The wireless card disappeared from the laptop. The wireless card is missing from the network connections and device manager. It looks like there is no wireless card installed at all.

Possible cause:

1. Bad contact between wireless card and motherboard.
2. Corrupted software.
3. Bad wireless card.
4. Motherboard failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

It’s possible that contacts on the wireless card got oxidized and the wireless card is not making good connection with the slot.
Remove the wireless card, clean contacts with pen erasure and install the wireless card back into the laptop. Test wireless card.

There is a chance that you have corrupted software. Not just the wireless driver, but some main core system files. Before replacing any hardware, try reinstalling the operating system from scratch.Test the wireless card again.

If reconnecting the wireless card and reinstalling the operating system didn’t help, most likely you have a faulty card. Try replacing the wireless card.

If you still experience the same problem even after replacing the card, most likely this is the motherboard failure. Replace the motherboard.

Here’s another suggestion. Instead of replacing the motherboard, you can try using a PCMCIA Wi-Fi card.

Orange light on the laptop network port stopped flashing. The laptop will not connect to the local network and Internet.

Possible cause:

1. Local Area Connection is disabled.
2. Defective network cable.
3. Bad network port.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

It’s possible the orange link light stopped flashing because the Local Area Connection in the laptop has been disabled. Check the network connection properties and make sure the Local Area Connection is enabled.

Windows XP:
Click on Start button >> Right click on My Network Places >> Click on Properties
Right click on Local Area Connections icon and Enable if the connection is disabled.

Windows Vista:
Click on Start button >> Right click on Network >> Click on Properties >> Click on Manage network connection (in left pane)
Right click on Local Area Connections icon and Enable if the connection is disabled.

If enabling the connection doesn’t help, it’s possible that you have either bad network cable or broken network port.

The laptop network port is loose. In order to connect to the Internet you have to wiggle the cable inside the network port.  The light on the network  port starts blinking only if you find the right position for the cable.

Possible cause:

1. Bad network cable.
2. Damaged network port.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

First of all, test connection with another network cable. It’s very likely that you have a damaged network cable. Replace the cable if needed.

Take a look inside the network port. Make sure there are no damaged pins inside the network port. It’s possible that one of the pins is bent and connection to the network fails because of that. In some cases you can straighten the bent pin with a thin rigid object.

It’s possible that the network port is broken and it loses contact with the motherboard when moved. In this case it is necessary to replace the broken port with a new one. Unfortunately, this is not an easy repair. In most laptops the network port is soldered directly to the motherboard.

You can work around this problem without replacing the damaged port. Simply buy a PCMCIA Network card. Plug this card into the available PC slot in your laptop and get a network port instead.

The laptop stopped connecting to the wireless network. The wireless connection used to work fine but now it’s not working. You tested your laptop with a few wireless routers without any luck.

Possible cause:

1. Wrong settings for the wireless card.
2. Bad or corrupted software.
3. Wireless card or router failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

1. Make sure the laptop can see the wireless router. If the laptop doesn’t see the wireless router, make sure the wireless switch in your laptop is turned on.

2. Check network properties and make sure the wireless adapter is enabled.

3. Make sure the wireless router is turned on. Test your laptop with another wireless router if you can.

4. If the laptop can connect to the wireless router but cannot access the Internet, make sure that your wireless card settings match the wireless router settings. Make sure the security key in your laptop matches the securing key entered in the wireless router.

5. Access the device manager and try uninstalling the wireless adapter. Restart the laptop and let it redetect the adapter and reinstall the device driver.

6. Visit the manufacturer’s website and download the wireless card driver. Try reinstalling the driver.

7. Back up all personal data and try reinstalling the operating system from scratch.

8. If all software tricks do not work and all setting are correct, but you still cannot access the wireless network, try replacing the wireless card.