wireless button problem - hp pavilion dv7 6113cl

[sandykayz]

Short version: My wireless button won't turn on.

Long version:

I got up to make lunch and when I opened the lid on my new HP Pavilion dv7 it wouldn't wake up. I hard stopped. When I restarted, the wireless button was off.

I checked the forum here but none of the solutions worked--the buttons, etc.

I called Costco support but they couldn't help. In fact, when we looked at the Device Manager, the wireless driver was no longer under the list of drivers. It had completely disappeared.

I restored to an earlier point. It didn't work.

I took out the battery and held the start button down. Nothing.

I downloaded drivers from the HP site but the computer said they didn't install correctly.

I downloaded an updated BIOS but that didn't help.

Please advise. Thank you.

SH

[Dragon-Fur]

Hi Sandy,

Maybe the drivers need an extra kick...

See if anything here helps...

Wireless Guide and Driver Installation V1.0

The purpose of this guide is to assist in the reinstallation of one or more wireless driver(s) on the User’s computer.  The HP network guide links included in this document provide specific help on setup and troubleshoot techniques.  The HP guides are intended as the primary means to help the User troubleshoot his wireless environment.

HP Wireless Network Guides:

HP has provided guides to address Wireless Connection issues for home and Public WIFI networks.  The guides include information on Wireless network setup and suggested correction techniques for XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

HP Wireless Network Guide – Windows 7

HP Wireless Network Guide - Vista

HP Wireless Network Guide - XP

Wireless Driver Installation - Preparation:

• Go to the top of this Forum page - to Support and Drivers
• Open the HP web page for your Product / Model

This guide does not include hardware specifics to discern which wireless drivers go with which computers.  To determine this information for your computer, please check the documentation at your webpage. 

What is on the computer now?

If you are unsure what is on your system now, you may try one of the following to determine the current drivers / adapters installed on your computer:

• Look in Control Panel > icon view > Device Manager > Network Adapters > * WiFi Link * > Right-Click  Properties > Driver > Make a note of the Driver Version
• Windows 7 Ultimate (64bit) > Look in Start > type/search “HP Recovery Manager” > Click to Open > If asked, say “Yes” to allow program to run > Drivers and Applications Reinstall > Scroll down and Check list (Other versions of Windows 7 may have a similar feature.)
• Look in Speccy > If asked, say “Yes” to allow program to run > Network > Click to open the drop-down Adapters List (NOTE:  Speccy is available in the Tools List, below.)

You may have to check driver versions to determine which drivers you wish to download and install.  In most general cases, the most recent driver will be the best choice.

Note that more than one driver may be required to restore functionality to your wireless setup.

HP Software and Driver Download Page:

• Go to the Software and Drivers Downloads page

• Enter your Operating System
• Scroll down - Go to category Driver – Network
• Select “* 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN *” (Newest Version)  (The name of your driver may be different from the example.)
  
• Save this installation package onto your computer.  Make a note of the sp*.exe filename and its location.

If you have determined that you require other drivers / adapters:  Add them to the list, download, and note the filename and location.

Install the Wireless Driver:

• Anytime there is a previous version of the driver on the computer, it may need to be removed.  Control panel > Device Manager > Network Adapters > * WiFi Link *  > Right-Click Uninstall  (The name of your driver may be different from the example.)
  
• Reboot … Preferred.  At the least: Clean the Registry (See the Tools List.)
• Install the Wireless Driver installation package:  It will be named sp*.exe – the package will most likely be located in the Downloads folder.  If you have ‘Admin’ control, you may highlight the package and “double-click” to install it, else Right-Click, Select ‘run as Administrator’ and install.

Install additional drivers / adapters here.

Installation Difficulties: 

If you have problems with the driver installation: 

• Add a reboot after the Uninstall, if you had not done this before. 
• If you still have problems, add “delete driver” to the Uninstall.   Do not delete any drivers that you cannot replace with a new installation.

NOTES on Registry Cleaners:

Registry cleaners will usually do no harm – however, anytime you affect the registry with changes, you risk your system’s stability.  CCleaner does include the offer to make a backup of your registry prior to making any changes.

If you select to download and install another registry cleaner, please uninstall CCleaner.  One of these things on the system at a time is enough…

If a registry Cleaner does not offer to do a backup prior to making changes: be sure you EXPORT the registry manually PRIOR to using the cleaner.  If anything happens that you don’t expect, you will have an extra layer of protection on which to fall back.

IMO: Stay away from Registry Mechanic.  I have had this on my systems – it has been cleansed, removed, deleted, and dropped in the Zeros bucket.  This is a Personal Opinion.

Tools List:

Speccy - System Information Tool – Select and install the Free Version:

http://www.piriform.com/speccy/download

Sidebar:  Speccy contains a core / CPU temperature monitor in its box of tools.

Registry Cleaner – CCleaner (Select and install the free version):

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download 

Say “Thanks!” by clicking the Kudos Star when you find a Post that helps you.         

Mark a Post “Accepted Solution” to say your issue is solved.

[sandykayz]

Thank you for the reply but none of that worked. I did find the folder that had the Ralink driver on it. I tried to re set it up. Nothing. I tried to uninstall then download the driver like HP suggested but that didn't help either. The computer device manager doesn't recognize it or any other wifi adapter.

[Dragon-Fur]

Sandy,

The fact that the system went down might indicate something is corrupted. 

I'm concerned that no WiFi drivers are recognized - what happens when you try to install?  Error?

Have you checked the Event Log?

Start > type/search for "Event Log" > Click on "View Event Logs"

You might want to get the system backed up - particularly your data and files...

Then...

You might try this:

Scan and repair the system.  The sfc /scannow command will do that - it will scan the operating system, looking for corrupted files and inconsistancies; it will replace and repair whatever it can.

• Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Right-Click Command Prompt > Select 'Run as Administrator'
  
• In the Command Prompt Window, type (or copy and paste) sfc /scannow and press Enter.  (Note the space between sfc and the "/".)

The sfc scan will report its findings; you can examine the results in detail if you like:

Open a Command Prompt (does not have to be as Administrator):

• Type (or copy and paste) findstr /c:"[SR]" %SystemRoot%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >sfcdetails.txt and press Enter
• Type (or copy and paste) notepad sfcdetails.txt and press Enter

Say “Thanks!” by clicking the Kudos Star next to the Post that helps you.

Mark a Post “Accepted Solution” to say the issue is solved.

[sandykayz]

I checked the event log and I can tell where the hiccup happened but I can't tell what happen. Is there a key phrase to look for?

I ran the system check and it said it was perfect.

HP support asked me to remove the wireless card and replace it, but that didn't restart anything, so they are sending me a new card.

Thanks for your help.

[Dragon-Fur]

Excellent. It was worth checking. Good Luck with the new card. Merry Christmas!