Original Title: How to turn on WiFi Capability on Windows 8 Hello, I upgraded my Laptop Toshiba L500D from Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) to Windows 8 Pro (x64) a few days ago, then I realized yesterday I could not connect to WiFi connection. I have tried search on the internet how to fix it, but no luck. Here are the following list I have tried so far: Update to latest Driver by going to " Device Manager ", click right " Realtek RTL8187SE Wireless LAN PCIE Network Adapter " then click " Update Driver Software... ". Go to Toshiba Website, download " Realtek Wireless Lan Driver " for Windows 7 (x64) and install it by running in Windows 7 compatibility mode. Go to BIOS, by pressing F2 before Windows 8 loaded, and enable Wireless Communication. Troubleshooting " Network Adapter (WiFi)" and it gave this advice: " 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. " Go to Settings -> Change PC Settings -> Wireless, and I got this: http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/2959/62721723.png How am I suppose to switch it on, if the switch is disabled? The airplane is also off, so I suppose the Wireless switch should be enable so I can turn it on and off, but no, the wifi switch is still disabled. Any advice will be appreciated. Cheers, simply.puzzle

hi I encounter same problem with you, but then i found thi solution. I hope it can help you too. Open PC settings Select Wireless On Wireless device, turn on the wi-fi Problem solved

Hi, I am also facing the same problem. mine button is also disabled. I got my lenovo laptop pre loaded with win8 yesterday. How did you solve your problem? Can any one form from microsoft help regarding this issue? the steps proveded by you at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/network-connection-problem-help#network-problems=windows-8&v1h=win8tab5&v2h=win7tab1&v3h=winvistatab1&v4h=winxptab1 isn't working. driver is upto date. Thanks, Geecat

Hi Bennet, Thank you for your reply. I have tried Fn + F8, but the switch is still disabled. When I press Fn key, the flash card showed that WiFi is On. Also to note, I installed Toshiba Value Added Package and Toshiba Flash Cards Support Utility in order to enable the Fn key. Everything is On but it seems Windows fails to recognize it. Cheers, simply.puzzle

Hi Simply.puzzle, Thanks for posting in the Microsoft Community. I understand that you have recently upgraded to Windows 8 pro and you are unable to access Wi-Fi. You have mentioned that you have updated the Wireless LAN driver and enabled the wireless communication in BIOS and yet you are getting an error message asking you to enable the wireless capability by turning on the switch on the front or side of your computer. In this case, I would suggest you to check if the Wi-Fi switch on your keyboard is turned ON. You can enable the Wi-Fi by pressing the function key and the F8 key at the same time (Fn+F8 key). I would also suggest you to go through this link to troubleshoot if the problem still persists: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/network-connection-problem-help#network-problems=windows-8&v1h=win8tab1&v2h=win7tab1&v3h=winvistatab1&v4h=winxptab1 Hope this resolves the issue. If the issue persists, please get back to us and we would be happy to help you further.

Wifi Toggle switch is greyed out

Anonymous

Original Title: How to turn on WiFi Capability on Windows 8

Hello,

I upgraded my Laptop Toshiba L500D from Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) to Windows 8 Pro (x64) a few days ago, then I realized yesterday I could not connect to WiFi connection. I have tried search on the internet how to fix it, but no luck. Here are the following list I have tried so far:

Update to latest Driver by going to "Device Manager", click right "Realtek RTL8187SE Wireless LAN PCIE Network Adapter" then click "Update Driver Software...".
Go to Toshiba Website, download "Realtek Wireless Lan Driver" for Windows 7 (x64) and install it by running in Windows 7 compatibility mode.
Go to BIOS, by pressing F2 before Windows 8 loaded, and enable Wireless Communication.
Troubleshooting "Network Adapter (WiFi)" and it gave this advice:

"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."

Go to Settings -> Change PC Settings -> Wireless, and I got this:

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/2959/62721723.png

How am I suppose to switch it on, if the switch is disabled? The airplane is also off, so I suppose the Wireless switch should be enable so I can turn it on and off, but no, the wifi switch is still disabled.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Cheers,

simply.puzzle

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous

I had a similar issue.. I used the diagnostics to resolve the issue... here are the steps I took.

Right Click network icon in taskbar and select "open network and sharing center"
highlight wifi connection then at top click "diagnose this connection"

the troubleshooter will discover that the WiFi connection is turned off and offer a "apply fix" option click that and windows will enable the wifi connection...

I had the same issues as the OP and Geecat where the Fn switch just didn't work, so I worked through it as outlined above... Looks like with Win 8 the troubleshooter is even more necessary... Not sure how I feel about that, but it is what it is.

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105 additional answers

Anonymous

2012-12-17T22:54:42+00:00
hi

I encounter same problem with you, but then i found thi solution.

I hope it can help you too.
1. Open PC settings
2. Select Wireless
3. On Wireless device, turn on the wi-fi
Problem solved
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Anonymous

2012-11-16T05:31:12+00:00

Hi,

I am also facing the same problem.

mine button is also disabled.

I got my lenovo laptop pre loaded with win8 yesterday.

How did you solve your problem?

Can any one form from microsoft help regarding this issue?

the steps proveded by you at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/network-connection-problem-help#network-problems=windows-8&v1h=win8tab5&v2h=win7tab1&v3h=winvistatab1&v4h=winxptab1

isn't working.

driver is upto date.

Thanks,

Geecat
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Anonymous

2012-11-05T11:14:01+00:00

Hi Bennet,

Thank you for your reply. I have tried Fn + F8, but the switch is still disabled. When I press Fn key, the flash card showed that WiFi is On. Also to note, I installed Toshiba Value Added Package and Toshiba Flash Cards Support Utility in order to enable the Fn key. Everything is On but it seems Windows fails to recognize it.

Cheers,

simply.puzzle
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Anonymous

2012-11-04T14:34:34+00:00

Hi Simply.puzzle,

Thanks for posting in the Microsoft Community.

I understand that you have recently upgraded to Windows 8 pro and you are unable to access Wi-Fi. You have mentioned that you have updated the Wireless LAN driver and enabled the wireless communication in BIOS and yet you are getting an error message asking you to enable the wireless capability by turning on the switch on the front or side of your computer.

In this case, I would suggest you to check if the Wi-Fi switch on your keyboard is turned ON. You can enable the Wi-Fi by pressing the function key and the F8 key at the same time (Fn+F8 key).

I would also suggest you to go through this link to troubleshoot if the problem still persists:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/network-connection-problem-help#network-problems=windows-8&v1h=win8tab1&v2h=win7tab1&v3h=winvistatab1&v4h=winxptab1

Hope this resolves the issue. If the issue persists, please get back to us and we would be happy to help you further.
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