Computer Hardware Help → wireless card problems

Hey gang, got an HP Pavilion laptop. dv6000 here, brought to me because the wireless stopped functioning. These models have the wireless switch on the front left, that when active, the light is blue. When off, the light is amber. This one stays amber whichever position the switch is in. Also, no card shows in device manager. The ethernet one shows, but nothing else. I've already tried another wireless card, and the same results. Does this mean it's a motherboard problem? What should I check next? I've double checked pretty much everything that I can think of.

Since you have tried another card, I assume this is a removable card and not built-in. In which case, it sounds like a MB/connector issue.

Does anything at all show up in Device Manager? In which case, it could just be corrupt/missing/incorrect drivers.

Make sure Wireless Zero Configuration service is set to automatic and started.

Click start -> run -> services.msc (ENTER).

Just grabbing at straws right now but maybe wireless connection is disabled?

Murph...

check BIOS to make sure card is enabled, (i'm pretty sure the hardware wireless switch controlls built in wireless)

If possible, check card to make sure it has not come unseated (some laptops have a mini PCI access door on the bottom.

Some HP notebooks were known to have a wireless issue. Some were cured by updating the bios, but others had to be returned to HP...and it was a wide-range enough issue that HP even took care of some out-of-warranty notebooks.

If you check HP's forum, you will see the thread on this subject.

The wireless adaptor is usually connected to the laptop's motherboard by some sort of mini-PCI bridge connector. It is highly likely it jiggled loose. I'd open up the laptop and make sure it's still connected. Nothing on the software end is going to resolve this issue, as the switch itself isn't functioning correctly.

I have a dv6185 (6000series) and since the wireless/motherboard problem was WELL known, and frequesnt, they're resolving it for free upto 1 year out of the original 1 yr warranty.

Thanks for all the replies! Some VERY helpful info there. I'll head over to HP's site and see what I can find. Sounds like the typical "bad connection" deal, and if it's well known, that puts me a bit at ease.

Dogg - yes, it's a mini-pci on the bottom of the unit. I reseated it before I tried a new card, but it had no effect. Nothing wireless shows up in the DM - if it were disabled through Windows, you would have the red X next to it, nothing is listed, so I'm guessing it's turned off in the BIOS, but there is no setting in the BIOS to turn this on or off.

Thanks again for the help.