Pau Lo
asked on
no wireless adaptor showing in control panel
I'm trying to revive an old laptop I've been given that was surplus to requirements. Firstly I wanted to check how far behind it was in terms of windows updates. Using systeminfo command it details it as HP Pavilion 15 Notebook, running Windows 10 home. The problem is, in control panel > network and internet > network connections. There are no wireless adapters listed, only a WAN Miniport (PPOE) with status disconnected, and an Ethernet connection. Surely all laptops come with a wireless adaptor? Any testing I could perform to verify the spec/status of the wireless adaptor and why it isn't showing in network connections? I can provide the product ID if required for specs etc.
Just checked 'device manager' which lists the Realtek PCIe family controller for the ethernet adaptor, but the only other entries are WAN MIniPort, cannot see anything specific to wireless adaptors and a WAN Miniport is not something I've ever come across before.
Just checked 'device manager' which lists the Realtek PCIe family controller for the ethernet adaptor, but the only other entries are WAN MIniPort, cannot see anything specific to wireless adaptors and a WAN Miniport is not something I've ever come across before.
John
You have covered the two bases. There is no wireless card or it has a hardware problem
Your wireless adapter may be disabled you may have a switch at the side of your laptop or one of the function keys.
Google the Model number and look at the specs. That will tell you what it came with.
ASKER
>Your wireless adapter may be disabled you may have a switch at the side of your laptop or one of the function keys.
I cant see any switches but if it was disabled would it not show in device manager? None of the F keys show any sort of wireless symbol that I can tell.
I cant see any switches but if it was disabled would it not show in device manager? None of the F keys show any sort of wireless symbol that I can tell.
ASKER
>Google the Model number and look at the specs. That will tell you what it came with.
there is very little on the actual underside of the device, that's why I tried systeminfo, which states its product ID as 00326-10000-00000-AA459 HP Pavilion 15 Notebook PC x64-based.
there is very little on the actual underside of the device, that's why I tried systeminfo, which states its product ID as 00326-10000-00000-AA459 HP Pavilion 15 Notebook PC x64-based.
If there is a switch to turn it off, it should still show up in device manager.
ASKER
I cant see any switch and it doesn't show in device manager.
I think the wireless is either not there or is not working
ASKER
is it rare for a fairly modern laptop to come without a wireless adaptor installed, seems very odd?
It could have failed, then it would show a red mark in Device Manager.
It could have become unseated, then it would not show. You must open the laptop to determine this.
If is a supplied item and may not have been ordered.
It could have become unseated, then it would not show. You must open the laptop to determine this.
If is a supplied item and may not have been ordered.
>> seems very odd?
There should be a specific model number. That will easily tell you what came with it. No more guessing.
There should be a specific model number. That will easily tell you what came with it. No more guessing.
I would start with HP diagnostics
ASKER
>There should be a specific model number. That will easily tell you what came with it. No more guessing.
there is 100% no model listed on the case itself anywhere. except "pavilion". serial number from a winaudit report shows a value which when you 'google it' returns 0 hits.
there is 100% no model listed on the case itself anywhere. except "pavilion". serial number from a winaudit report shows a value which when you 'google it' returns 0 hits.
The particulars are probably on a label underneath the battery. Remove the battery to see.
If you pull the access panels off the underside, is there a model on the inside of one of them?
ASKER
hmm... the "wireless module check" from within "component tests" from the "HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI" (press esc and F2 from start up) states "not installed". every other hardware diagnostic test passes.
I cant see much value in a laptop without a wireless adaptor/card. Could it be there is a USB type wireless adaptor for these devices?
I cant see much value in a laptop without a wireless adaptor/card. Could it be there is a USB type wireless adaptor for these devices?
Yes. You can readily get USB Wi-Fi Adapters.
ASKER
>If you pull the access panels off the underside, is there a model on the inside of one of them?
If I take the battery out I can see model: 15-p086sa
If I take the battery out I can see model: 15-p086sa
>>model: 15-p086sa
Specs:
https://support.hp.com/ph-en/document/c04373408
Base specs says it has wireless:
I suppose it is possible your company ordered it without wireless for security purposes.
Check the BIOS to see if it shows up there.
Specs:
https://support.hp.com/ph-en/document/c04373408
Base specs says it has wireless:
Wireless Connectivity 802.11b/g/n (1x1) and Bluetooth 4.0 combo
I suppose it is possible your company ordered it without wireless for security purposes.
Check the BIOS to see if it shows up there.
ASKER
>I suppose it is possible your company ordered it without wireless for security purposes.
its not for work purposes its a personal device.
its not for work purposes its a personal device.
>>its not for work purposes its a personal device.
But you got it from "surplus" so you likely aren't the original one that ordered them?
But you got it from "surplus" so you likely aren't the original one that ordered them?
ASKER
its from a family friend who gave it us as a spare but will never have been used in a work environment.
ASKER
>Check the BIOS to see if it shows up there.
I cannot see any mention of a wireless adaptor in BIOS. I ran the 'wireless module check' and it claims - NOT INSTALLED, presume that is the check to see if an internal adaptor is installed or not. I will check how they used to get online previously, seems bizarre to me a personal device with no wireless adaptor or why it would have been removed if it is part of the base spec. can you think bar security in a corporate environment (n/a in this instance), why an internal wireless card would ever be removed?
I cannot see any mention of a wireless adaptor in BIOS. I ran the 'wireless module check' and it claims - NOT INSTALLED, presume that is the check to see if an internal adaptor is installed or not. I will check how they used to get online previously, seems bizarre to me a personal device with no wireless adaptor or why it would have been removed if it is part of the base spec. can you think bar security in a corporate environment (n/a in this instance), why an internal wireless card would ever be removed?
You are really at a point, if you want answers to all your questions, that you must open up the laptop and see what is going on.
You have to open it up. Can't assume anything. A laptop may have come with one, but that doesn't mean that it was never removed sometime later. Assuming it was removed, it could've been for a variety of reasons, including to install in another system.
ASKER
excuse my ignorance but is 'reseating' the wifi adaptor a physical action, rather than a software based configuration change?
Yes, reseating, checking antennas is all a physical action.
excuse my ignorance but is 'reseating' the wifi adaptor a physical action, rather than a software based configuration change?Yes. You have to open the door where the card is located, and make sure that it is properly in the slot. While you're at it, also make sure that the antenna are properly connected.
http://partsurfer.hp.com/Search.aspx?type=PROD&SearchText=J5B67EA lists the antenna but no wireless module so it may be integrated onto the motherboard. I can't find a WLAN adapter for it on Google. Partsurfer may give you more info if you enter the serial number of the unit.
ASKER
well I've reinstalled all relevant drivers but the hardware diagnostic tests still say the wireless module not installed. I am not confident to do a 'reseat' but the cost of USB wifi adapters seem they are the obvious bet. Replacing internal wireless adapter seems quite expensive and not beneficial as its a few years old the device.
Replacing internal wireless adapter seems quite expensive and not beneficial as its a few years old the device.All about where you buy from. I've bought pretty good wireless cards from eBay.
ASKER
It also looks like the machine was shipped with windows 7 pre-installed and was upgraded to windows 10 at a later date and possibly this has caused some of the issues. as the online specs don't give much detail on the wifi adapter I cant find if theres a windows 10 driver for it.
Have you verified that there is actually a wireless card in there?
7 / 10 have nothing to do with Device Driver (and it is not there).
You are trying to solve this with software. Open the box and see what is going on.
You are trying to solve this with software. Open the box and see what is going on.
ASKER
sorry to go off topic but are the USB wifi adapters universal to all hardware or do you need to research those which will work with a specific make model of laptop
sorry to go off topic but are the USB wifi adapters universal to all hardware or do you need to research those which will work with a specific make model of laptopThey are universal. Just a matter of there being drivers for the OS.
You need one with Drivers for your laptop. Drivers are very much specific.
>>It also looks like the machine was shipped with windows 7 pre-installed and was upgraded to windows 10
That made me think of a similar issue I had.
I also had issues with an older laptop like this: Windows 10 didn't have any drivers that would recognize some devices and the Wireless card was one of them. In the device list you should see them as unknown devices.
That made me think of a similar issue I had.
I also had issues with an older laptop like this: Windows 10 didn't have any drivers that would recognize some devices and the Wireless card was one of them. In the device list you should see them as unknown devices.
can you connect a Bluetooth device as the wireless module contains Bluetooth as well
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