My pc cant find any wifi networks

[unknownindividual]

It will only respond to ethernet and I need this laptop mostly for wifi. Please help.

[Spork829]

1. Restart the computer

2.. Make sure you have the latest drivers for the wifi adapter. You can check for updates through device manager. 

3. If you can, open up the laptop, find the wifi adapter and physically take it out then put it back in.

 

[Lurick]

Is there a button that disables the wifi? Perhaps you flipped the switch or pressed the button.

Open of Networking Adapters, right click on the wireless adapter, disable and then enable.

[unknownindividual]

I uninstalled the driver and now I regret it. Where can I download drivers for my computer. (Dell XPS 15 l502x)

[Hans Christian | Teri]

1 minute ago, unknownindividual said:

I uninstalled the driver and now I regret it. Where can I download drivers for my computer. (Dell XPS 15 l502x)

Dells website would be a good first choice. 

[Apathetik]

Depending on the specific laptop there's a multitude of various things that could be causing the problem. Spork829's suggested are good for a start. Though dealing with the phsyical wifi card can be easier said than done if your specific laptop doesn't have quick access panels on the bottom.

 

Lurick is spot on. Definitely check to make sure you haven't disabled the card through a toggle. On most laptops that don't have a dedicated switch for this. There will usually be a combination of the Function key (FN) and one of the F(1-12) keys at the top to toggle wifi connectivity. (Every laptop I've ever owned fast FN+F2). Edit: Also, most laptop bios will allow you to disable wifi/bluetooth. But it's unlikely this got toggled unintentionally. Still something to check though.

 

First thing is first though. Did the laptop previously connect properly to your wifi? If it did. Did you make any changes, or potentially any unintended (such as updates, etc) to either the wireless configuration on your AP. Or the laptop itself?

6 minutes ago, unknownindividual said:

I uninstalled the driver and now I regret it. Where can I download drivers for my computer. (Dell XPS 15 l502x)

If you go to dells website, you should be able to look up your product either through model number. Or serial number (generally better). Both of which are usually listed somewhere on the bottom of the device. But there should be instructions on the website if you can't find it.

Edited May 26, 2016 by Apathetik
Forgot something. lol

[PokeCatz]

9 minutes ago, unknownindividual said:

I uninstalled the driver and now I regret it. Where can I download drivers for my computer. (Dell XPS 15 l502x)

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/xps-l502x/

[unknownindividual]

1 hour ago, PokeCatz said:

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/xps-l502x/

I installed but nothing.

[Ords]

Windows Update has drivers if you have a hard time finding them. In the optional updates.

[bgibbz]

3 hours ago, unknownindividual said:

It will only respond to ethernet and I need this laptop mostly for wifi. Please help.

Try pressing F2 or fn +F2. On my Dell, that is the button that disables/enables wifi. If that doesnt work, check device manager and make sure the wifi card is detected.

[unknownindividual]

6 minutes ago, bgibbz said:

Try pressing F2 or fn +F2. On my Dell, that is the button that disables/enables wifi. If that doesnt work, check device manager and make sure the wifi card is detected.

How can I be so stupid. Thank you. 

[Apathetik]

1 hour ago, unknownindividual said:

I installed but nothing.

I looked at the Dell support page for your laptop. Seems that laptop can come with many different wireless cards in it. Most common thing I see happening when people have that many options is installing the wrong driver. If you used your Service Tag, Express Service Code, or the auto-detect hardware functionality from dell you can ignore this, as that should have pointed you to the correct drivers.

 

Next thing I'd do is open your Device Manager. Windows Key + R, type "devmgmt.msc" (without quotes) and press enter to get at it quickly. Check for hardware that has a yellow question mark on it's icon. This usually indicates a device without drivers. If you don't have any hardware with missing drivers. Go to the 'Network Adapters' section and verify that your wireless card is listed. 

 

If it is listed, right click it and open properties to verify the card is working properly. In the 'General' tab it lists Device Status at the bottom. It should indicate if the device is malfunctioning (including an error code), disabled, or functioning properly.

 

If your wireless card is not listed. And no hardware is showing up as unidentified/missing drivers. The card itself is not being initialized and or recognized by the system at some stage of bootup. I've seen this range from an unseated card, or disabled completely in bios. To a completely dead card. 

 

Edit: You just posted you got it working like a few seconds before I finished this.  Glad you got it working. Disregard everything else though. haha

 

 

Edited May 27, 2016 by Apathetik
Irrelephant now. lol

[bgibbz]

25 minutes ago, unknownindividual said:

How can I be so stupid. Thank you. 

No problem:) I went 2 weeks without wifi on my laptop a couple years ago because of this issue. Glad it works.