Wireless Adapter Missing

[Sasquatch35]

Hello, I'm running Windows 8.1

HP ENVY Notebook - 17t-k200 CTO Model #:K2Z69AV

Last night before going to bed, I shut down my laptop as normal, and it installed a Windows Update.  This isn't anything uncommon, so I let it run as normal, and it shut down, not displaying any errors.  

I get up today and go to get on my laptop, it no longer had a wireless connection.  All my other wireless devices worked, so this was odd.  I go to check the Network and Sharing Center, my wireless adapter is completely gone.  Tried running the troubleshooter, no luck at all.  

• I tried doing a system restore to a couple days ago, that did not fix the issue.  
• I uninstalled the Windows updates (except one that would not allow me to uninstall it), rebooted, no luck. 
• I checked under device manager and I just have Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller.  Just in case, I turned the option off to have Windows turn it off to save power.
• I attempted downloading the wireless drivers from the HP site, but that did not seem to fix the issue either.  

I'm kind of unsure what to do at this point.  Yes, I can have my laptop connected via a wired connection, but that sort of defeats the purpose.  Any help I could get would be greatly appreciated!  

[Sparkles1]

Hi @Sasquatch35,

Welcome to the HP Forum! I am pleased that you have become a HP Forum member. It is such a wonderful site to find answers and tips. Here is a link to guide you to having the most rewarding experience and answer any concerns about posting: First Time Here? Learn How to Post and More.

I understand that you shut down your notebook last night and you left it installing an update. When you powered it on the next morning, you did not have a wireless connection. When you checked the Network and Sharing center your wireless adapter was gone. You then tried

• doing a system restore to a couple of days ago.
• you uninstalled the Windows updates except for one which would not allow you uninstall it and rebooted your notebook
• when you checked under Device Manager you only had the PCIe GBE Family Controller. You did uncheck the "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" option
• you downloaded the driver from the HP website but that also did not help.

Would you try the following steps in this post by @Great-Deku-Tree?

First, we have a step by step guide to walk you through the troubleshooting process here:
Troubleshooting Your Wireless Network and Internet Connection

A second option, is to try these steps:
Power cycle the network:
1. Shut down your notebook.
2. Unplug the power to your router.
3. Unplug the power to your modem.
4. Wait at least 45 seconds.
5. Plug in the modem, and wait for it to come back online.
6. Plug in the router, and wait for it to come back online.
7. Turn on your notebook, and test your connection.

Disable the Power Off option for the adapter:
1. Open Device Manager. (Win Key+R > type devmgmt.msc > OK)
2. Expand the Network adapters.
3. Right- click on the Ethernet/Wireless Adapter and click Properties.
4. Click the Power Management tab.
5. Remove the check mark beside Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
6. Click OK.
7. Test.

Reset the TCP/IP settings on your PC:
1. Go to your start screen/menu and type CMD.
2. Right- click on the command prompt icon and chose Run as administrator.
3. In the window that opens type "netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt" without quotes, and press enter.
4. Restart your PC and test.

It may also help to reset the winsock catalogue:
1. Go to your start screen/menu and type CMD.
2. Right- click on the command prompt icon and chose Run as administrator.
3. In the window that opens type "netsh winsock reset" without quotes, and press enter.
4. Restart your PC and test.

Reinstall the network adapter drivers:
1. Download the drivers from here but do not run them yet.
2. Go to your start screen/menu and type Device Manager.
3. Expand Network adapters.
4. Right- click on the wireless adapter and choose Uninstall.
5. Run the downloaded drivers from step 1.
6. Restart your PC and test.

Test an ethernet connection:
Self -explanatory. Test if the issue persists on a wired connection to rule out the wireless adapter hardware so troubleshooting can be directed towards the right areas.

Test another connection:
Many people rule out their home network as an issue if another device is working on the same network. Networking is not that simple. Each device interacts differently with your router or modem and it is impossible to rule out settings in that device until the notebook has been tested on another network.

If those three steps do not resolve the issue, try this document published by Microsoft for networking issues: Wired and wireless network problems. You can change the operating system with the drop- down in the upper-right corner of the document.

Please let me know the results.

Thanks for participating in the HP Forums where we want to help you as well as others who may experience a similar issue as yourself. Please consider marking the post that resolves your issue as "Accept as Solution" to help other community members! To show appreciation for my efforts kindly click the “Thumbs Up” below..

[Sasquatch35]

Hello,

I tried the steps that you suggested, but unfortunately still was unable to get my connection to show up.  It is no longer listed as even an option in the network settings.  

[Sparkles1]

Hi @Sasquatch35,

Thank you for the update.

If you scan for hardware changes in Device manager does it show up?

Is it recognized in the bios, if so run a hardware test on it? If the warranty is not a concern, you could try re-seating the network card. Here is a link the maintenance and service guide to assist with that process, should you wish to attempt it. HP ENVY 17 Notebook PC HP ENVY 15 Notebook PC HP ENVY m7 Notebook PC Maintenance and Service Guide. Please note chapter 6, page 56, WLAN. Should you determine that the network card has failed, please note chapter 3, page 16. item 5 for the recommended replacements.

Please keep me posted on your progress.

[Sasquatch35]

Hello again, thank you for your assistance.

I think I might have found what was going on.  After our previous discussion, I shut down my computer for the evening again, and when I turned it back on, it kind of hung up on the start screen.  I hard shut it off with the power button, and when it came back on, my wifi was back on.  

It stayed on for the past few days and today while using my laptop, I sat it down to do something else for a bit and I saw it went right into sleep mode, completely bypassing the screen saver.  When I woke it back up, the wifi was out again.  I had turned the power saving mode off in device manager, but it was just for the regular network card, as that was the only thing that showed up, my wireless card had not been in there.  

I went into power management mode and saw an option under advanced settings to put wireless adapter at max power usage even when sleeping.  As soon as I made that change, my wifi came back on.  I now have the wifi card under device manager and sure enough, it was set to allow the computer to turn off the power to the card to conserve power.  

We'll see how this goes, but hopefully that will take care of it.

[Sparkles1]

Hi @Sasquatch35,

Thank you for the update.

I am glad that your issue has been resolved. Should you have the need in the future, please do not hesitate you post your query. We will do our best to help.