wireless connection icon

[midniter]

Wireless connection ICON ( shows at work, does not show at home - same laptop )

"Wireless connections icon" <--- .... the icon in the system tray... the icon in the control panel > network connections > I cannot find it if i'm at home.... but when i get to work the icon is there....

Same laptop.... I cannot see the "icon" at home ... I cannot find it anywhere in the computer... and hence I cannot connect to my home wifi... but when I get to work and start the laptop the icon is in system tray & in control panel > network connections >.. and it connects to my work wifi just fine....

Now...... I'm baffled.... this is like magic to me.. how can this even be possible .. lolxxx.... any ideas.... plz ... many thanks

 

[midniter]

(HP dv2418nr, XP, Broadcom wireless)

 

[linney]

Are you using the same user profile (and logon) at home and at work, or are they different?

Have you ever connected wirelessly at home?

If you look at the wireless adapter properties is there a check box to show the network icon when connected?

 

[vacunita]

Are you using a docking station at work that may be the one holding the wireless nic rather than being in the laptop itself?

Any Domain Policy that may be disabling the wifi hardware outside of work?



----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/

 

[midniter]

linney @
Same profile
I was able to connect at home before... I re-installed XP
I dono how to get into wireles adapter properties...without the wireless connetion icon.

vacunita @
No docking station at work or home.
Domain Policy <-- It my laptop... not the company's
I dono what/how will something disable my wifi remotely.

UPDATE:
I dont even have wireless icon at work anymore
I do believe the NIC is damaged or lose in the socket or something... I dont even know where to open the laptop and manually take it out and put it back in... any ideas on that ?

 

[cdogg]

Did you disable it by mistake? Most newer HP models have a wireless button above the keyboard usually near the center. The symbol is an antenna surrounded by wavy lines. When enabled, it should light up blue. When disabled, it will turn an amber orange color or go off completely depending on the HP model.

After checking that, go to Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections. You should see your wireless connection listed, which is what linney wanted you to check. Right-click it and make sure it's not disabled. Go into the properties and also check to make sure the option to show the icon in the taskbar is enabled.

Carl

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test
a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln
[tab][navy]For this site's posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[midniter]

cdogg @
I have that switch on all the time...

Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections > NO WIRELESS CONNECTION ICON here... hence the purpose of this Thread...

 

[aich69]

There is some good advice here already from the other guys but I didn't see the following mentioned and it has worked for me before so worth a mention.

You are going to need the manual to locate your wireless card but in most modern laptops, which I believe yours is, there are usually a number of panels on the bottom that can be removed, some having an icon next to them to identify what is beneath. I would suggest removing and re-seating the card if you think this might be the issue and then read on...

Check for updated drivers for you wireless card possibly?

I might also suggest that you remove any third party software for wireless networking and allow Windows to do it for you instead, it actually does a very good job. We strip the Intel software off all our Dells at work in favour of allowing Windows to do the networking.

The following action will delete any wireless networks that you have added but may also help in sorting out the wireless card.

Right-click My Computer-- > Manage > Device Manager
Locate your Wireless NIC in the list to the right (it will appear under network adapters)
Right-click it (if its there) and select 'uninstall'
Now click on 'Action > Scan for hardware changes' and allow the laptop to re-install the device.

Now see if it appears all the time rather than just when you're at work and let us know.


I used to have a handle on life... but it broke. Cpt. Red Bull

 

[goombawaho]

Wait, wait - one moment. Have we even discovered whether the wireless LAN driver was re-installed when windows was reloaded???

Look for it here first before anything else.
Right-click My Computer-- > Manage > Device Manager
Locate your Wireless NIC in the list to the right (it will appear under network adapters)

 

[aich69]

Assuming it was installed as the OP has connected to work wlan but not home... XP as far as I'm aware didn't drop wireless NIC drivers on when clean built like Win7 can/does?

I used to have a handle on life... but it broke. Cpt. Red Bull

 

[aich69]

...sorry, missed midniter's 'update'

same when I was at school...always told to 'read the question carefully'

I used to have a handle on life... but it broke. Cpt. Red Bull

 

[cdogg]

Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections > NO WIRELESS CONNECTION ICON here... hence the purpose of this Thread...

midniter,
Your original post was somewhat confusing and all over the place.

Because the network connection is missing altogether, I would try goombawaho's suggestion next to check Device Manager. If it's not in there under network adapters or unknown devices, then either the Wireless NIC hardware isn't working or it has been disabled in the BIOS.

Carl

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test
a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln
[tab][navy]For this site's posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[goombawaho]

Good - I read things correctly, so determining whether the device has even been installed should be your next step (my last post or what CDOGG said right above this comment).


"XP as far as I'm aware didn't drop wireless NIC drivers ... when clean built like Win7 can/does"
Yes, absolutely. Windows XP will lose/not install many devices including wireless when reloaded.

 

[midniter]

Well it so happens that this laptop came with VISTA to begin with... & I downgraded it to XP ... and had to find all kinds of drivers...but I manually installed each driver... one after another... every time i re-install XP

wireless icon is not showing in system tray.... and in Control panel...

In <Device manager> ... there is no wireless adapter under NETWORK ADAPTERS

I think I may have to purchase a USB wireless adapter... that will solve my problem... what do you guys think ??

Its dirt cheap and takes all the hassle out of opening the laptop.

 

[BadBigBen]

There isn't really a hassle to open up two or three screws, in my book anyhow...

but if you rather not, then by all means do purchase that USB adapter and go from there...


I've seen this problem, usually when a REPAIR install was made, in that the OS did not recognize the installed WiFi card anymore or better said it MIS-identified it as an unknown device...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[goombawaho]

Is there any possibility that the device is disabled in the BIOS

OR

the power switch for the wireless radio is turned OFF on the body of the laptop or through a Function Key.

 

[cdogg]

goomba,
Yes, both ideas were suggested/responded to in the following posts:

[tab]30 Mar 11 2:36

[tab]30 Mar 11 9:47 (have yet to receive a response about the BIOS)


Carl

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test
a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln
[tab][navy]For this site's posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[tlcscousin]

According to the HP site it uses an Intel wireless card.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19851&ProdId=2259&lang=eng

These are the XP 32 drivers