wireless problem

[unbiased]

wireless died slowly on my laptop. now it isnot even showing in bios. what are my options?

 

[corkyg]

Have you checked your external on/off switch? It is possible that it has died. But, they usually don't die slowly. What brand of lappy is it?

 

[unbiased]

Thanks Corkyg for the reply.

The Laptop is Acer Aspire- 7220. Why I say that it died slowly that once it didn't show at the time of start up. As one windows (vista) update had happened just before that, I thought may be it is a driver problem. I restored to before update instal situation and restarted my laptop. At that it worked normally. Next day I again saw one windows update leading to restart of laptop (it is usually kept on) and found that wireless was not working. The diagnosis showed that it failed to locate a wireless device.

I thought may be this time also it is a driver problem caused by windows update and again restored to earlier date, but this time wireless did not work at all. I tried to install latest drivers (which I found were already installed) but it showed a message that the driver instal did not detect the wireless device.

I checked in the BIOS. There also it is not showing. Then I concluded that may be the hardware has died. I checked the card'sconnectors of antenna, and found them properly fixed ( I opened the bottom panels of the laptop to check the same)

Is my conclusion correct? Has my wireless card died or the motherborad is dying? Rest of the functions are OK.

 

[corkyg]

Does not your Acer have an external on-off switch? Sometimes they are tied to a Fn keystroke.

 

[unbiased]

No, There is no external switch.

 

[TeeJay1952]

http://tim.id.au/laptops/acer/aspire%207520 7520g 7220 7220g.pdf

#3 shows network indicator /on/off button.

 

[corkyg]

Right! Check pages 13 and 25. Callout #3 is the switch.

 

[unbiased]

Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate your help in putting me on the right track. Now regretting all that opening of the bottom cover and and the keyboard cover etc. Hope I have not spoilt anything by opening them. Will check today soon as I get home.

Thanks again!

 

[unbiased]

I checked and found that the wireless indicator is not glowing and the button press did not do anything. I reflashed the BIOS too (same version V1.33), but to no avail. The other buttons in the vicinity (two of them) are also not working. While restarting the computer (before I decided to reflash the BIOS) the wireless indicator led glowed once or twice but again went dead, and after repeated pushes too did not respond. Later on restarting too it did not glow at all.

What say docs?

 

[corkyg]

In that case - a repair of that component is indicated. Got warranty? Something under that button panel is loose, or disonnected. Suggest you contact Acer. A work around may be a Wi-Fi Express Card or a USB device.