hp wireless button changes airplane mode

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...

Well it looks like we are on the same page. You are right.. you must have something not normal going on. I suggest you try the folks over at the eightforums http://www.eightforums.com and show them this thread. After they read it all and catch up, they might be able to help you.. it's so far the best windows eight forum on the web. I'm sorry I could not get you working. It would take sitting down in front of your rig and trying lots of stuff to track down the problem.. for me anyway and I'm sure you have done that till your pulling your hair out. I wish you the best of luck. If you find and are able to fix the problem, please post it here.. I'd like to know how it got fixed. Aside from your PC troubles, I hope you have a great weekend Bobby.

BTW, If I troubleshoot using the Airplane Icon...

"Turn on wireless capability

Use the switch on the front or side of the computer, or function keys if available, to enable wireless capability on this computer."

Yes.. I do understand. Thats why i found this msg base too. When I hit the f12 key it turns off wifi but it also turns off everything wifi enabled/connected. Thats what they call airplane mode.  It turns from white ( looks light blue to me) to amber and hitting it again will not turn on wifi. All the above suggested ways are ways to re-enable wifi - when all you should really have to do is hit the f12 button again - but of course that wont work - it's not set up for that. The easiest and fastest way is using the slider but for some reason, you don't seem to have a slider. I wish i could help you get this slider back.

If you enlarge the little network connection icon bars in the taskbar.. what exactly do you see? Can you post a screenshot?

Another option is perhaps it's the version of windows 8 you have thats somehow different. You could go to the above eightforums and sign up for a free account and ask in there to help you get back the airplane slider function.  Otherwise i will try to research this and help you. I'll get back to you.. in the meantime, please see if you can post a screenshot.

Here is what it looks like on my system. i did notice if the button is amber, you wont see the network bars icon in the taskbar - you will see an icon of an airplane. That's what you want to click. Airplane Mode ON, means wifi is Off. If Airplane Mode is Off, it means wifi is ON. In this screenshot my Airplane mode is On and my wifi is Off. That box next to Airplane mode at the top is a slider. if you have that, drag the white square over to the left. This will turn Airplane Mode Off and wifi back On.

It's confusing.. i know..

 Look at this screenshot: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/16/airplanemode.png/

"...use the slider on Airplane mode to turn wireless back on. It's that simple." was what you said.  My slider turns Airplane Mode on and off.  Not wireless.  Wireless is not an option, it says "Wireless (off)"

Do you understand what I have been saying?  The F12 button is amber.  Will not turn on.  No other place I have seen that will turn wireless on.  I have been using and building computers since 1985 ish and know how to plug in electrical appliances.  LOL