Windows 10 Internet Connectivity Issues: "Not Connected - No connections are available"

[DiamondT]

I was watching some anime on my laptop a few days ago when the video started buffering. I sat for about 5 minutes and it wouldn't continue playing, so I closed it to check my internet connection. In the bottom right corner there's a little icon showing a Monitor next to an Ethernet cable with a red X over it. When I hover over the icon it says "Not connected - No connections are available". I googled the issue and have tried every solution I've found. Updating drivers, uninstalling drivers, various commands in the command prompt, network troubleshooter, virus and malware scans, disabling firewall and virus protection, etc. Nothing has worked. I figured it may be a problem with my network adapter, but the Device Manager says it's working properly. On top of the network problem, it also takes significantly longer to boot, and I can't open any programs that use an internet connection (Google Chrome, League of Legends, etc).
I've had the laptop for a year and it's been working fine up until now, except for a blue screen crash I had a few weeks ago, which was very random. I don't know what the model number is, but here are the specs if those are useful at all: http://qrq.itcs.hp.com/m/V0Q01UAABA/qr.do?cc=us&ll=en&jumpid=QR_PPS_V0Q01UAABA_NA
Any help would be appreciated. This computer is pretty much useless without an internet connection.

[DavidSMP]

Hi @DiamondT,

Good Day! Thanks for taking an interest in the HP Support Forums! I read your post internet connectivity issues. I will be delighted to assist you with this. 🙂

Fabulous diagnosis and superb analysis of the issue before posting.  Kudos to you on that score. It is always a privilege to work with technical specialists like you. 🙂

You are a valued HP customer and it is paramount to assist you here. We greatly appreciate you for doing business with HP. I take it as a privilege to share this platform with you. 🙂

For better clarity and to assist you better I would require more information regarding this?

• Is it a hardwired Ethernet connection or a wireless connection?
• Have you tried with a different Ethernet cable assuming that the connection is hard wired based on the network error?

For starters please try these steps out.

• Please try to connect to the internet using a different Ethernet cable.
• Please check if the there is a light that flashes at regular intervals on the Ethernet port where the cable is plugged in.
• Try to go online and check if it works. If it does not,
• Try to connect to a wireless network if it is possible.

Please follow the all the prescribed steps in this document: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04649156

Also check this link out: http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c01096008

If it is a hardware issue with the Ethernet port which integrated to the motherboard, then the motherboard needs to be changed. So the best workaround here would be to order a wireless USB dongle and plug it to one of the USB ports of the computer and then connect it to the router to connect to the internet. It is very cost effective and economical and also corrects the situation.

Hope this helps.   I genuinely hope the issue gets resolved without hassles and the unit works great. 🙂  Please reach out for any issues and I'll be there to assist you. 🙂

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help.

If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. 🙂

Take care now and have a splendid week ahead. 🙂

[DiamondT]

Thank you for replying so quickly! 🙂
It is in fact a wifi connection, I've actually never connected my Laptop to the internet via Ethernet cable, as I don't even own one XD
Two interesting things I just realized as I was continuing to try and figure this out:
1. In the Network and Sharing Center > Network Connections, the Wi-Fi connection says it's disabled. When I right click it and choose Enable, the pop-up says "Now Enabled" but it stays Disabled.
2. Also in the Network and Sharing Center, the check box to "Automatically detect nearby networks" was set to off for some reason, so I turned that back on, but it didn't help.
Any tips regarding this newfound information?

[DavidSMP]

Hi @DiamondT,

I reviewed the post about wifi connectivity issues. Thanks for the super quick reply. That changes the gamut of things here. Spectacular diagnosis of the issue before posting again. Kudos to you for your efforts. 🙂

I would require more information regarding this for better clarity.

• When did it last work correctly?
• Did a software or windows update cause this to happen? Do you remember?
• Have you checked if the wireless button (usually the F12 key) on the keyboard is enabled and the computer is not in airplane mode?
• Do other devices on the same network work correctly or not?

If other devices do not connect or work correctly with the wireless network, then the issue could be with the router and contact the IT person who set it up for you.

For starters please perform a bios defaults by following these steps:

1. Turn on or restart the computer.
2. While the display is blank, press the f10 key to enter the BIOS settings menu.
3. Press the f9 key to reset the BIOS to the default settings.
4. Press the f10 key to save the changes and exit the BIOS settings menu.

If other devices connect properly, Then please check the wireless icon is lit and if it glows correctly.

Then please check if a hard wired Ethernet cable works correctly and you are able to connect and go online?

If you are able to go online using an Ethernet cable, then please perform these steps:

• Right-Click on start button> click device manager> expand Network adapters>then select the wifi adapter listed and click on uninstall. Then check the box that says delete the software for this device.
• Then restart the computer and update the bios, chipset and Wi-Fi adapter drivers from this link: http://hp.com/drivers
• Please select the country and type the product# of the unit. Then follow the on-screen instructions to update it.
• Then please restart the computer and check if it connects and goes online.

If it does the issue is resolved. Otherwise please check these links out for further assistance:

Link 1: HP PCs - Troubleshooting Wireless Network and Internet (Windows 10): http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-15-Notebook-PC-series/8499326/model/8942890/document/c0464917...

Link 2: http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Wireless-and-Networking/Common-fixes-for-wireless-connectivity...

Please perform all the prescribed steps from these links one at a time. If any step fixes the issue, you don’t have to proceed any further.

If the issue still persists, a good workaround is to procure a wifi USB dongle and plug it to one of the USB ports. Then connect to the router with it. It is extremely cost effective and economical. You could get it for a song from a local BeSt Buy or Staples location.

Hope this helps.   I genuinely hope the issue gets resolved without hassles and the unit works great. 🙂  Please reach out for any issues and I'll be there to assist you. 🙂

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help.

 If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. 🙂

Take care now and have a splendid week ahead. 🙂

[DiamondT]

Ok, to answer your questions in order:

• It last worked correctly exactly one week ago, on February 6th. I was at my Mom's house using her Wi-Fi connection. When it went out, I thought it was just her internet screwing up, but once I came home, the same problem persisted.
• When I used System Recovery to go back to the day it started to mess up, the info for why the recovery state was created did state that on Feb 6th there was a "Critical Update". I figured that was the problem at one point, so I went to the Windows Update History to uninstall whatever it was, but the history log showed no record of a Windows update on Feb 6th, only the updates to my Drivers, which was the first thing I tried after the problem started. (I took screenshots to show what I mean)
• Yeah, I thought it could be Airplane, but I've turned it on and off many times just to be sure. That is not the problem.
• Yes, there are plenty of other devices on my network, including about 4 phones, 3 Smart TVs, an iPad, and 2 other computers. They all work fine, my laptop is the only thing having issues.

I was, however, able to connect the the internet using an Ethernet Cable that I found lying around. I did everything you suggested after going online to the drivers website. I installed every relevant driver, updated them all, and reset my computer a few times.  Still no Wi-Fi connection. Even more interesting is that the option to use Wi-Fi is actually completely gone now. In the Network and Sharing Center, the only connection type that is appearing is Ethernet now. (I took a screenshot to show what I mean) I've also seen some people go to the network settings page and click a tab called Wi-Fi, but my computer does not show that. The top selection is Airplane Mode. (Another screenshot)

I am considering purchasing the Wi-Fi USB, but before I do, I just want to be sure that I can't solve the problem without spending money. Thanks again for your assistance, hopefully this new info helps you help me 😄

[DavidSMP · Accepted solution]

Hi @DiamondT,

 I reviewed the post comprehensively. Stupendous effort and brilliant troubleshooting to try and resolve the issue. 🙂 Kudos to you for a job well done. 🙂

It certainly looks like the wifi adapter may have an issue. The only option to isolate the issue further would be to backup all your files and perform a system recovery to factory settings from this link: http://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c04758961

Then follow the option “Recovery when Windows 10 does not start correctly

After that please check if the Wi-Fi connection works and if the wireless network is listed.

If it still does not work, then the wireless card may be faulty and you would need to order a USB wireless dongle as stated before.

Trust me I've done all I can to assist you by keeping your best interest in mind. You've been commendable and it has been an absolute privilege to share this platform with you. 🙂

I genuinely hope the computer works great and stays healthy for a long time once it gets fixed. 🙂

To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help.

 If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles. 🙂

You take care, stay healthy, keep smiling big and do have a blessed year ahead. 🙂