Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
If we do not hit our goal we will be forced to close the site.

Current status: https://keepboardsalive.com/

Annual subs are best for most impact. If you are still undecided on going Ad Free - you can also donate using the Paypal Donate option. All contribution helps. Thank you.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.

Dell Inspiron wireless problem

  • 30-10-2019 03:02AM
    #1
    sligojoek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,420 ✭✭✭✭


    I'm running a Dell Inspiron 1545 Windows 7 made about 2009.

    I normally use it hardwired to the router but today I plugged out the network cable and tried to turn on wireless to set up a wifi extender. Normally this is done by pressing the F2 key and the aerial icon comes up and I'm on wifi. Today when I pressed F2 nothing happened. I added an external keyboard and it won't work with that either. I also tried Shift, CTRL and Fn with F2 but nothing.

    Is there a backdoor route I can take to turn it on or would the wifi workings be giving trouble otherwise?

    PS I got the extender sorted with a phone but I'd still like to get the wifi working on the laptop anyway.


Comments

  • #2
    FanadMan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,820 ✭✭✭FanadMan


    Isn't wireless Fn+F2 on most Dells? Writing this on a Dell Inspiron N5110 with Windows 7.....and a USB keyboard.

    Only way I can switch wifi on/off is with Fn+F2, so need to use the main keyboard.


  • #3
    sligojoek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,420 ✭✭✭✭sligojoek


    FanadMan wrote: »
    Isn't wireless Fn+F2 on most Dells? Writing this on a Dell Inspiron N5110 with Windows 7.....and a USB keyboard.

    Only way I can switch wifi on/off is with Fn+F2, so need to use the main keyboard.

    Thanks FM. up to two weeks ago It was just the F2 button and no Fn.


  • #4
    FanadMan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,820 ✭✭✭FanadMan


    sligojoek wrote: »
    Thanks FM. up to two weeks ago It was just the F2 button and no Fn.

    Never known a laptop to not use Fn for things like wifi (or volume or brightness etc) when combined with Fkeys. Maybe you had a stuck Fn before :D

    Drunk question.....did Fn+F2 work?


  • #5
    johnnybmac
    Closed Accounts Posts: 226 ✭✭johnnybmac


    You can actually change the function key behaviour setting in a lot of BIOSs which would mean only having to press the "F" keys to access their function without the need for pressing Fn
    ximg_565e2852b61b6.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.9ut75zGc2e.jpg


  • #6
    sligojoek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,420 ✭✭✭✭sligojoek


    Just getting back on this laptop now. Still no luck. I've tried it with and without the Fn key.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,919 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    OP, I have a 2010 Lenovo laptop, there is a switch on the side of the machine which disables all radio communication in case you're in a hostile (hacker) environment. The onboard Wi-Fi periodically switches itself off as if I had manually flipped that switch so I bought a wi-fi USB stick for about €20 in Tesco. It's not worth going to a repair shop if your machine is that old.

    This is the type of gadget you need .....

    https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/adapter/archer-t2u/


Advertisement