quite new windows 7 laptop: wireless networks just disappeared?

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amorphia

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Dec 30, 2011
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Hi all!

I have a few-months-old windows 7 laptop. Wireless worked fine out of the box. Recently after unsleeping wireless no longer works. Only symptom: the tray wireless icon says no networks are available. I know there are working networks in my area (I have other devices connected). Everything else looks as it should be, e.g. the wireless adaptor is enabled in device manager. Attempted with no sucess: rebooting, disabling and renenabling wireless adaptor, wireless troubleshooter, restarting WLAN service, searching for updated drivers from device manager (I am told they are up to date).

Model: Realtek RTL8723AE Wireless LAN 802. 11n PCI-E NIC.

I had not installed any software or windows updates so I am really confused about what might have happened. Very grateful for any advice!

Cheers,

Ben
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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Sep 13, 2010
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I would go into the network control panel, manage wireless networks, and delete your wireless network. Then restart allowing the computer to discover available networks, go into the system tray icon and select yours (re-enter the security key and check the connect automatically box).

Sleep is still not working perfectly and probably never will so I would suggest once this is fixed that you disable sleep/hibernate and simply use a blank screen saver that shuts off the screen in a few minutes.
 
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Chainzsaw

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Dec 31, 2002
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Does your laptop happen to have a Hardware switch for the WLAN? Check to see if it's on or off. Some laptops require you to press the "Fn" key (near the bottom left side normally) + one of the F1-12 keys at the top (it might show a little wireless picture on one of the keys).

You may also want to check your BIOS to see if your WIFI adapter is on - although highly unlikely if you said the WIFI adapter is showing as working properly in the device manager.

Do you have proper antivirus and malware protection? I've seen malware and viruses wreak havoc on network/wireless cards.
 
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amorphia

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Dec 30, 2011
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Thanks for the ideas! I deleted all my wireless networks and rebooted - no joy. I should have said that there are many networks here that I have never connected to, but I also can't see to so this was not likely to be the problem. I have no hardware switch, and anyway, as you say for the BIOS, the device should not show up as fully enabled if that was the problem. I have a Fn-key that disables and enables but again this is not the problem. Any more ideas? I'm starting to believe in a hardware fault, how plausible is that?

Oh and I do have proper anti-virus also...
 
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Chainzsaw

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It's possible your wireless card is going. Is it easy to access on your laptop? I know some laptops have the wifi card right under the laptop with a cover and a few screws - you could try re-seating the wifi card if it's easily accessible, just make sure the computer is off when you do it (and battery unplugged from laptop).

Do you happen to have a USB wifi card? If so you could try that out and see what happens. Really not sure what else you could check out.
 
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amorphia

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Dec 30, 2011
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Thanks for those ideas also. It seems there is grounds to ask for support from the dealer as a hardware problem seems possible. I see USB wifi cards are very cheap so also worth a go.
 
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dontreallyknow

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Mar 14, 2014
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I had the same thing happen recently. I started up my computer and got a message that it was installing updates. When it finished, it didn't recognize that it even had a wireless adaptor and said that there were no networks available when I knew for a fact that there were. I restored my computer to the day prior, before the updates and it works fine now. There were two updates that had been installed, both had to do with Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1 for Windows 7 x64-based Systems or something like that. I was also showing errors under device manager (network adaptors) before I restored it that I don't have now.



 
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ray3501

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Mar 15, 2014
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I have no idea. I have a 2-year-old laptop and there are no issues with wifi card or network. It uses Athenos (can't get the full detail, though). And it is on Windows 7 x64.

BTW, what are the name of the 2 updates?
 
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Gomer Pyle

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Mar 6, 2015
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thank you soo much,,,this is exactly what i needed....i had the same symptoms and with your help found that the wifi button was not turned on [ Fn + F2 , keys]
 
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