Laptop can't connect to networks

[danielboo2008]

I've recently tried setting up an old HP laptop that hasn't been used in over 4 years, but I can't get it to connect to my network. When I try connecting to a network from the toolbar, no networks appear and it says "No connections are available."

Here is everything I've tried to do but has not worked:
- Restarting the computer

- Moving closer to the router
- Troubleshooting the network adapter

- Restarting WLAN AutoConfig in services

- Running "netsh winsock reset," "netsh int ip reset," "ipconfig /release," "ipconfig /renew," and "ipconfig /flushdns" in command prompt.

- Checking for network adapter and controller updates in device manager to no avail

- Trying to set up a new network in the network sharing center, with no networks appearing even after several minutes

Here is some other important info:
- Laptop is a HP Pavilion Notebook running on Windows 8.1

- Got it around 10 years ago

- Haven't used it for around 4 years

- I recently did a factory reset on the laptop, and even before the reset it wasn't connecting

- Under network adapters in device manager, there are only three devices listed: "Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)," "Bluetooth Device (RFCOMM Protocol TDI)", and "Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller"
- Under other devices in device manager, the only device listed is "Network Controller" and the icon has a caution symbol.

I am not a very tech smart person, so this is all I've been able to do and find. Any help regarding my issue is much appreciated.

[BeemerBiker]

The WiFi driver is not loaded or is the incorrect one.

Please provide the Product ID or Model name for better assistance. Preferably the full product ID including the characters after the # symbol.  

[danielboo2008]

Product ID: M1X51UA#ABL

[BeemerBiker]

The driver is dated Jun, 2019 and should be good for windows 10 as well as 8

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp96501-97000/sp96885.exe

let me know what happens.

[danielboo2008]

I have tried installing this driver onto the laptop multiple times now, but it doesn't seem to be working. The farthest I've gotten into the instructions is downloading and saving the SP9885 folder onto the hard drive, nothing after that is acting how it should.

In step two of the instructions it says to click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions, but no on-screen instructions have appeared when trying to run any of the files in the folder.

Here's a list of every file in the folder and what happens when I try running them:

• install (Windows Command Script) - opens command prompt, asks if it can make changes to the computer, then closes command prompt a few seconds after selecting yes.
• InstallCmdWrapper (Application) - asks if it can make changes to the computer, opens command prompt, then closes command prompt after a few seconds.
• InstallDriver (Windows Command Script) - opens command prompt, asks if it can make changes to the computer, then closes command prompt after a few seconds.
• devcon (Application) - opens command prompt for a split second.
• DPInst (Application) - asks if it can make changes to the computer, opens the Device Driver Installation Wizard, but then says that it was unable to find any drivers designed for my machine and to check with the vendor or site administrator to ensure I have the right program.

* There is also a Windows command script called Uninstall Driver which I tried running before the Install Driver script, but this didn't cause anything to work.

Then in step three it says that a message box called "Program Compatibility Assistant" should be displayed if the program installs correctly, and that hasn't appeared either. I've also tried restarting the laptop to no avail.

Please let me know if there is anything I'm doing inncorrectly or if there's something else I should do.

[BeemerBiker]

can you pass diagnostics?

Tap the ESC key after powering on and press F2 to run diagnostics.

If diagnostics pass you might consider obtaining the original DVDs

Computer Surgeons - Windows 8.1 Recovery Kit 820088-DB1 For HP Pavilion Notebook Model Number 15-ab0...

[danielboo2008]

Every component passed when I ran a system quick test. However, when I tried running individual component tests, every test was able to run except for the network test. Whenever I tried to run a network test, it would immediately show the message: "UEFI Networking does not appear to be supported or enabled on the system. Please check the BIOS settings to make sure UEFI network option ROMs are enabled and that UEFI network boot is enabled." Every other test runs properly to completion, and I even upgraded BIOS to the most recent version.

[BeemerBiker]

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@danielboo2008 wrote:

Every component passed when I ran a system quick test. However, when I tried running individual component tests, every test was able to run except for the network test. Whenever I tried to run a network test, it would immediately show the message: "UEFI Networking does not appear to be supported or enabled on the system. Please check the BIOS settings to make sure UEFI network option ROMs are enabled and that UEFI network boot is enabled." Every other test runs properly to completion, and I even upgraded BIOS to the most recent version.

---

This is the UEFI or BIOS diagnostics am I right?

There are updated diagnostics here if you wish to update but it looks the the WiFi adapter is bad or disabled.  Obtaining the original OS DVD will not help.

HP releases newer UEFI diagnostics periodically.
When you select F2 during boot you are requesting UEFI diagnostics.
There is an updated diagnostics package here
https://support.hp.com/us-en/help/hp-pc-hardware-diagnostics
Look for the phrase 'issues outside the OS',
Expand the'+'symbol and click the DOWNLOAD button.
The version of the UEFI diagnostics is shown at the left of that DOWNLOAD button.
When you press F2 to run diagnostics please ensure the version is the new one.

Look at  your function keys for one that has  an icon for WiFi.  Some older laptops were able to turn on or off WiFi using a function key.

Was this your laptop? If you obtained it from someone?  It may have have a different WiFi card.  Some older laptops HP had a whitelist of WiFi cards in the BIOS and it would only work with those cards.

Go to the below site and enter your serial number
https://partsurfer.hp.com/partsurfer/
There should be a list of items that came with your laptop.

The users manual shows the following WiFi devices that will work

● Broadcom BCM43142 802.11 b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi + BT4.0 M.2 Combo Adapter
● Realtek RTL8723BE 802.11b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi + BT4.0 Combo Adapter
● Realtek RTL8188EE 802.11b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi Adapter
● Realtek RTL8723BE 802.11b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi + BT4.0 Combo Adapter
Integrated Wireless options with dual antenna (M.2/PCIe):
● Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 802.11 ac 1x1 WiFi + BT 4.0 Combo Adapter

page 38 shows some additional ones

Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 802.11 ac 2x2 WiFi + BT 4.0 Combo Adapter (non vPRO) 784644-005
Realtek RTL8188EE 802.11b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi Adapter 792609-005
Realtek RTL8723BE 802.11b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi + BT4.0 Combo Adapter 792610-005

Can you open the laptop up and identify the card that is being used?

[danielboo2008]

I tested all of the function keys on the laptop and none of them have a WiFi symbol or do anything to the WiFi when pressed.

We got the laptop around 10 years ago completely new and directly from Best Buy.

After entering the laptop's serial number onto the website, it shows that it is using "Realtek RTL8723BE 802.11b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 combination WLAN adapter."

[BeemerBiker]

That SP9885 folder is at c:\swsetup\SP9885

Try to update the driver by having the device manager browse for it.

Bring up the device manager and compare to the image I posted.  My WiFi is "Intel AX210" and you should see Realtek  RTL8723BE

select the RTL device in Network adapters and right click the mouse => "Update Driver"

then browse for the driver by going to c:\swsetup\sp96885\Win10x64 and click "next"

It should install the driver or say that it cannot find one.

What happens?