Why doesn't my wifi come on?

[swee'pea99]

I have a Compaq nx6325 laptop which has always been fine. Just recently tho' sometimes when you turn it on, the wifi isn't on. There's a button you can press that's supposed to turn it on, which sometimes does the trick (but sometimes doesn't) but is there any way you can set the thing so it comes up online by default? Thanks.

 

[Norm]

What operating system are you running?

 

[swee'pea99]

Windows XP

 

[Davidc]

I have similar problems with my Compaq laptop (Win XP SP3).

I've never completely fathomed out how they've set it up and the information in the user guide isn't much use either.

The button turns the wifi and the bluetooth on and off, and if it's off none of the other controls work untill it's back on again.

The icon in the notification area (screen bottom right) gives access to a HP Wireless Assistant panel. That allows separate control of the wireless networking and bluetooth, but it can't override the button.

There are a few other ways to control the wireless functions which can be accessed from the control panel and elsewhere. most seem to work at the same level as the Wireless Assistant, but some can switch off the wireless network hardware separately. They foul things up in a less visible way, maximising both the time to restore service and the probability of the computer being flung out of the window.

There doeesn't appear to be any (easily accessible) way of making the machine come on the way I want it to - with wireless networking on and bluetooth off.

 

[swee'pea99]

Might this be the answer? Must admit "Fixes issue where the notebook failed to reconnect to IBSS (ad-hoc) if driver was switched off and then switched on by the Microsoft Windows Zero Configuration Utility." is a bit over my head, but sounds like it might be right. Anyway, I'm going to give it a try, so wish me luck!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

best of luck. i have the opposite problem with my macbook laptop; i can't switch the wireless off…