Wireless internet technology is gaining in popularity. However, despite the apparent perfection, quite often you can meet situations with a lack of connection, although it would seem that the network is configured correctly. In most cases, the problem of the wireless network adapter or access point in Windows 7 or other similar operating systems is connected either with the settings of the routers or with incorrectly set access parameters on the computer, laptop or mobile device. It is further proposed to consider the causes of this phenomenon and several solutions to resolve problems corresponding to typical situations with the appearance of connection errors.
Wireless adapter or access point problem: why is there no connection?
Let's start directly with the reasons. The emerging problems can be divided into two types: when there is a connection, but without access to the Internet, and when it is not at all.
How to fix such situations will be discussed a bit later. However, do not forget that the problem of a wireless adapter or access point (in Windows 10, for example) may be associated not so much with equipment or connection settings as with the provider. You can find this out by looking at the router. If the problem is with the provider, the LED light indicated by the Internet icon will not light. And maybe, no matter how trivial it sounds, the user simply did not pay the monthly fee in a timely manner, or is the provider currently carrying out technical work?
But what if the light is on, the provider responds to the provider, and there is no connection for connected computer terminals or mobile devices? In this case, you can offer several options for actions that usually eliminate all kinds of malfunctions and errors of the wireless connection for the most part by software methods, rather than physical intervention in the operation of the devices.
Wireless adapter or access point problem: how to fix the problem in the simplest way?
Let's start with the most primitive solutions. To get started, simply check access to the Internet not from the main computer, but, for example, from a mobile device. If there is a connection, then the problem is in the computer. If the connection is not available on all devices, try resetting the router by completely disconnecting it from the network for 10-15 seconds and turning it on again (some users recommend pausing from one to five minutes). Sometimes it may be necessary to reboot the device from which it is supposed to make a connection (referring to stationary computers or laptops, and not mobile devices).
Quite often, the problem of a wireless adapter or access point on a laptop can be fixed by checking if the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on. For this, laptops use either special switches, or assigned buttons, or combinations thereof. It may well be that the network adapter just needs to be turned on, and after a while the available networks will be determined, and the connection icon to select the necessary network will be displayed in the system tray.
Checking router settings
But suppose the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on, but the network is still missing. Here you will have to enter the router settings by entering the appropriate address indicated on the label on the back of the router in any Internet browser, and then using authorization in the form of a login and password, check if Wi-Fi distribution is enabled (usually this is the Wireless section or what something like that, unless the router interface is Russified).
Another solution to the problem of the wireless adapter or access point is to check whether the DHCP server is enabled in the appropriate section of the router settings. If this does not help, perform a factory reset directly in the router options (a special menu is usually provided for this).
It is also advisable to check a similar service on Windows using the services.msc command in the Run console for access. If the service is inactive, it should be enabled, and in the startup type set the automatic parameter.
Change connection type
In some cases, even after a reset, the wireless adapter or access point problem persists. In this case, use the router settings again, and in the line of the installed channel, specify the values 5, 6 or 11.
You can also try changing the connection type to mixed (b / g / n) in the wireless section.
Driver Issues
The problem with the wireless adapter or access point may be that the device drivers are outdated or “out of date”.
Enter the “Task Manager”, find the device you are looking for and use the driver update item from the PCM menu or when navigating to the properties on the driver tab. If this does not work, completely remove the Wi-Fi adapter from the system, and then install the drivers again. You shouldn’t rely on Windows, because the system after uninstalling the driver or rebooting will still suggest installing the most suitable software from its own database, and for some non-standard devices it may not be in the directory. It is better to use the original driver disk, if one is available, or install control software using programs like DriverPack Solution.
Verify TCP / IP Protocol Settings
Finally, another solution to the question of how to fix the problem of the wireless adapter or access point is to check the IPv4 protocol settings in the properties of the connection used.
All parameters must be set to receive addresses automatically. If this is the case, but the network still does not work, you can use manually set DNS server addresses. As an optimal option, many are advised to introduce free Google combinations, which are sequences of fours and eights (less often - sevens).
Please note that in some cases, when the sixth version is activated along with the fourth version of the protocol, it must be completely disabled (it is quite possible that the provider does not use the sixth version DHCP server, and the active IPv6 protocol causes conflicts in the system).
Using utilities to troubleshoot network errors
Some users advise using various kinds of testing programs to fix connection problems. One of the most interesting (albeit in the English version) can be called the NetAdapter Repair utility, which is a kind of automated tool for fixing failures according to how it works, for example, the Windows troubleshooting service or the same FixIt utility.
Simply run the application, mark the necessary tests from the menu on the left and run the test (Run all selected). To fix the identified problems, you can also use the alternative troubleshooting with advanced settings (Advanced Repair).
What could be more?
Above were described only the most common problems and basic methods for their elimination. But sometimes more serious situations may occur. In some cases, it may be necessary to delete the existing connection and create a similar one again.
The most difficult case, many experts call the situation when only the power indicator (Power) is lit on the router when it is on. This already indicates a malfunction in the equipment itself.
It also happens that the Wi-Fi indicator does not light up. On some models of routers, you need to check whether there is a distribution enable button on the rear panel (it is as if recessed into the case). Sometimes you may need to update the firmware of the router. Perhaps the problem is that the connection cable is broken. To find out, connect the cable to your computer or laptop directly and check the connection. Finally, contact your ISP to see if you can use which static IP and which one. If provided, write it in the IPv4 settings.
However, in most situations, if the problems are not related to the breakdown of the routers or do not apply to the provider that provides Internet access services, the above methods usually fix the problems. True, it will immediately be impossible to say what exactly caused the failure, so you have to act, to put it mildly, at random, although you can perform all the actions in the order in which they were described above.