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Laptop Suddenly Cannot Find Any Networks (Wifi) Available, But Router Is Not The Problem.

Anonymous
2009-06-03T04:31:42+00:00

My Laptop was working fine, until i packed it inside my big bag as i always do, and got driven to my mom's house from my dad's house; which is just a few miles away. I opened it up and it couldn't find any networks (wifi) available. I know the problem couldn't be the router because everyone elses laptops in my house work, and because my laptop usually shows at least 4 or 5 other wifi connections available, and mine shows none at all. The problem isn't the wifi switch either, it is on. Please Help!!!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2009-06-05T05:43:08+00:00

Hi Dubist,

Do you have a reason to think it might be spyware?

It sounds more like hardware if it just stopped working and there are no other issues.

Here is what I would do to try and figure out the issue.

Type cmd in the search bar and press enter. At the command line, type ping 127.0.0.1 and pres enter. You should get a response time back as a result. Something like this.

Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

If you do not, close the window and type device manager in the search bar and look under network adapters. See if you have a wireless device there and make sure there are not exclamation marks next to it.

If you have exclamation marks or any errors, reinstall the driver. If there is no device listed, it may simply have died and you may be looking at needing to purchase a new external wireless card.

Let us know what you find and we can go from there.

Matt

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-06-05T03:04:26+00:00

    Thanks for answering,

    i know what you are talking about, the switch is on.

    whenever i click change the theme it says windows host process (rundll32) has stopped working.

    And when i click settings on advance system settings it says advanced system settings has stopped working.

    Do you think its spyware?

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-06-04T05:36:13+00:00

    Hi Dubist,

    It is possible your wireless adapter have been turn off physically.  Check to see if there is a switch to turn it on/off or possible function button to turn it on/off.  Check your laptop manual/online documentation if you can't locate this or don't know if it have one or not.

    Regarding the desktop taskbar, this is possible because you have Windows Classic theme enable instead of the normal Vista theme or the system is configure to optimize for performance rather than display.

    Here's how you can change the theme

    1. Open Theme Settings by clicking the<br>Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking<br>Appearance and Personalization, clicking Personalization, and then clicking<br>Theme.
    2. Under<br>Theme, select the theme you want, and then click OK. <br><br>http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/7a733ea0-e9af-4300-ba31-a08dd2fbd85c1033.mspx

    To change system performance:

    Click Start, type in the search box Advance System Settings

    Once the window open, click on Settings under Performance

    Choose Let's Windows decide what's best for my system

    Hope this helps,

    Kevin

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-06-04T03:07:54+00:00

    Hi, Thank you for answering my question.

    When I open the Network and Sharing Center, all I see is the name of my computer, and A little bar going to an Earth with an X in between it.

    I researched what Network Discovery looks like on the Network and Sharing Center, and mine doesn't look like that. Is there another way to turn it on?

    All mine shows is what i explained up and a link that says view full map, text saying not connected below the icons above, and it also says, "you are currently not connected to any networks, and connect to a network right below it. Also, it has some tasks on the left hand corner.

    When I go to connect to a network, and click diagnose why it can't connect, it says, "This computer does not have a wieless network adapter installed and configured."

    One more thing, sorry, my taskbar doesnt look like any other vista computers, it isn't black it is silver with a rectangular windows symbol instead of a circle.

    Do you think I could have spyware or a virus preventig me from accessing the internet?

    Thank You so much.

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-06-03T10:04:17+00:00

    Hello Dubist,

    Thank you for visiting the Microsoft Windows Vista Community site.

    In the Network and Sharing Center, of the machines with issues, make sure that Network discovery is turned on. On that same screen, click on Connect to a network. This should show a list of wireless networks that are available. Make sure that the attempt to connect is to yours.

    If your security involves encryption the visitors machines would need to have the same encryption code.

    This should resolve your problem.

    Let us know if these steps resolve your problem.  I hope the information is useful.

    Regards,

    Anthony

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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