also, the Fn and F2 key doesn't work on this laptop.

I just bit the bullet and called their support line - was on the phone for nearly 30 mins but they got it going. Make sure you have your cable to be able to connect to the internet through a wired connection.

Chelle

chsmith1106 · Answer

Hello,

My Inspiron 15 has been working fine until the afternoon before yesterday. It all of a sudden says my radio is not enabled or "disabled". I have tried the Fn + F2 keys with no success. I get the message to switch the radio enable switch to on. Where on my computer is this switch? I can not find any switch.

Thanks

Charlynn

BruceTheMechani · Answer

Same problem for me.  The error message told me the radio was turned off, and to slide the switch to 'ON'.  There is no slide switch.  Using a hint from a user response, I tried the Fn + F2, with no success, until it dawned on me (duh) what the symbol on the F2 key is.  The F2 simply toggles the wireless on and off, without using the Fn key.  It sure would be nice if that info was in the little book I got with the computer.  I must have accidently hit the F2 key last night.  Slide switch indeed!

lbuckets · Answer

Hi,

I'm having similar problems enabling my wireless card on my Dell Studio S1555 laptop. I normally turn the wireless feature off/on with the keyboard using the Fn+F2 key. However, I spilled some liquid in the keys and now I am only able to type using an external Keyboard. I would like to turn wireless back on and have done a pretty thorough search looking for alternate ways to turn wireless back on. Whenever I choose to "enable radio" the box pops up saying I must first enable wireless. Duh, tell me another way to do it. I've checked in the device manager for my wireless card and it says running properly. I'm really confused as to what to do next. Maybe a trip to best buy and have a new keyboard installed if that's possible.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Studio laptop - wireless switch does not work

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