Cannot locate wireless card after formating HD

[eviltoon]

After re-formatting my Dell Inspirion 8600 the other day, I discoved I no longer had
net tworking ability. Looking into the Hardware profile in System Manager I saw there was no reference to my laptop having a wireless card.

Simple question, how do I get my computer to recognize a wireless card that I know is there?

Thanks

 

[JackMDS]

You log to Dell's support and download the Wireless card's drivers.

 

[CptCrunch]

Download the drivers, make sure that you didn't hit fn+f6(maybe the key, it has a wireless icon on it) and turn off the wireless card.

 

[zetsway]

Originally posted by: CptCrunch
Download the drivers, make sure that you didn't hit fn+f6(maybe the key, it has a wireless icon on it) and turn off the wireless card.

True but it would still be in device manager. It would just be disabled.

Originally posted by: JackMDS
You log to Dell's support and download the Wireless card's drivers.

This is your best bet

 

[Slowlearner]

I went thru this recently when I sent an Inspiron 8600 for repairs to Dell.

For some reason Dell includes a utility called Dell Wireless Configuration Manager or something similar. If the box let this utility manage your wireless config is checked the wireless card does not show up in the Device Manager. Start this utility and uncheck the box. Then press the fn key combo to start the wireless card, and use XP to configure the the card.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: zetsway

Originally posted by: CptCrunch
Download the drivers, make sure that you didn't hit fn+f6(maybe the key, it has a wireless icon on it) and turn off the wireless card.

True but it would still be in device manager. It would just be disabled.

If it is a laptop and the Wireless is Hardware Disabled, it is Not existing at all and would not apper in the device manager.

Originally posted by: JackMDS
You log to Dell's support and download the Wireless card's drivers.

This is your best bet [/quote]

Many Wireless vendors do not bother to submit thier Drivers to Microsoft.

As a result, after reformatting and install, in most cases you need to obtain the current Wireless Drivers from the original vendor.

If the Drivers are not installed there is No entry in Device manager, or there will be there a ghost.