hp wireless button changes airplane mode

If I open Windows Mobility Center, wireless does not appear.  I am convinced this is like you say, HP or Microsoft or combined blunder.  My F12 does not work other than Airplane mode switch.  There is no slider in Network Connections, etc.

Could be BIOS, could be driver for F12.  In any case, I am weary after no HP solutions since October.  Trust me, NEVER will I buy HP products again.  Nothing.  Sick of it.

My wife reminded me sometimes it wont work if other network connections like Local Area Connections are active.. she says to disable all connections before you hit the troubleshooter.

OR

Try this.. I just found out its the best quick fix.. quicker than my post above.

Go to the Network Connections icon in the task bar ( it's the icon with all the little bars)  and use the slider on Airplane mode to turn wireless back on. It's that simple.

I still have a need to disable that button because I accidentally hit it now and then and it's annoying. Plus many games and apps that want to map to the F12 key can't do it because of this airplane mode function.  That's part of Windows 8 mobile features But many desktop users don't need or want a lot of the mobile features in a desktop OS.

The first poster said, " I just upgraded my 64 bit HP Pavilion g7 2010 nr to windows 8. now, whenever i try to use the wireless button (Fn + F12) it changes the airplane mode instead of wifi."

But this is really not the case. Airplane mode IS wifi.. and every other wifi connected device in your system.. it turns them all off quickly so you can be protected at airports and on the airplanes.. hence the name Airplane Mode. It makes sure Wifi and all other devices that are able to connect to any network absolutely cannot run. At least thats my understanding of this silly feature. Well, perhaps not silly if you need it but most desktop users don't.

I have a HP Pavilion G7 laptop I use as a desktop machine. I don't know if this is a Microsoft blunder or HP or a combo of both but I wish they would give you the option to disable the functionality of F12 as it is now.

From Control Panel, Windows Mobility Center does have a way to change the functionality of the F12 button but like me, this feature does not show up in Windows Mobility Center for some unknown reason. Look here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Using-Windows-Mobility-Center

First u have to do some tough job....

-->IF you installed the HP Hotkey Utility Driver installed, then uninstall it first.

-->Click the network Panel (monitor icon) in the taskbar.

-->Set Airplane Mode to OFF

-->Set Wi-Fi to ON

-->Restart your PC with the Wi-Fi ON

-->Now the thing that happens after your PC restarts, if you keep the airplane mode to ON the Wi-Fi stays OFF and if you keep the airplane mode to OFF Wi-Fi turns back ON. That means your Wi-Fi adapter is working properly. But the F12 button still doesn't work as the driver is not installed.

-->go to this link,    http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp59501-60000/sp5983

-->download the HP Hotkey Utility Driver and install it..and see the magic..everything works fine.

Actually the main thing is that the airplane mode has to be always ON to keep the WiFi OFF and if you press Fn+F12 now the Airplane mode will turn OFF and Wi-Fi will turn ON or vice versa.

That's it...I think this will help...Thanx a lot.

Maruf

Herman, that is what I have wondered too.  I have not installed the battery while the computer is running under A/C power since my brain tells me that is not a good idea.  

If you go Device Manager and right click on your network card, under Power Management you will see the box is checked by default to allow Windows to shut down the card to save power.

I unchecked that.  No effect on the problem.

I also removed HP Power Manager and am letting Windows manage that for now.

Still, doing that... no difference.

It does seem that the battery is part of the problem.  Like all the various ideas suggest, shut down, remove the battery, hold the power button down 30 seconds.  Plug in the A/C but not the battery, turn on the laptop and hit F10 to go to BIOS, choose Default and save... and mine comes up with the F12 wireless button blue and working.  ...until you restart without doing all that.  It goes back to amber and F12 only turns on or off airplane mode.

Mystery for sure.

Remember - look for the icon of the Airplane in your taskbar. It should be there. I have tried to find any version of widows 8 that does not have this feature built in and cannot find any. All retail versions of Windows 8 have this feature. It is the same as the Network Connections application that uses the bars icon you would normally see with Wifi turned on.. only they change the icon to an airplane for airplane mode.