Connect to internet is greyed out with airplane mode

Anonymous
2013-12-22T04:31:38+00:00

I have a Dell Inspiron 15 R. Windows 8.1. Everything was working fine. I stopped using the internet because I didn't have one for few days.

Now I have a connection. I turned on the laptop and surprise. The connect software button is grayed out along with the airplane mode. Tried everything even turning off the Kaspersky and the firewall. Still nothing made it work. Software is up to date weather for the WiFi hardware or windows. Ethernet works.

Why is this happening?

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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2013-12-23T05:28:59+00:00

Thank you for your reply.

I know that airplane mode stops all the signals and I stated that it's grayed out so there is no way to turn it on.

The microsoft website is useless although it shouldn't. Why? Because they created the program and they don't know the answer which I figured out.

You will need to activate the wireless card from the control panel--Device manager--network adapter--right click your modem--properties--power management--uncheck allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

This is not listed by microsoft in any troubleshooting wich is so bad that it couldnt find a solution to a problem.

Thank you

Was this answer helpful?

70+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

63 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-12-27T08:39:27+00:00

    DUDE I **** love you!!! I reseted my computer / refreshed it almost everything for hours and I couldn't get it to work. I then thought it must be a key but I couldn't find it anywhere on the keyboard or on the internet till I found this comment. Thanks so much man :D

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-01-02T16:22:06+00:00

    Its been a while since this question was answered by Mr. Jabbour but after finding his answer to this question on the airplane mode today (almost 2 years later) I felt it was worth replying that his solution fixed my problem. Unchecking the box under power management in properties after right clicking my modem under network adapters was my fix, thank goodness for do-it-yourselfers like him that are better than the Dell service technician that sent my laptop back to me with the airplane mode engaged and grayed out!!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-01-14T20:22:34+00:00

    On the newer Dell Insiron laptop it's a Function+PrtScr, so no physical switch is used.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2015-01-15T10:38:34+00:00

    Hi Mike,

    Thank you for sharing the information on the community forum. This will definitely help other community members facing the same issue.

    Feel free to post on the forum if you have any concern related to Windows.

    Regards,

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments