wireless doesn't seem to exist anymore on laptop

I am working on an HP dv6171cl and somewhere in the last 2 weeks, the
wireless has malfuctioned. The orange light never turns blue and the
wireless is gone from my device manager and just simply doesn't seem
to exist anymore. I connected to a new home wireless network about two
weeks ago and since then have been working off my school's ethernet
network so I never noticed when the problem began. I updated the HP
wireless assistant and when I click it on the control panel, nothing
happens. I've been to three different tech supports. The BIOS seems to
have minimal options. The only thing turned off is the 'internal
network adapter' when I look through it.

My computer store wants me to reset the laptop to factory settings. I
want to know if this is hardware or software problem and how to figure
out if it was somehow internally disabled. I am a fulltime law student
and the last thing I want to do right now is completely start over
with this laptop.

Any suggestions?

smk888@gmail.com wrote:
> I am working on an HP dv6171cl and somewhere in the last 2 weeks, the
> wireless has malfuctioned. The orange light never turns blue and the
> wireless is gone from my device manager and just simply doesn't seem
> to exist anymore. I connected to a new home wireless network about two
> weeks ago and since then have been working off my school's ethernet
> network so I never noticed when the problem began. I updated the HP
> wireless assistant and when I click it on the control panel, nothing
> happens. I've been to three different tech supports. The BIOS seems to
> have minimal options. The only thing turned off is the 'internal
> network adapter' when I look through it.
>
> My computer store wants me to reset the laptop to factory settings. I
> want to know if this is hardware or software problem and how to figure
> out if it was somehow internally disabled. I am a fulltime law student
> and the last thing I want to do right now is completely start over
> with this laptop.

I know of at least two cases of this problem in high-end HP (dv6000, dv9000) laptops. In both
instances, HP repaired them but never said what had to be replaced/repaired. I think the motherboard
had a faulty bridge to the PCIe buss. To verify the problem, obtain a Linux live CD, boot it, open a
terminal, and issue the command 'lspci' (without the quotes). You should see a line that shows your
wireless device. Mine is the following:

01:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM94311MCG wlan mini-PCI (rev 01)

On your computer, the line will be different, but you should look for "wlan" or "wireless". If this
line doesn't show, your computer needs to be repaired. Do _NOT_ let them reset your laptop. If they
refuse to believe that it is hardware, have them remove your hard drive, and do a fresh install on a
different drive. Wireless will still not work.

I get the feeling that you have not backed up your machine. I know you don't have much time to
spare, but I suggest you rectify that situation.

Good luck,

Larry

smk888@gmail.com wrote:
> I am working on an HP dv6171cl and somewhere in the last 2 weeks, the
> wireless has malfuctioned. The orange light never turns blue and the
> wireless is gone from my device manager and just simply doesn't seem
> to exist anymore. I connected to a new home wireless network about two
> weeks ago and since then have been working off my school's ethernet
> network so I never noticed when the problem began. I updated the HP
> wireless assistant and when I click it on the control panel, nothing
> happens. I've been to three different tech supports. The BIOS seems to
> have minimal options. The only thing turned off is the 'internal
> network adapter' when I look through it.
>
> My computer store wants me to reset the laptop to factory settings. I
> want to know if this is hardware or software problem and how to figure
> out if it was somehow internally disabled. I am a fulltime law student
> and the last thing I want to do right now is completely start over
> with this laptop.
>
> Any suggestions?

Two, one simple and one a bit harder...

One, does your computer have a wireless switch? (or maybe use something like
function -f2 to turn it on and off my HP ((different model)) and gateway
both use function-f2, hit the keys when typing sometimes, the toshiba has a
switch - changed when putting in and out of the carrying bag)

Two, got a friend with/or one in your junk box, a USB wifi dongle? (or a
walmart nearby? get it, try it, and return it)... <--- that won't solve your
problem, but at least let you narrow down the problem... you have to narrow
down what's broke before you can fix it :)

At any rate, i would highly suggest you back up your system.... Since you
are learning, I'll pass on something told me many years ago... there are two
types of people, those that have lost data, and those that WILL......