- May 27, 2015
- 2
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- 4,510
Hello,
I got a new Dell this year, which came with Windows 7 (Dell Precision M4800), and it was working perfectly until the Wi-Fi stopped working. After hours of research and troubleshooting and updating, I figured out that the one and only reason my WiFi wasn't working was because my hardware WiFi switch was not working. In other words, even when I switch it into the on position, it still stays off.
With Windows 7, there was a convenient fix: go into my Bios, go into the wireless category, and tell the Bios to ignore the WiFi switch. This fix worked, and I forgot all about the problem until I upgraded to Windows 10. The WiFi stopped working again. So I went through all that hullabaloo of updating things, and nothing worked. So I isolated the problem to the WiFi switch.
I went back into my Bios, and found a disclaimer: For Windows 8 systems, the Bios does not affect wireless capability because they use their own OS drivers. In other words, for Windows 8 and up, I can't use the Bios to ignore my broken hardware switch. Here is my question: aside from replacing my WiFi switch, is there a way to turn wireless capability on in Windows 10? Is there a way to make Windows ignore the hardware switch?
I went through hours of customer support as well, and 40 minutes after I told them my switch was broken, they told me, " It appears to be a hardware issue." I do like a laugh, but I actually need my WiFi, so I would appreciate any insight into this matter. Thanks!
P.S. I am temporarily downgrading back to Windows 7 until I can resolve the issue. But I really do like Windows 10, so I'd like to go back to it asap.
-Hyperion
I got a new Dell this year, which came with Windows 7 (Dell Precision M4800), and it was working perfectly until the Wi-Fi stopped working. After hours of research and troubleshooting and updating, I figured out that the one and only reason my WiFi wasn't working was because my hardware WiFi switch was not working. In other words, even when I switch it into the on position, it still stays off.
With Windows 7, there was a convenient fix: go into my Bios, go into the wireless category, and tell the Bios to ignore the WiFi switch. This fix worked, and I forgot all about the problem until I upgraded to Windows 10. The WiFi stopped working again. So I went through all that hullabaloo of updating things, and nothing worked. So I isolated the problem to the WiFi switch.
I went back into my Bios, and found a disclaimer: For Windows 8 systems, the Bios does not affect wireless capability because they use their own OS drivers. In other words, for Windows 8 and up, I can't use the Bios to ignore my broken hardware switch. Here is my question: aside from replacing my WiFi switch, is there a way to turn wireless capability on in Windows 10? Is there a way to make Windows ignore the hardware switch?
I went through hours of customer support as well, and 40 minutes after I told them my switch was broken, they told me, " It appears to be a hardware issue." I do like a laugh, but I actually need my WiFi, so I would appreciate any insight into this matter. Thanks!
P.S. I am temporarily downgrading back to Windows 7 until I can resolve the issue. But I really do like Windows 10, so I'd like to go back to it asap.
-Hyperion
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