No I just want the button disabled so the user does not accidentally disable the wireless connection.
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Browse All TopicsHow can I disable the wireless button on the Acer Aspire 3610.
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I believe the button/switch controls whether or not the wireless NIC receives power from the motherboard. As such, I don't believe it is possible to actually stop the button from doing its job short of turning off the wireless NIC altogether.
The only other advice I can offer is that there may be something in the BIOS that will allow you to disable the button, but I imagine that would also turn the NIC off as well.
You might try something a little hacky if nothing else works, like putting a small piece of masking tape over the button/switch to discourage accidental bumping.
I would concur with that assumption about the button just cutting the power. That's why, when you turn it off, Windows still has the Wifi adapter present, but just thinks it can't see any wireless networks. I haven't seen your particular laptop, but all the other brands I've played with have led me to that conclusion.
Sometimes the button requires custom software by the provider (i.e. Acer), so you could hunt in your installed programs for something. But I'd doubt that it would be able to actually stop the off from meaning off.
Sounds like the unanimous opinion at this point is to either disable it manually (i.e. tape, glue), or disable it mechanically (take it apart and remove the trigger mechanism), or simply remove it altogether.
The fourth solution would be to inform the people using the laptop that they need to be aware of it.
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by: David-HowardPosted on 2009-11-03 at 10:27:00ID: 25731869
I'm not sure you can disable the button itself. However, you should be able to go into the Networking icon and disable the wireless adapter. To do this, right click the My Network Places icon and select Properties.
Then right click the wireless adapter and select Disable.