My aging computer has recently started rejecting using wireless (am unable to do wired due to my living circumstances), and I seem to have run out of options other than reinstalling windows (at this point, installing :tux: )or updating the hardware, so I figured I'd post here to see if anyone has any ideas before pursuing any further solutions. It's a custom built computer, so I'm using a wireless adapter instead of an integrated chipset or whatever it's called. I've ruled out the wireless transceiver as an issue, as my roommate's adapter worked the same way (I did install the drivers first).
I took a photo of my screen (no internet so you can't punish me!) to show that the wireless transceiver drivers are functioning in the task manager, and the device manager recognizes that I have the transceiver plugged in. I edited out my desktop background (though it's not really incriminating at all so I could post the original photo if needed) No wi-fi networks appear when I open the internet menu (the menu exists cut-off as pictured: the buttons that read wi-fi, airplane mode, and mobile hotspot do not appear. the menu does not get larger than that tiny corner).
So far everything I've tried has been your normal turning it off and on again, unplugging & plugging back in the transceivers into different USB ports, reinstalling the drivers (on several occasions), windows's "Network Reset" function (which says it uninstalls all relevant drivers and everything). Something to note is that my windows is probably like 6 months plus out of date. I have experienced a couple similar bouts of illness before (all this calendar year), but these were all able to be solved with the "Network Reset" function.
I'm mostly posting this here on a lark, since I've been able to get tech problems solved like this in the past. Also if this is the wrong comm and I should post in askchapo instead or something let me know.
Something to note is that my windows is probably like 6 months plus out of date.
It's been a while since I've had to troubleshoot Windows, but I would definitely recommend updating your OS to remove that potential variable.
Any particular reason you haven't been applying system updates? :thinkin-lenin:
Edit: I just realised that if you don't have wifi OR ethernet, then you have no internet and cannot download Windows updates lol. Regarding ethernet, you could consider a powerline ethernet connection, something like this . It's not ideal, but it could get you online.
Any particular reason you haven’t been applying system updates?
Whoops, forgot to respond. It's because I hate microsoft and expect their updates to break things. My ex always said that was an autism thing, but I think that it's just the normal reaction to have with user-hostile features that 'updates' that major corporations always make
Yeah, that's understandable, but the downside to that is that you're also missing critical security patches and it's also possible that skipping updates caused your wifi issue :ohnoes:
Surprise: my university WIFI actually works when I tether with my laptop, so I'm gonna do the windows update and see how it goes.
Tbf I could try to take it somewhere I can plug it in in order to try to download updates that way. It'll have to wait a week, but it is possible
Your wireless card could be dead. Even if you're on a laptop they're usually pretty easy to replace. If you can get a Linux live USB going somehow, that would allow you to check if it's a hardware or software problem.
This is a custom-built desktop PC, without in-built wireless function. Is this a part of all motherboards to allow internet connection, or are you referring to the things that most commercial computers have in order to do wifi without any attachments?
When you say you have a wireless adapter, is that the kind where it's attached by USB to the back of your computer, or the kind where you buy it separately then put it in a slot in your motherboard?
Since it's a desktop I recommend looking into a PCIe wireless adapter. You would have to make sure you have an open slot on the motherboard first.
You can see the A7000 application running. It’s for a usb wifi adapter. They’re usually pretty solid, I had one for a couple years
I took a photo of my screen (no internet so you can’t punish me!)
well let's not be too hasty, you could have taken a proper screenshot and copied it onto a usb device (including a phone), burned it onto a cd-r, or printed and scanned it.
Are you on 10 or higher? If so, I've had good luck with their general system repair tools by running as admin
sfc /scannow1 or more times until it reports that it found no issues. Next, run as admin
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth1 or more times until it finds no issues. Next, restart the computer and see if the issue persists
Edit: oh, wait. DISM is an internet-connected tool, so if you have a way to connect by ethernet you should be able to use it. If not, you'd need a local install image to pull from for the /online option
I should be able to plug it into ethernet in a week. I can try the sfc when I'm home this evening though.
If you need to get online temporarily you might be able to USB tether if you have a phone with hotspot capabilities
Second that the adapter itself could be toast, in my experience those little things can get really hot and flakey. So I'd look at replacing that, but you can also check those USB ports it's plugged into. I like the idea of using a bootable Linux USB to check if your devices/hardware are working.
Windows could have updated, or the drivers could have updated and broke something. So you could look at rolling back the drivers for the WiFi adapter to an older version. There's guides online for this and it can be a struggle, my heart goes out to you
Maybe perhaps also there's a generic driver you could try to use. Unfortunately you basically need internet to troubleshoot why you can't get internet to work, it sucks.
This sometimes happens to me and I usually just restart a few times.
that stopped working for me unfortunately. This has actually been a problem for a few weeks, my roommate only just the other day lent me her wireless transceiver to try it out. If I had to guess, at this point I've restarted my computer something like 30 or 40 times total since this issue started :deeper-sadness:
I feel your pain. I had some flaky issue like this years ago and got so frustrated I ran cat6 everywhere I sit to work in my joint.
I've never been so free.
this is what I've settled on, if it is at all possible to run a cable, absolutely run a cable
Do you have another computer you could plug the wireless adapter into? If it works on another computer, you probably have a software problem (drivers, reinstall the OS, etc). If it doesn't work, that (inconclusively) points to it being broken.
Windows 10 Home, vz 1909, installed 06/06/2020, os build 18363.1556. I have no idea when I last updated the motherboard firmware, it probably would have been when I reinstalled windows (soo 3 yrs ago). That might be an issue.
Thanks so mmuch, this turned out to be the issue! Appreciate everyone who offered avice in the thread, couldnt have done it without yall!
I've had similar issues, now I have my adapter sitting above my fan on an extension thingy to try to keep it cool and I think I've got ok results from it.
