M17xR3 wifi problems

so my pc had a hard drive failure. Dell replaced the hard drive, and I started getting BSOD's and random crashes trying to reinstall/update windows. Dell replaced both hard drives, the RAID controller, all my ram, and the motherboard. Now everything works but the wifi, I followed Batboy's guide to install all my drivers and the like, and Dell says my wireless card failed, so they replaced it, but I still have the same issue. The Intel mywifi utility says the hardware radio switch is off, as do windows diagnostics. The switch responds (shows the OSD) and windows sees the card (intel Ultimate-N 6300) and my ethernet connection, as well as my wifi hotspot are working fine. This is my first time really working with a laptop (or anything remotely close to "new" hardware for that matter) so it's certainly possible I messed something up. Please help

EDIT: I've not ever done much, at all, with wireless connections. so this really could be something absurdly simple I just missed, any advice on something to try/more info you need just let me know

 

What part isn't working?
In the Control Panel | Device Manager, does the 6300 show up under network cards? Are the drivers installed correctly?
Do you see the wifi icon in the notification toolbar area?
If you can and right click it, do you see any wifi routers?
Is your WiFi hotspot broadcasting its SSID?

 

Yes, the 6300 shows up fine, I installed the drivers, called tech support, and they reinstalled the drivers from the same place. Got the same issue both times. if I unplug the Ethernet cable, i see a wifi icon with no bars and a red X. Windows says the device is disabled in the hardware (hence the replacement). I cannot see any wireless connections.
I don't know how to check that, my ds, wii, and an old laptop running linux can both see/use it though.

Thanks for the reply

 

Yeah that would indicate Windows knows there's a wifi card there but can't enable it.

Hmmm... is your WiFi on? Try pressing the wifi button (top button 2nd from the right)) (Although I think that would have been one of the first things Dell would've had you try?) Short of that it sounds like another bad card to me...

 

tried that, is there any way I can enable it without they keyboard button? (in case it's my keyboard)

 

Check the BIOS settings to see if it's enabled there.

 

yup, in the tab with the wireless info I have it set to [enabled] for the first three and [all] for the last

 

I assume when you open network and sharing center (right click) and under the change adaptor settings on the left then right click the wifi network icon that it is set to enable ?

 

yes, but there is a red X in the lower left corner

 

sounds like there is a problem with the media panel which has a button to disable all wireless devices, what happens if you press it, do all the other media panel buttons work ?

 

all the other buttons work fine, and the icon lights up/dims when I toggle it. either way I set it doesn't change anything,

 

Hi

First time posting on here but I had to share this one, when the tech replaced your motherboard, he put the Wifi card into the wrong slot, there are two PCI slots under the keyboard, the one on the lower right is the WRONG one, the one it should be in is under the brown coloured ribbon cable.

I had this exact same issue with an M17x R3, windows can see the WiFi Card and install drivers etc, BUT it won't work no matter what you do, all it keeps saying is that the Hardware radio is turned off.

It's not too difficult to swap the card to the right slot, you can get the service manual from the Dell website and it can guide you through, 2 screws get the bottom cover off, then 5 screws get the center console out, then another 5 screws hold in the keyboard, where you should see the cause of your problem.

 

That did that trick! thanks so much . ps. is there a +rep button or am I missing something here?

 

Click on the little scales of justice in the lower left portion of the post.

Cheers,

 

This is my first time posting and I would like to say a big thank you to oodle for saving me the trouble of phoning Dell again.

Had my M17x R3 about 2 weeks before the motherboard shorted out & took the graphics card with it as well.

After the tech had been out to replace them both the wifi wouldn't work, same symptoms as the orginal poster.

Switching the wifi card to the other slot worked a treat.

Many thanks.