Broken wireless card in an Acer?

Selryam · 02-22-2007, 12:35 PM

Wondered if someone could help me,
I dropped my laptop down 2 steps yesterday, I thought it would be fine (as usual) but now it can no longer detect a wireless signal. Is this because I busted/disconnected the Wireless Card? When I scan for a signal it says No Wireless Device found, whereas it previously found my home network.Is there any way I can fix this without taking it to an expensive PC shop or buying new peripherals?
Thanks in advance

**Fox** · 02-22-2007, 02:03 PM

Hi Selryam!

I have an acer too. Have you checked to make sure the card wasn't simply disabled when it hit the steps? There should be a button or slider somewhere on the front of the machine to disable and enable wireless.

If that's not the case, I would check device manager to see if it's being seen by the system. If not, it may have just been knocked loose from the fall; I think it's an expansion card type, but I haven't ever opened mine up, so I'm not sure.

Selryam · 02-22-2007, 02:21 PM

Cheers for the reply :)
I can't get the cover off on the back so I guess I'm just gonna have to take it into a shop to get them to take a look. I wondered, do you think it could've just forgot it's settings? In which case, I could always wipe it.

**Joefireline** · 02-22-2007, 02:36 PM

Hi Selryam,
if you hit the switch for wireless on/off, does it come up with a message saying 'Wireless enabled' or 'disabled'?

What model is it?

Selryam · 02-22-2007, 02:47 PM

Hey,
It used to enable or disable my WLAN, but now whenever I push the slider across it just tells me that there's 'No Wireless Device'. There definitely is though as my sister's is running off at as I type this very message :)
Does that give you any clues?
It's an Aspire 5101AWLMi, if that makes sense :P

**Fox** · 02-22-2007, 08:29 PM

Definitely strange behavior.

Take a look in device manager and see if it has a yellow exclamation point beside it, or if it's not there at all.

It sounds like it may have been knocked loose.

**hwm54112** · 02-22-2007, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Selryam

there's 'No Wireless Device'. There definitely is though as my sister's is running off at as I type this very message :)

I'm not sure what this means. I believe "No Wireless Device" would mean no wireless adapter in your computer, not "no wireless network" (a wireless router). Do you have an ad hoc network with your sister's computer? an ad hoc network being two computers networked by wireless adapters only, without a router.

**Fox** · 02-23-2007, 09:55 AM

That's what it does mean on an acer- that there's no wireless adapter installed, or that there's a problem with it.

**TheMatt** · 02-23-2007, 10:59 AM

See if there is an orange light in the front. It should be blinking or steady on. It is right next to the line in and mic jacks. If it is not doing either of those things, push it, as it is a button. Then, it should start blinking.

**Joefireline** · 02-23-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMatt

See if there is an orange light in the front. It should be blinking or steady on. It is right next to the line in and mic jacks. If it is not doing either of those things, push it, as it is a button. Then, it should start blinking.

Matt,
I don't think this model has that light on it. It is a switch, which Selryam tried.

**TheMatt** · 02-23-2007, 06:21 PM

Oh, ok Joe. I was thinking of the Aspire 5000 instead of the 5100. Thanks for the info.

**Joefireline** · 02-24-2007, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMatt

Oh, ok Joe. I was thinking of the Aspire 5000 instead of the 5100. Thanks for the info.

No problem. Easy mistake to make

02-22-2007, 12:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Selryam Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3 OS: XP	Broken wireless card in an Acer? Wondered if someone could help me, I dropped my laptop down 2 steps yesterday, I thought it would be fine (as usual) but now it can no longer detect a wireless signal. Is this because I busted/disconnected the Wireless Card? When I scan for a signal it says No Wireless Device found, whereas it previously found my home network.Is there any way I can fix this without taking it to an expensive PC shop or buying new peripherals? Thanks in advance

02-22-2007, 02:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Hi Selryam! I have an acer too. Have you checked to make sure the card wasn't simply disabled when it hit the steps? There should be a button or slider somewhere on the front of the machine to disable and enable wireless. If that's not the case, I would check device manager to see if it's being seen by the system. If not, it may have just been knocked loose from the fall; I think it's an expansion card type, but I haven't ever opened mine up, so I'm not sure. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

02-22-2007, 02:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
Joefireline Enthusiastic TSFer~Joseph Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portishead (Bristol) England Posts: 5,313 OS: XP Pro SP2(Desktop) / XP Home SP2(laptop) My System	Hi Selryam, if you hit the switch for wireless on/off, does it come up with a message saying 'Wireless enabled' or 'disabled'? What model is it? __________________ - Joseph LAPTOP: Acer Aspire 5512WMLi (Specification) OPTIMIZE XP BEFORE POSTING HJT LOG - POST HJT LOG >>HERE<< If TSF has helped you, please help TSF: Please DONATE

02-22-2007, 02:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Selryam Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3 OS: XP	Hey, It used to enable or disable my WLAN, but now whenever I push the slider across it just tells me that there's 'No Wireless Device'. There definitely is though as my sister's is running off at as I type this very message :) Does that give you any clues? It's an Aspire 5101AWLMi, if that makes sense :P Last edited by Selryam; 02-22-2007 at 02:50 PM.

02-22-2007, 08:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Definitely strange behavior. Take a look in device manager and see if it has a yellow exclamation point beside it, or if it's not there at all. It sounds like it may have been knocked loose. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

02-22-2007, 02:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Selryam Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3 OS: XP	Cheers for the reply :) I can't get the cover off on the back so I guess I'm just gonna have to take it into a shop to get them to take a look. I wondered, do you think it could've just forgot it's settings? In which case, I could always wipe it.

02-23-2007, 09:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	That's what it does mean on an acer- that there's no wireless adapter installed, or that there's a problem with it. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

02-23-2007, 10:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,702 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	See if there is an orange light in the front. It should be blinking or steady on. It is right next to the line in and mic jacks. If it is not doing either of those things, push it, as it is a button. Then, it should start blinking. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

02-23-2007, 06:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,702 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Oh, ok Joe. I was thinking of the Aspire 5000 instead of the 5100. Thanks for the info. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides