hp wireless button changes airplane mode

I will eagerly join a class action suit versus HP for that attitude.  They certified that my DV7 laptop was tested and compatible.  I checked it thoroughly before upgrading to Win 8.  Plus, we were give a $15 price for Win 8 via HP/Microsoft. If you call back again, insist you talk to a supervisor.  Eventually you will get someone in the USA to talk to up the ladder.

I am wondering if the battery might be it.  Gotta be involved because removing it, etc is the only way I have found to get intermittent function from F12.

It amazes me at the crappy support HP provides via their uninformed "tech support" agents.  When I called a few weeks ago, the second time, the agent was totally unaware there was a problem.  I gave him a link to a thread with 400+ posts about this wireless button fiasco.  He agreed that it was probably a BIOS issue.

Another day of stupidity in HP supportland... with many to come I fear.

I called HP yesterday and an Indian guy told me in a very broken English that HP doesn't support Windows 8 on our notebooks and that the solution to this problem was reverting to Windows 7. Great solution! He also said I have to call Microsoft and that maybe they can help me... Even better solution!

I've been trying to get into the BIOS hitting the F10 or Escape with no luck. How do you get into the BIOS? Do you have to hit the Function key + F10 or only F10? I tried both and none of them works.

My notebook is a Pavilion DV7 and one of my questions to the HP guy was what driver from their website I had to download. He didnt know. I think I have to download the Broadcom but just in case I installed also the Realtek and the Intel PROset Wireless tools. Could those other wireless drivers affect the F12 button?

The battery has their own drivers. It looks like Microsoft provided those drivers or AC adapters. Maybe those drivers are conflicting with the wireless driver?

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.

Thanks for your concern and help.  I will definitely let you know when this works out, but trust me... I am convinced it is beyond my capabilities regarding installing drivers and settings.  It just has to be the drivers or firmware we are given to work with at this point.  Enjoy your weekend too.  Stay tuned...

I have the same exact problem as Bobby. The f12 key is amber and nothing will change it.

It is weird though that when you plug in the battery, the problem comes back. What has to do the battery with the drivers?

Thanks for your concern and help.  I will definitely let you know when this works out, but trust me... I am convinced it is beyond my capabilities regarding installing drivers and settings.  It just has to be the drivers or firmware we are given to work with at this point.  Enjoy your weekend too.  Stay tuned...