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Can't enable my wireless adapter in Windows 7

Anonymous
2010-07-29T15:53:12+00:00

Hi All,

I have a 5 month old Dell Inspiron 1564 with a Dell WLAN 1397 Wireless card. I was having some trouble connecting to my wireless router, and as a last attempt to get it working, I uninstalled and reinstalled the driver for my wireless card, using a fresh download of the latest version from Dell's support site.

The driver seemed to install fine, and when I look at the wireless card in Device Manager, it's enabled,butin "Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections" (which can be accessed through the Network and Sharing Center),it is grayed out and says Disabled .

When I click enable in there, a small window pops us saying "Enabling", then after a few seconds, it says "Enabled" then disappears. However, the adapter stays disabled in N/W & Sharing center, and isn't picked up by Windows.

I've tried reinstalling the driver through Dell's driver installer, as well as through Windows' automated driver search, and neither works. I also tried to do a System Restore, but that is not working (can't complete on any of the restore points).

I also spent 1.5 hours on the phone with Dell support and their final advice was format and reinstall Windows.

The same issue is reported here and here , with no apparent resolution. Can anyone offer any advice that I haven't already tried? Thanks!

More details:

  • I am running Win 7 Pro
  • Wired networking and internet connection works fine
  • I have Zone Alarm and Avast Anti virus, and I've tried disabling both to no avail

The same problem has been posted by others here , here , here , and here . It seems to happen with various NW card brands.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-07-31T16:23:05+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for the replies.

    Bindu R: I had already tried various versions of your two recommended steps, the service always appeared to be running fine, and restarting it had to effect.

    I actually got my wireless working today. The steps I followed are as follows, keeping in mind the stuff I had already tried as detailed in my original post:

    • Uninstalled Zone Alarm and Avast Antivirus.
    • Rebooted into Safe Mode.
    • Uninstalled WLAN 1397 Driver from Device Manager.
    • Uninstalled Dell Wireless card manager from Control Panel>Programs.
    • Rebooted into Safe Mode again.
    • Reinstalled latest 1397 driver package from Dell (R237742.exe)
    • Rebooted into Safe mode again to verify that the adapter was at least showing Enabled in Safe Mode, which it was.
    • Rebooted normally to find adapter showing enabled.

    Now I'm just back to where I was before, being unable to connect to my router, but I do not suspect my computer or wireless card at the moment because I have four wireless devices in the house (this new Dell laptop, another 4 year old Dell laptop, an 8-month old Sony VAIO and a 6-month old iPhone 3GS). Of all those devices, the only one that will connect to my router is the Sony, so I think I've got router issues as well. I'll probably start another thread on that topic, just to keep this thread focused.

    So, to recap, for anyone having the issue where your wireless card is showing disabled in Network and Sharing Center, and right-click Enabling it does not work even after reinstalling the latest drivers, I would recommend exploring two options:

    • Disabling or uninstalling any Firewall or Antivirus software
    • Uninstalling then reinstalling the wireless drivers in Safe Mode

    If you're interested in narrowing the problem down a bit, I'd recommend trying these separately, probably the Safe Mode option first.

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-07-30T08:58:48+00:00

    Hi Ssilk,

    Step 1

    Uninstall the existing network driver from the computer and restart the computer to load the generic drivers.

    A.   Click start, type “devmgmt.msc” in the start search box and press enter.

    B.   Right click the network driver and select “uninstall”

    C.   Restart the computer to load the generic drivers.

    Step 2

    Check if the Startup Type of “WLAN AutoConfig” service is “Automatic”

    1.    Click start, type “services.msc” in the start search box and press enter.

    2.    In services windows scroll down to locate “WLAN AutoConfig”

    3.    If the startup type is not automatic, right click the service and change the startup type to “Automatic”

    4.    Click Apply, Ok.

    For more information please see the following links:

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/set-up-a-wireless-router

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Wireless-networking-frequently-asked-questions

    Bindu R - Microsoft Support.

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forumand let us know what you think

    5 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2010-07-30T03:30:49+00:00

    Hello, Kindly send me a private message with your service tag and your telephone number so that I can call you and help you with this.

    Regards-

    TulsiAtDell

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2011-12-28T21:28:18+00:00

    I also had this issue with a week old fresh install of 7 64b. My usb Linksys was working fine. I uninstalled the drivers rebooted and shut down the pc to install a PCI Linksys adapter. That adapter would not find any wireless networks. I thought for sure it was DOA. BUT.....I reinstalled the USB and THAT DID NOT WORK! I thinking what the heck is this??? But going into safe mode and doing the above recommendation worked!!! I also have Zone Alarm and TuneUp Utilities 2012.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-03-16T15:08:04+00:00

    Hi Thanks for the advice. I had the same problem. I think its Zone Alarm doing that , but I uninstalled or disabled all the other security programmes and I even did not have to go to safe mode. I just unplugged and replugged the adapter.

    Hope this will help others who has the same problem.

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