Wi-Fi (off) and can't be enabled

Nathan,

Did you find a resolution to this? I've had my nv52 since Christmas, and the wireless just stopped working a couple of days ago. I've done EVERYTHING I know how to do as well as research, the wireless won't come back on. Even on my settings, it says the wifi is on but when you go to network settings, it says it's off. Did all the troubleshooting and the only thing it says is that I need to enable my wifi, well I can't!!!!!!

Please post if you figured this out. I went to the bios and everything, still didn't work.

I am having the same exact problem on my laptop with windows 8 and it happened just a few days ago! Something is going on because these things don't just happen and a lot of people are affected! Something is going on with the Wi-Fi being enabled on our computers. I called myself talking to an expert but all he says is refresh it( I DID THAT) OR HAVE MY COMPUTER REPLACED! ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS? SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!

HOW TO TURN WIRELESS ON IN WINDOWS 8 (when the function key doesn’t work)

All of a sudden, pretty much out of the blue, my one day old new Windows 8 HP computer lost it’s Wi-Fi connection. Here’s what I did to fix it after toggling the F12 wireless function key and power cycling the router did not reestablish the wireless connection between the HP and the router.

From any Windows 8 screen, move the mouse to the upper right corner to display the vertical menu along the right side.

Select Settings (gear icon)

Select Control Panel

Select Hardware and Sound

Select Device Manager (under Devices and Printers)

Under Network Adapters select the Wi-Fi device/adapter

When the Wi-Fi device is selected/highlighted an icon will appear in the bar towards the top of the window showing a computer with a green up arrow. Mouse over this icon and it’ll display ‘Enable’. Click the icon to turn the wireless device on.

This solution probably won’t work for everyone but it worked for me and it was a simple fix once I knew what to do.

Further details about my setup:

I have a brand new HP laptop running Windows 8 Version 6.2 (Build 9200) with a standard factory installed Ralink RT3290 802.11 bgn Wi-Fi-Adapter. The computer is brand new, not refurbished, and the wireless connection was setup easily and ran for about a day with no problems. The computer was never moved (further away from the wireless router it was connecting to). Multiple other devices were connected to the wireless router at the time the HP would not connect so the router was not the cause of the failure of the HP/Windows 8 computer to connect to it. Also, the router is set to accommodate more than the number of devices that were connected so the router is set up correctly and had been working fine with the HP computer. Power cycling the router would not re-establish the connection between the HP and the router. The problem was not the router as the other devices re-connected to the router wirelessly after the router was power cycled. A short time after the connection was lost the HP computer was left on, to sit overnight. Sometime during the night Windows 8 rebooted the computer. I don’t know why.

After the automatic reboot, Windows 8 did not show the HP’s wireless device in the list of devices. (Settings->Change PC Settings->Wireless shows a list of the Wireless Devices and the only device it showed for me was Bluetooth). The HP’s keyboard wireless on/off key (F12) indicated that the wireless was on (light on key was lit up white) even though the wireless device was actually off according to the device listed in Windows 8 Network Adapters list (described above). Also, the F12 key would not toggle to indicate off (the light on the key going off).

I don’t know what caused the HP’s wireless device to disable and I don’t know how long this fix lasts or if the wireless device will all of a sudden become disabled again.

Here is "A" fix and a couple of notes.

NOTE 1 : This works on Win 8 PRO, which is what I use. YMMV.

NOTE 2: These instructions are for the new user, if your experienced, no need to bash, you know where to find the Device manager.

NOTE 3: As I mention later "if you have installed a start button, if you haven't you should", I have tried all of them. I recommend Start Menu 8, its freeware, unobtrusive and and works perfectly.

Hope this works out for you all.

Do a custom re-install to save your files Apps, and folders (If you do not know how, instructions are available pretty much everywhere on the web)

1. On re-install, Select keep files, folders and apps.  Then select Custom.
2. When the switches option shows up INSURE that "Allow Apps to use my name and Account picture" is switched ON.
3. Complete the install, this will save all of your files and folders and properly re-install your Network adapter.
4. After Boot Up, go to Device Manager.

Note: If you have installed a "Start" button (You should) but here is the path WITH a Start Button - Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Device Manager

or without the Start Button

Move Cursor to bottom right of Desktop > Settings > Control Panel > System and Security > Device Manager

Then

Device Manager > click on "+" in the box next to  "Network Adapter"

If you see a Microsoft Kernel Debug Adapter

Right Click on Microsoft Kernel Debug Adapter > Select Disable and click > Select OK to Reboot.

Once the Computer Reboots, you should be able to log in.

Estimated Time: 30 minutes. Depending on system YMMV.

And one final note. Don't ask why switching on "Allow Apps to use my name and Account picture" works. After over 30 years starting on Vax/Unix, I have learned there are things that "just work" and also keep in mind, what works for me may not work for you. But this is one solution.