Wireless radio doesnt turn on

Few days ago my wireless just went off. The network card looks ok: the device manager says its all normal, I can enable/disable and reinstall the drivers, noting changes. The wifi led is also off. It looks like the external wifi switch on the notebook is just on the off mode, but off course, It doesnt come on doesnt matter how many times I turn the switch on.

The card is an Intel wifi link 5100. So on the intel software, Intel My Wifi Technology, it says the radio hardware switch is off (both on the diagnose and at start), and that I should turn it on.

So heres why Im really scared..if the intel card is really ok, and the problem is the switch...means the problem is on the mother board ?? Means I will have to repair or change the entire mother board?

But Im not sure, can it be that the network card wireless "antenna" is malfunctioning? Since the led is also off I dont think so..not sure how that works. Can it be that the switch cant reach the card due the card "switch input" not answering, so the problem would be really the card?

I think it would be much better if the problem is on the wireless adapter card, since it would be a matter of replacing it, but if its on the mother board...damn..

I opened the notebook in the hopes that a quick cleanup would solve, but noting changed..Could anyone give me any clue of both whats happening and what should I do? Its not on the warranty anymore. Its a gateway p-7908u. Im afraid I will have to replace the entire mobo and than..money, lots of it. I want to have an understanding of the situation, cause if I send it to repair, I dont want to be "money raped", here in Brazil those service end up costing a lot cause they charge as much as they want, making up lots of excuses..How can I know that they will not charge an entire mobo replacement when the problem might really be solved by the wireless adapter replacement, get what I mean?..

Now just for a fun fact, those kind of problems gotta happen on the worst situation doesnt it? Im full of work to do and cant expend a day away from my notebook (I dont have a desktop, my notebook is my workstation, I take it everywhere). Im currently making 2D art for a paid game project and developing a game engine (c++/direct3D) for my conclusion/final work for my tech bachelors degree, which Im on the last semester...Murphys law kicking it at full force.
Thankfully I can connect with a cable, but its not practical..

 

Does Gateway use software that controls switches and buttons like Acer's Launch Manager?
If so reinstall it.

 

Unfreaking believable...I forgot the fn + f2 functionality :facepalm:

I cant believe it, after reading your comment I remembered these keys up there.. Damn, that thing might have turned off after closing the lid with the mouse cable inside, and magically pressed both fn and f2 keys, is the only explanation..I dont use those..How it could even be by mistake, pressing fn + f2 requires quite the attention, the only functionality I use is fn + f8..

anyway, how could I know both need to be on, I didnt know fn keys have state that last between reboots just like a hardware button.. quite interesting

._.

I dont know if I cry or laugh about it..
<_< well, its working now, thanks

 

Got to it before me, most laptops actually require both the hardware and software switches to be on for wireless to work. That is where there are both............

 

LOL, been there and done that. It is quite alarming the first time.