Dell laptop has suddenly lost WiFi!?!?!

StevieP · 2025-02-21T20:57:15+0000

So my son turned his laptop on only to find that it has all of a sudden lost it's WiFi capabilities!

I don't mean that it won't connect or there is a problem - it has literally lost all mention of it having WiFi built in!

I've tried looking in the BIOS and have even reinstalled Windows 11 but there is no mention of WiFi in device manager and when you click on the network and connectivity icon in the system tray it just gives me airplane mode and ethernet!?!?

Anyone have any thoughts or ideas??

StevieP · 2025-02-21T21:03:26+0000

I've restarted loads of times and no joy - it's not an add-on card, it's always been built in!

I have a suspicion that the OS has recently "upgraded" to Windows 11 without my knowledge and it's the only thing I can think of that's changed!

StevieP · 2025-02-21T21:45:22+0000

I know zero about Linux so wouldn't know where to even start!

StevieP · 2025-02-21T22:36:17+0000

I've tried downloading and installing the drivers for the WiFi but still nothing!

StevieP · 2025-02-22T08:59:25+0000

aaaaaaaand, now it's working! :confused:

Having restarted in excess of 20 times last night with no joy, I decide to have one last look this morning and the WiFi option is sitting there like an innocent child!