Wifi Toggle switch is greyed out

Anonymous
2012-11-04T04:04:43+00:00

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:

  1. Update to latest Driver by going to "Device Manager", click right "Realtek RTL8187SE Wireless LAN PCIE Network Adapter" then click "Update Driver Software...".
  2. Go to Toshiba Website, download "Realtek Wireless Lan Driver" for Windows 7 (x64) and install it by running in Windows 7 compatibility mode.
  3. Go to BIOS, by pressing F2 before Windows 8 loaded, and enable Wireless Communication.
  4. 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."

  1. 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

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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
2012-11-29T21:38:42+00:00

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

  1. Right Click network icon in taskbar and select "open network and sharing center"
  2. 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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  1. Anonymous
    2012-12-21T18:32:06+00:00

    Seshnat, you did not read OPs problem very well, they show that they cannot do that, and that does not solve their problem (nor mine).

    Just to bump this thread, will somebody or OP please respond if their is a way to fix this? It is not the WiFi card, I just put a new one in and windows 8 still does not let me turn the wifi "on" even though the card is enabled in the device manager and the machine knows the card is there.

    The first few weeks of windows 8 the wifi was working (unlike the new start menu search that is evil), but now is all messed up. Somebody please help!

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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. 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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