No wireless network found

[mps727]

I have a Dell Inspiron Netbook and for the life of me I cannot seem tog et it connected to the internet wirelessly. I have a wireless router, which is working fine, because my other devices all connect with no problem. But with thsi Dell netbook, when I try to connect to a wireless network it says

"No wireless networks were found in range. Make sure the wireless switch on your computer is on. To see an updated list, click 'Refresh network list.'"

So

1. I have no idea why the wireless network is not found. The router is right next to me. Literally, one foot away right now, and nothing else has problems finding it.

2. 'Make sure the wireless switch on your computer is on'. I don't evenknow what this means. Where is the wireless switch? There doesn't seem to be one on this model laptop.

3. I can refresh the network lsit all day but ti still detects nothing.

I'm pulling out my hair at this point. I've been googling for solutions for about a week now and have made no progress.

[rm_daniweb]

what is your laptop model number DeLL Inspiron XXXX?

[mps727]

Looking at the bottom, I see a label that says Model No: PP39S

Is that what you mean?

also, checking my order from when I bought it, it says "Inspiron 910 Intel Atom processor N270, 1.6GHz, 533Mhz512K L2 Cache"

It is running Windows.

Edited because it inserted smilies O_o

[hughv]

I have this Netbook, and there's no switch.
Is SSID broadcast on?
Are the wireless adapter drivers installed?
Can you connect via ethernet?
Is the Wireless Zero Service running?
Have you run the wireless Network wizard?

[mps727]

>> Is SSID broadcast on?

Yes, other devices have no problem finding the network.

>> Are the wireless adapter drivers installed?
I thought so... How can I be 100% sure of this?

>> Can you connect via ethernet?
Yup, a wired connection works fine.

>> Is the Wireless Zero Service running?
Yep, just checked and it is running.

[hughv]

Look in Device manager under Network adapters. You should see two, one for wired and one for wireless

[mps727]

Yes there is one for Ethernet, and the other says Broadcom 802.11g which is wireless correct?

[hughv]

Yes.
Uninstall this adapter and reboot to reinstall it. (Just rt-click it in Device Manager).
It's possible you need to update this driver, so check the Dell site also.

[mps727]

I uninstalled it and restarted. A messaged popped up in the bottom right corner and it was back in the device manager. I guess it was reinstalled automatically?

I went to the dell website and came to this part:

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?os=WW1&osl=EN&catid=5&impid=-1&servicetag=&SystemID=INSPIRON910&hidos=WW1&hidlang=en&TabIndex=

So I want the Broadcom driver that says Wireless LAN, not the on that says Bluetooth or any of the other ones right? I downloaded it and installed it but there was no change.

[hughv]

Run the wireless network wizard.

[mps727]

I ran the wizard. I'm not sure if I did it right. It wanted me to plug a USB flash drive in and then then plug the drive into the access point.

However here's something I noticed. I saw that after installing that updated driver, ther is a wireless configuration utility in the control panel. I ran it and clicked Add Network and it tells me this:

"The Dell wireless WLAN card is still disabled. Slide the wireless ON/OFF switch to enable it or press Fn-F2 to enable it."

Now I know there's no on off switch, but I did press Fn-F2 and nothing happened.

I also noticed that the "2" key has a blue icon of what looks like a radio tower or something which makes me think maybe Fn-2 is supposed to turn on wireless? But I tried pressing that too and nothing happened.

Edit: Visual Aid
http://www.gottabemobile.com/content/binary/WindowsLiveWriter/MoreDellInspiron910InformationLeaksOut_FADF/image_2.png

[caperjack]

try shift + 2

[hughv]

Fn-2 is the proper key combo.
Do you see a wireless icon in the system tray?

[mps727]

Fn-2 seems to do nothing. In the system tray, I see the wireless icon with a red X on it, and it says "Wireless Connection 3 not connected. Right Click here for more options"

Not sure if that's the icon you mean, but I see no other icons related to wireless.

[hughv]

That's the icon. I don't think there's any visible sign when you toggle it.
What happens when you right-click?
You should get a list of wireless networks.

[mps727]

I right click and there is a popup menu with the following options:

Change Windows Firewall Settings
View Network Connections
Repair
View Available Wireless Networks

I did try hitting repair, but as it goes through the repair process it gets to the "Connecting to the Wireless Network" step, it fails.

I also tried turning off the windows firewall but this also had no effect.

Clicking on View Available Wireless Networks simply brings up the screen tat says it cannot find any wireless networks.

[hughv]

Toggle the wireless adapter (Fn-2) and try to view again.
If that doesn't work, and your adapter says it's functioning, you need to get in touch with Dell. This has always worked flawlessly for me, so either your configuration is way off, or there's a hardware problem.

[r2y2a2n]

Hold down the button Fn and F2 at the same time then its complete :)

[zxor 2]

ok this is an easy one
there are 2 ways to activate the card 1 is with the combination of the function button+ where you see a (((( signal bar on the end of the key

the second is to find the switch at the base near the keyboard (its usually where you close the laptop there shopuld be a switch just below the opening swich for the laptop

[zxor 2]

Better yet check two locatrions
the front of the laptop shoukld have a slide swith for the wifi card
most dell's do ...... and second ...it can be activated by one of the f function cards
it has a (((((*))))) symbol like this one or a !)))) icon on the key
that will turn it on and off ....good luck