Can't find WiFi settings or device on my laptop?

Saberu · 15 Aug 2006 at 19:44

I just bought a second hand laptop which was advertised as "WiFi enabled" but I can't find anything to suggest it has a WiFi PCMCIA card installed as theres no driver for it that is called wireless and I can't find any settings on control panel for detecting a wireless network. Have I been duped or am I truly an idiot?

Saberu · 15 Aug 2006 at 20:16

Did you mean take the top half of the casing off? (where the keybaord is).

It's already a bit damaged as it doesn't clip on properly but i'm not sure how to take it off and I don't want to damage it.

I'm guessing you didn't mean the underside of the laptop as that had nothing there.

EDIT: Think I confused you by calling it a new laptop. It's second hand actually I just meant new to me lol.

Saberu · 15 Aug 2006 at 21:25

If it was that obvious I'd have seen it

It's not abnormal for something to be accidentally miss-advertised. I'll send him an email.

Saberu · 15 Aug 2006 at 22:55

I think auction links are against the rules. But i'll email you the link if you give me your addy. It's not in the BIOS, didn't think it would be because this laptop is a few years old.

Saberu · 17 Aug 2006 at 23:20

I suspect seller missadvertised laptop to me

threads merged. Please do not cross post!

I recently bought a laptop from you know where on the premise that it had Wifi.

The reason I believed this was because the description said "Wifi enabled" which in my mind means it has Wifi. After asking the seller after buying the laptop about this he seems to believe "Wifi enabled" means it just has the capability of holding a pcmcia card or connecting a Wifi device via USB.

Now I'm no expert but whenever I've seen a laptop advertised as "Wifi enabled" it's always meant it has a Wifi device inside. Am I wrong?

Saberu · 17 Aug 2006 at 23:26

Kell_ee001 said:
Does it have Wifi software pre-installed?

As far as I can tell theres no Wifi software and no Wifi device in the laptop.

OK well I ran software to detect all devices in the laptop even ones which might have been hidden and didn't see a Wifi device. The laptop definitely doesn't have it.

Shall I go straight to Ebay with this or shall I ask the seller for a partial refund first? Problem is I don't want to return the laptop I'm trying to get a partial refund of say £20-30 so I can buy a Wifi device and if the seller doesn't give me that option then theres nothing I can do.

Saberu · 17 Aug 2006 at 23:39

Hades said:
I'd say "WiFi Ready" could be taken to mean it has the antennae in the lid ready to take a mini-PCI WiFi card.

But "WiFi Enabled" says to me that the laptop actually has the WiFi card, PCMCIA card or USB device included.

Funny thing is I can't even see a pcmcia slot on the laptop so I wouldn't say it's especially Wifi ready. Only way I can see of connecting Wifi is through the USB and all laptops allow you to do that.

Saberu · 17 Aug 2006 at 23:49

I haven't been able to find the PCMCIA slot hes referring to. I'm relatively new to laptops but surely if it had such a slot it would be obvious to see from looking at the laptop?

Saberu · 18 Aug 2006 at 00:01

Alasdair said:
What is the make and model of laptop?

Medion M785

Saberu · 18 Aug 2006 at 04:40

Finding the manufacturer specs of the model won't help you because this guys replaced the motherboard. I'm 100% certain the laptop doesn't have Wifi or even have a pcmcia slot with the mobo he put in it. Also the casing is shoddy and coming apart at the front even though the description said the casing was in excellent condition.

I sent the guy a message originally asking for a 10% refund which is a VERY good offer on my part and he gave me a sob story about not meeting his profit margins. Then he sent me another email saying he didn't have the cash but would get money through Paypal in 2 days, fair enough. Then a few minutes later bang he changes his mind and says "but I can get you a good offer on a Wifi device". Then he has the cheek to tell me that i'm better off than him for having this falsely advertised laptop :eek:

Sent him a reply demanding a full refund. I'm fully entitled to one as I paid through Paypal and his policy is a full refund within 7 days anyway. Forgetting the fact hes actually falsely advertised it. I'm not sure how the refund process works, do I have to speak to Ebay or do I just talk with the seller about it?