Aurora R4, WiFi and Bluetooth suddenly stopped working

Are you running Windows 10, and if so, did you notice WIFI and BT suddenly stop working after a system update?  If so, there was an update released some time ago that effectively borked BT and WIFI.

Do you actually see the hardware listed in device manager? If so, are they active or disabled? 

When you downloaded the updated drivers, did you use your service tag in Dell's website to ensure you got the latest version designated for your particular build?

Sorry, forgot to add the following link as Qualcomm doesn't have a generic driver download page: https://www.ath-drivers.eu/atheros-wireless-drivers.html

"Are you running Windows 10, and if so, did you notice WIFI and BT suddenly stop working after a system update?  If so, there was an update released some time ago that effectively borked BT and WIFI."

Yes I think it's the above that you mentioned.

Nothing shows up on the device manager.

I've downloaded the updated drivers which the Wifi and Bluetooth are only available for Windows 7, I've been on the MOI and disconnected both cables and connected back again. Tried pretty much everything that I could think off.

From my experience I reckon it has something to do with the drivers/Windows update, but I can't fix it...

The Windows 10 update that borked wifi and BT usually affects Qualcomm chipsets.  The driver from Alienware may not be the most up to date considering you're on an R4.  I'd suggest going to the Qualcomm driver page directly and downloading the most recent driver there which corrects the issue.

Thanks for that, I'll test it out and let you know once I arrive home.

Do you know what Wifi chipset shall I download? Or where can I check that?

From what I could see online it's - "MS3871 Bluetooth and Wireless Combo Card WLAN 802.11b/g/n 1T1R+BT2.1"

What about the Bluetooth, where can I download the updated drivers?

Many thanks for your support.

MS-3871 is coming back as an MSI based product but with Intel driver support: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005490/boards-and-kits/desktop-boards.html

The wifi and BT drivers are sometimes rolled into one package; other times separate.  Depends on the hardware and software provider.

See the following for potential driver packages for the MS-3871 module:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/59485/Wireless-Networking

Or

http://botpartner.me/msi-ms-3871-40/

There's a good chance that updated drivers that have been validated with Windows 10 1903 don't exist due to age of the product. You may have to try installing various driver packages to see what works by trial and error. Worse case scenario is you'll need to purchase an aftermarket PCI wireless/BT combo card.

Alternately, you can also roll back the previous Windows update to a point when your hardware worked correctly.  That way you have internet connection again. I say this because last week, Microsoft pushed out updated WIFI and BT drivers for various chipsets because of compatibility issues with the latest update. You might get lucky and get updated drivers that way.  Only once they've been updated should you then try to proceed with updating the OS.

You have to do all the windows updates including the DOTNET updates then re-install the OEM Drivers from DELL not from anywhere else.

You have to do all the windows updates including the DOTNET updates then re-install the OEM Drivers from DELL not from anywhere else.

@speedstepNot necessarily.

The driver you linked to was only validated as far as Windows 8.1.  The last OS build that affected many people didn't work properly with older device drivers.  In fact, Microsoft requested vendors such as Qualcomm to release updated drivers to ensure compatibility.  What you're suggesting won't help the OP if Dell keeps pushing older driver packages that are incompatible with latest build.

As long as the driver package was written for the actual hardware it's being installed for, it should work 99.9% of the time.

"Alternately, you can also roll back the previous Windows update to a point when your hardware worked correctly.  That way you have internet connection again. I say this because last week, Microsoft pushed out updated WIFI and BT drivers for various chipsets because of compatibility issues with the latest update. You might get lucky and get updated drivers that way.  Only once they've been updated should you then try to proceed with updating the OS."

Can't do that, I've been having this issue for a couple of months now but never managed to sort it out, that's why I came here.

I'm going to try the other options that you gave me as soon as I arrive home and than I'll provide a feedback.

Many thanks!

I've tested everything that you guys said but unfortunately no Wifi or Bluetooth signal...

This is really annoying, Dell should step up and help as I've seen more people with this problem and no real solution to it..

If anyone remembers something else please do let me know.

Many thanks for the help

Download Macrium reflect.  Create a bootable recovery USB stick.  Follow that up with creating an image of your boot drive onto an external media source.

Once done, download a copy of the latest Windows 10 stable build which should be 1903.  Make an ISO of it and reinstall Windows.  Let Win10 download all drivers from that point onwards.  See if all hardware works thereafter. If not, you can always restore to the image you created and start troubleshooting from square one again.

There's always the possibility that your particular wifi+bt hardware is no longer supported by Windows. In that case, you can purchase an external dongle or internal PCI card to take over those duties.

Sorry bud, I wish I could help more. It's hard diagnosing things unless you're actually in front of the machine.

Pretty sure one little module (maybe mini-PCIe card) does both of those.

If it is not showing in Device Manager ... it is normally either
- Not connected properly
- Bad/Defective

Yes, they are inexpensive and they have been known to go bad eventually.

Personally, if I was unable to replace with same part, then I would just:
- Used wired ethernet
- Get a USB-dongle for BlueTooth 4.0 (newer radio-tech, very compatible, antenna now external) . 

I will probably just get a new WiFi and Bluetooth dongle.

I think it's the Windows 10 update that just made those 2 Drivers (Wifi and Bluetooth) unrecognisable on the system...

Pretty sad that Alienware and Dell know about that (I've seen more posts regarding this issue) and they don't release any fix or update the Wifi and Bluetooth drivers.

Thanks for all the help, if you do remember something please let me knew as I would prefer to fix the issue rather than just buy something new.