Wireless Capabilities Off after Windows 8 Clean install

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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Okay, so... After wrestling with my computer for a bit, I have a fully functioning yet unactivated clean installation of Windows 8. My computer is a Lenovo U410, my wireless adapter is an Intel Centrino Wireless-n 2230.

My Problem:
I cannot connect to anything via WiFi. I am "Not Connected-No connections are available." I can connect with ethernet (but it's a laptop... so that's not much of a solution).
I ran some tests:
Windows 8 says I need to "Turn on Wireless Capability."
Intel Manual Diagnostics says my problem is "Hardware radio is OFF"
My device is recognized, functioning and has all the latest drivers (So unless you have any suggestions related to drivers other than a) Trying Lenovo's drivers from their website, b) Trying the correct Intel drivers. or c) Uninstalling the drivers and trying both again, please don't mention drivers). Every test has also shown that my device is not faulty, and is enabled (It has functioned before as well).

I tried some other various tests from around the internet... (Unplugging battery for 5 minutes, running various powershell commands, trying in Safemode) nothing worked. There is no external wireless on-off switch (I WISH it was that simple), and I can't turn it on through the Windows 8 settings (Slider is greyed out).

Outstanding Issues:
"Hardware Radio" is off
Windows 8 has not yet been activated (I am trying to fix this Wireless issue first)
Besides those two items, nothing else seems wrong. Please let me know if you need more information.

So if anyone has any experience with this problem, or just has suggestions in general, please give some input. I am willing to try anything!

Thanks,

DonQuixoteMC

 
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Funny you should mention that. I was just looking for that exact thing, but It would appear such drivers don't apply to IdeaPads. I found several for ThinkPads, but unfortunately nothing for mine.
If you have any idea where such drivers could be found for the Lenovo U410, by all means let me know! However, as far as I saw, there never was such a function key combination that could turn on/off Wireless (Other than an Airplane mode toggle. Which is off.)

Next, I'll be using one of my old Linux LiveCDs to test the WiFi outside of Windows 8. I'll try this after I'm done formatting my HDD.

Thanks for your help!

DonQuixoteMC
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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If your W8 install was an 'upgrade version' it could have been activated by immediately performing a 'Refresh your PC', i.e. with your Installation Media still in place, type 'Refresh' and from settings choose 'Refresh your PC' (any recent additions of software will be lost during the process, which is why it should be done immediately...) Another possibility would be Telephone Activation.
As for the wireless prob. have you tried F7??
 
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Yeah, I was going to activate it when I knew this problem was fixed, just because I don't want to activate it on a machine I'm not able to fix. And yes, I tried F7. It doesn't change anything, and airplane mode is off.

I just noticed something else yesterday, in my device manager I have three items missing drivers. I'm positive one is the Nvidia GPU, and one is called a PCI Simple Communications Controller. I'm convinced that this is my issue, because when I installed Windows 8 a few days ago, Device manager did not show that device as lacking drivers, and I did not have this WiFi problem. It's the only thing that changed, and to me seems like the only thing that could be causing it. Any suggestions?

On a side note, my Windows 8 Version is the "System Builder."
Thanks for your help!!

DonQuixoteMC
 
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dodger46

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You can re-install as often as you like but it may reject after 5 times. If so

1) Press Windows key + R, then type: slui.exe 4

2) Next press the 'ENTER' key

3) Select your 'Country' from the list.

4) Choose the 'Phone Activation' option.

5) Stay on the phone (do not select/press any options) and wait for a person to help you with activation.

6) Explain your problem clearly to the support person.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929/en-us

Could it be the 'Smart Connect' software requ. for the Wireless?
zIX8exv.png
 
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Do you think the fact that it's unactivated could be causing the problem?
And where did you find the drivers in the image you posted?

Thanks!
 
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Yeah, very true. Stranger things have happened. I looked up the limitations of an unactivated Windows 8, and there's nothing about loss of networking (and Ethernet works so, that would be an inconsistent limitation.) Plus, it doesn't work under another OS either.
Thanks for link, I'll try that before I open my laptop up again!

I'm only hesitant to activate my machine with faulty wireless, just because if I need to change hardware, I don't want to change the hardware signature and be unable to reinstall/activate Windows because I'm using a "different computer." I don't know if it actually works like that, but it could happen. So I'm going to be overly paranoid about it.

Thanks for your continued help, Dodger! I'll let you know what I find.

DonQuixoteMC
 
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Well. This isn't going well at all. I think I'm stuck. I'll try to contact Lenovo tech support or something.
Thanks for your help Dodger, if you can think of anything else, please give me an update. If you need any information, let me know!

Hardware Radio is OFF... If only I could turn it on.
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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Second that...I assumed he had installed all, but the request for a link to drivers suggests this may not be the case....and there are a lot of drivers.
Dodger
(Ex HMS 'Revenge', SSBN Navcentre)

 
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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I have installed all drivers that seemed necessary, but I will check again.

I'm not too convinced that the problem is driver related, as both Windows and the Intel Proset Manual Diagnostics say that my device is functioning perfectly, and has all the related drivers. Both say the same thing (different wording): Hardware Radio is off.

Another thing that leads me to believe that it's not driver related: Every linux distro I have run with a liveCD (That previously had out of the box drivers for my Wireless adapter) have the same issue.

So, what I'm going to do is try to repair this within Linux, as several Lenovo U410 users running ubuntu had a similar problem. It only took a few terminal commands to fix.

I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks!

DonQuixoteMC
 
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DonQuixoteMC

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Okay, well I haven't had the chance to try anything today, but I'd like some opinions:

ex_bubblehead, I think I was very stupid to disregard your suggestion. At this point, I think that I turned off my wireless with the Fn+FX keys at some point, and now I can't turn wireless back on because I don't have the drivers for them. I'm still looking for the drivers, but I have yet to find anything. (So do you think I should invest the time to look for them?)

and

My other plan will be to try to force it on while running Linux using some terminal commands. I'll try that in the morning. (Does this just sound like a bad idea? I've read some threads of people running into the same problem on the same model laptop, and fixing it with the commands I'm going to try)

Just would like some input on what you guys think of this plan. Thanks!

DonQuixoteMC
 
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DonQuixoteMC

DonQuixoteMC

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Last try...
I still have two "Unknown Devices" listed in the Device manager

I tried looking them up on PCI Database, but I found no results. The Hardware ID looks different than the other IDs I have seen, so I'm at a bit of a loss. See what you can make of them:

Unknown Device 1: ACPI\VEN_VPC&DEV_2004
Unknown Device 2: ACPI\VEN_AOA&DEV_2011

Sorry for bothering you guys for this long. If this attempt falls through, I'm going to some sort of IT support.

Thanks,

DonQuixoteMC
 
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dodger46

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Power Management Software/drivers
http://download.lenovo.com/consumer/mobiles/em8.0.2.3.exe


 
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dodger46

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Power Management Software/drivers?
http://download.lenovo.com/consumer/mobiles/em8.0.2.3.exe


 
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