How to Fix a Laptop That Won't Connect to Wifi!!

This Instructable will show you how to fix a laptop that will not connect to wifi

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Step 1: Troubleshooting : Part 1

1. Make sure the the Wifi is Turned On on your laptop

Most laptops have a Wifi Button or use a Function Key to turn the Wifi on or off

-- If your laptop has a Wifi Button it should be located on the Keyboard or somewhere on the side of your laptop, pressing the button once will turn the Wifi on or off

-- If your laptop uses a Function Key (F3, F12, Etc.), it will be located on the Keyboard, you will need to press the Fn Key and then press the Function Key (F3, F12, Etc.) to turn the Wifi on or off

Some laptops have an On/Off switch for the Wifi

-- If your laptop has an On/Off switch, simply flip the switch

-- For some laptops pressing the Wifi Button will turn Airplane Mode on or off, when Airplane Mode is Off, the Wifi is On

2. Check if you have a Wifi Icon

Look for a Wifi Icon in the bottom right hand corner of your computer screen

-- If there is no Internet Connection Icon at all, you will need to make the icon visible

3. Make the Internet Icon visible

Click on the Show hidden icons arrow in the bottom right hand corner
Go to Customize
Scroll Down
Look for your Internet Connection
Change the Behavior from Hide icon and notifications/Only show notifications to Show icon and notifications
Click Ok

Step 2: Troubleshooting : Part 2

4. Check if you have a Wifi Icon or an Ethernet Connection Icon

Look for the Internet Connection Icon in the bottom right hand corner

-- If you have a Wifi Icon, chances are, the problem is probably with your Internet or with your Internet Service Provider (ISP)

-- If you have an Ethernet Connection Icon, then there may be a problem with your Network Connection Card

5. If your Wifi is working and your able to access other Wifi Networks, but your connection at home is not working:

Unplug every cord connected to your Internet
Wait at least 60 seconds (1 min)
Plug every cord back in

-- This will Reset your Wifi and may fix the problem

-- If this does not fix the problem, then you may need to contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP)

6. If your unable to connect to Wifi at all and you have an Ethernet Connection Icon:

Check and see if your able to set up a Wifi Connection

-- Right Click on the Ethernet Connection Icon

-- Select Open Network and Sharing Center

-- Go to Set up a new connection or network (First option)

-- Select Connect to the Internet (First option)

-- Click Next

-- Check off Show connection options that this computer is not set up to use

*** If you have an option for Wireless, try setting up a Wireless Connection

*** If the only options you have are Broadband (Wired Connection) and Dial-up, Click Cancel and Close the window

Step 3: Troubleshooting : Part 3

7. Check the Manufacturer of your Network Connection Card

Remove anything connected to your laptop (USB cords, etc.)
Shutdown your Computer

-- If you have windows 8/8.1, Open the Sidebar, Select Settings, Click on Power and Select Shutdown

-- If you have windows 7, Open the Start Menu and Click on Shutdown

Place it on a Flat Surface
Flip it Upside Down
Take out the Battery
Grab a Screwdriver

-- You will need a Philips Screwdriver

*** For most laptops a 2.5 mm end will work best

*** You can get away with a 2 mm end as well, if that is all you have

Remove the Screws holding the Back Panel in place (2 Screws)
Remove the Back Panel
Look for the Network Connection Card

-- This is what allows you to connect to the internet

Look for the Manufacturer
Write down the Manufacturer so you won't forget it (optional)
Put the Back Panel back on your laptop
Put the Screws back in (2 Screws)
Put the Battery back in
Flip your laptop Upright
Turn On your computer

8. Hook Up your laptop to the Internet

Plug an Ethernet Cable into your laptop

-- If your Wifi is Hooked Up to a Desktop Computer, you can simply Unplug the end of the Ethernet Cable which is plugged into the back of the Tower and plug it into your laptop

-- If your Wifi is not hooked up to a Desktop Computer, then you will need to get an Ethernet Cable

-- An Ethernet Cable looks like a Telephone Cable, except it is Bigger

-- For most newer laptops the Ethernet Cable Port will be located on the Side of the laptop

-- If you have a fairly old laptop, the Ethernet Cable Port may be located on the Back of the laptop

Step 4: Troubleshooting : Part 4

9. Download the Wireless LAN Driver (Wifi Driver) for your Network Connection Card

Open your Web Browser
Type in the Manufacturer Website for your laptop
Cick Enter
Wait for the page to load
Look for the Support Section

-- On most Manufacturer Websites, the Support Section will be located at the Top or the Bottom of the Homepage

-- You may need to Scroll Down

In the Support section, go to Drivers and Manuals

-- You should have an option to search by Serial Number or SNID, Product Model or to select your product from a list

*** The Search Options may very depending on the Manufacturer, for example some laptops do not have an SNID Number

-- The easiest way to search is to type in the Model Number of your laptop

-- You should be able to find the Model Number somewhere on a Sticker on your laptop, the Sticker is usually located beside (to the Right of) the Trackpad (Mouse) or on the Bottom of the laptop

Find your laptop's Model Number
Write down the Model Number (Optional)
Type in the Model Number

-- Once you type in the Model Number, Select your laptop Model from the list that Pops Up

-- If you are unable to find your laptop by Model Number, then you will need to Search by the Serial Number or SNID or Select your product from a list

-- Both the Serial Number and SNID can be found on a sticker on the Bottom of your laptop

Wait for the page to load
Select your Operating System
Wait for the page to load
Scroll Down
Look for the Wireless LAN Driver for the Manufacturer of your Network Connection Card
Click Downolaod
Wait for it to Download

Step 5: Troubleshooting : Part 5

10. Install the Wireless LAN Driver (Wifi Driver) for your Network Connection Card

Right Click on the Download
Select Open
Open the Folder

-- To open the Folder Double Click on it

Right Click
Select Extract All
Select where you want it to be Extracted to

-- The Destination should automatically go to the same folder

-- You can choose a different Destination if you would like by clicking on Browse

Check off Show extracted files when complete
Click Extract
Wait for it to Extract
Open the Folder
Select the x64/x86 Folder

-- If you have a 32 Bit computer Select the x86 Folder

-- If you have a 64 Bit computer Select the x64 Folder

Open the Folder
Open the Install_CD Folder
Scroll Down
Look for Setup

-- If you see Setup more than once, make sure you Select the one that says Application

Select Setup
Right Click
Go to Properties

-- Make sure your in the General Tab (Should be Tab 4)

Look for the Security Section
-- The Security Section says, This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer

Click Unblock
Click Apply
Click Ok
Close the windows

Step 6: Troubleshooting : Part 6

11. Update the Wireless LAN Driver (Wifi Driver) for your Network Connection Card

Open the Control Panel

-- If you have windows 8/8.1, Open the Sidebar, Select Settings and Click Control Panel

-- If you have window 7, Open the Start Menu and Click Control Panel

Go to Hardware and Sound
Go to Device Manager
Click on the Drop Down Arrow beside Other devices
Look for Network Controller

-- If you don't see Network Controller listed under Other devices, it should be listed under Network adapters

Select Network Controller
Right Click
Select Update Driver Software
Select Browse my computer for driver software
Make sure that the search location is set to the folder where you Extracted the Wireless LAN Driver (Wifi Driver) that you downloaded

-- If it is not automatically set to the Downloads Folder, you can change the search location by clicking on Browse

Check off Include subfolders
Click Next
Wait for the Driver to Install

-- If the Driver installed successfully, unplug the Ethernet Cable and your Wifi should now be working again

-- If the Driver did not install successfully, you may need to get a new Network Connection Card

-- If you need to get a new Network Connection Card, the best place to get one is on Amazon

Close the windows
Close the Webpage (if you haven't done so already)

Step 7: Troubleshooting : Part 7

12. Check the Model Number of your Network Connection Card

Remove anything connected to your laptop (USB cords, etc.)
Shutdown your computer

-- If you have windows 8/8.1, Open the Sidebar, Select Settings, Click on Power and Select Shutdown

-- If you have windows 7, Open the Start Menu and Click on Shutdown

Place it on a Flat Surface
Flip it Upside Down
Take out the Battery
Grab a Screwdriver

--You will need a Philips Screwdriver

*** For most laptops a 2.5 mm end will work best

*** You can get away with a 2 mm end as well, if that is all you have

Remove the Screws holding the Back Panel in place (2 Screws)
Remove the Back Panel
Look for the Network Connection Card
Look for the Model Number
Write down the Model Number so you won't forget it (optional)
Put the Back Panel back on your laptop
Put the Screws back in (2 Screws)
Put the Battery back in
Flip your laptop Upright

Step 8: Troubleshooting : Part 8

13. Buy a new Network Connection Connection Card

The best place to get one is on Amazon

-- Your best bet is to get a Network Connection Card which is made by the same Manufacturer as the one you will be replacing

-- If you can't find one made by the same Manufacturer, you should be able to use a different one as long as the Network Connection Card is the same size as the one you will be replacing

14. Replace the Network Connection Card

Place your laptop on a Flat Surface
Flip it Upside Down
Take out the Battery
Grab a Screwdriver

-- You will need a Philips Screwdriver

*** For most laptops a 2.5 mm end will work best

*** You can get away with a 2 mm end as well, if that is all you have

Remove the Screws holding the Back Panel in place (2 Screws)
Remove the Back Panel
Take out the Network Connection Card

-- Detach the Wires (Black & White) connected to the Network Connection Card

*** holding one wire in your hand, pull it up gently until you hear it pop off

*** Now do the same for the Second Wire

-- Remove the Screw holding it in place

*** Once the Screw is removed, it will Pop Up

-- Gently pull the Network Connection Card Over and Up until it comes free

-- Set it aside for now