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- Re: Compaq Presario CQ61 wireless problem

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12-01-2011 04:16 AM
I use a Compaq Presario CQ61-411WM PC with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and I'm not able to connect to the internet because the PC doesn't detect any wireless networks available. The HP wireless assistant reports the wireless device is disabled in the device manager. However, when I check the device manager under the network adapters, the Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller doesn't show any error or problem. I'll be really delighted for any help with this. Thanks.
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Accepted Solutions
12-01-2011 10:50 AM
Hi:
Well, the only thing I can think of to confirm that your wireless card did or did not die is to go into your BIOS by hitting the F10 key at the HP welcome screen and see if there is a device configuration menu and see that your wireless adapter is listed.
If it is listed, make sure the setting is set to enabled.
If it is not listed, then I would imagine the card is completely broken.
If it is listed and enabled in the BIOS, then you have a major software problem and my solution would be to back up any files you want to keep and do a system recovery.
Paul
12-01-2011 06:06 AM
Hi:
The Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller is your wired network adapter.
Your wireless adapter is either missing entirely from your device manager, or it is listed as a network controller with a ! which means it is in need of drivers.
If it is not showing up anywhere in the device manager, it could be anything from the card died, to a major software issue.
Is it possible you inadvertently turned the wireless button/switch off?
That is why your notebook cannot see or connect to any wireless networks.
Paul
12-01-2011 10:40 AM
My wireless adapter is entirely missing from device manager and the wireless button is not off. As a matter of fact, its supposed to change color to blue when I switch it on but it doesn't anymore. What do I do?
12-01-2011 10:50 AM
Hi:
Well, the only thing I can think of to confirm that your wireless card did or did not die is to go into your BIOS by hitting the F10 key at the HP welcome screen and see if there is a device configuration menu and see that your wireless adapter is listed.
If it is listed, make sure the setting is set to enabled.
If it is not listed, then I would imagine the card is completely broken.
If it is listed and enabled in the BIOS, then you have a major software problem and my solution would be to back up any files you want to keep and do a system recovery.
Paul
12-01-2011 11:10 AM - edited 12-01-2011 11:11 AM
You're welcome.
Good luck.
Make sure you back up everything you want to keep. When you do the system recovery everything you installed since you got the PC will be erased and unrecoverable.
Please post back, and let us know if that gets the wireless running for you.
Paul
02-16-2012 08:26 AM
Hi
I have exactly the same problem. I have accessed the BIOS screen at start-up (F10) but there is no "device configuration" menu. HP assistant advices that the WLAN has been disabled by device manager. The two programmes in device manager that I am focussing on are the 'realtek' and the 'atheros'. The realtek is enabled, running OK but the "atheros" is showing a problem "possibly due to malicious software". What can I try now? Thank you.
02-16-2012 08:43 AM
Hi:
if you are getting a message that somehow the adapter has been disabled due to malicious software, try running the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/malware-removal.aspx
Then I would install the latest Atheros wireless driver for your notebook.
If none of these things get your notebook's wireless running again then you will have to back up your files and perform a system recovery to the factory state.
Paul
