Wi-Fi connection issue

[Dkey1]

Hi everyone, 

So my laptop had a virus🙁 I was able to wipe the computer clean and reboot everything but now when I try to connect to the WiFi it list a bunch of networks that aren’t even mine or in my area? How do I fix this? 

[Raj_05]

Hi @Dkey1,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like your laptop might be picking up random or phantom Wi-Fi networks due to residual settings, incorrect drivers, or configuration issues. Here's a step-by-step guide to resolve this problem.

Forget Networks

• Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
• Click Manage Known Networks and remove any networks you don’t recognize.
• Restart your laptop and check the network list again.

Update or Reinstall Wi-Fi Drivers

• Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
• Expand Network Adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter, and select Update Driver.
• Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
• If this doesn’t work, uninstall the Wi-Fi adapter by right-clicking it and selecting Uninstall device. Then restart your laptop to let Windows reinstall it automatically.

Reset Network Settings

• Open Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
• Scroll down and click Network Reset.
• Follow the instructions and restart your laptop.

Verify Region Settings

• If your laptop is configured to scan for Wi-Fi networks outside your region, it could pick up random entries:
  1. Go to Device Manager.
  2. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties.
  3. Under the Advanced tab, look for a property called Country Region (2.4GHz/5GHz) or something similar.
  4. Set it to the correct region (e.g., United States).

Ensure Wi-Fi is Not in Monitor Mode

• Rarely, network adapters may be set to monitor mode, which scans for all nearby signals (even weak or hidden ones). This setting is common with advanced tools but not needed for normal use. Reset it:
  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Type the command:

netsh wlan show settings
 

1. Look for any monitor mode setting and disable it if necessary.

[Raj_05]

Check Your Router

• Ensure your router is broadcasting your network correctly:
  • Reboot your router.
  • Confirm the network name (SSID) is visible.
• If your router’s settings were changed, you might need to reset it.

Advanced Troubleshooting

• Run Windows’ built-in troubleshooter:
  • Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Internet Connections.
• Perform a DNS flush to clear any corrupted settings:
  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Type:

ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
 

1. Restart your laptop.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support