Member Avatar for misd_bunder

Hai Guys.. I have a Toshiba Satellite L500 model laptop. I had installed a new copy of Windows7 32bit OS and after that my button (Fn + F8) to turn on the wifi doesn't work. I had also changed the WLAN drivers properly but it still don't work. Please someone help me. Thank you.

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Dani AI

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A compact troubleshooting checklist for that builds on ’s BIOS tip and ’s slider idea. Because most Fn keys came back after removing the Toshiba package, the problem is probably a Windows/driver/hotkey-layer issue (or a hidden radio control) rather than simple hardware failure.

Steps to try (in order):

  1. Confirm Windows actually sees and enables the radio: Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings — make sure the wireless adapter is shown and Enabled.

  2. Device Manager → Network adapters: look for the WLAN adapter (Intel / Broadcom / Atheros). If it’s missing/flagged, uninstall the device, reboot, then install the correct Windows 7 (32-bit) driver for the Satellite L500 from Toshiba or the adapter vendor. In Device Manager also check View → Show hidden devices for any Toshiba ACPI/unknown devices (missing hotkey drivers can appear here).

  3. Ensure the Windows WLAN service is running (WLAN AutoConfig / wlansvc). As a quick diagnostic run in a command window: 

    netsh wlan show interfaces

    If it shows no interfaces, Windows isn’t exposing the card.

  4. Reinstall only the Toshiba “Function Key” / hotkey driver that matches the L500 and Win7 32‑bit (avoid installing extra VAP components until hotkeys are working). Reboot after each install and create a System Restore point first.

  5. Power settings: Device Manager → wireless adapter → Properties → Power Management — uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”

If none of the above works: test hardware outside Windows (boot a Linux live USB to see if Wi‑Fi works). If Wi‑Fi fails in Linux too, the card, antenna or a physical radio switch is likely faulty; if it works in Linux, focus on drivers/hotkey utilities in Windows. If no visible slider is found, inspect the front edge, left/right sides and above the keyboard for a small recessed switch or button with an antenna icon. As a quick workaround, a cheap USB Wi‑Fi adapter will bypass internal hardware.

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Member Avatar for franceee

What have you tried?
Another idea is to make sure it is enabled in the bios.
if you boot up into your BIOS press F2 during Toshiba splash screen, in one of the menus will have a setting for enabling WiFi, make sure this is ENABLED.

Member Avatar for misd_bunder

Thanks for your help.

I had installed the toshiba utility package after that every function key combinations were become inactive. When I uninstall this package then every function key combinations are working properly except Fn+F8 and Fn+F9.I had also checked the BIOS setup and Wireless is enabled.

Is there any other way to turn the wifi on?

Member Avatar for mjdodd

This may seem obvious but I gad a client with a similar machine and same problem! Eventually solved by turning on the slider switch on front of the machine to "enable" wireless mode. A number of machines have such a switch and it may be worth checking!
M

Member Avatar for misd_bunder

Sorry, I don't get what you mean by the slider switch and I can't find anything on my machine.

Thank you.

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