wireless, err bluetooth switch

Okay. So I'm stupid. I was half asleep and set-up a BIOS password. And mistyped it. Pulled the CMOS battery to clear everything (didn't work, but I figured out the password later anyway so no biggie) Anywho- I dropped the CMOS battery onto the mobo and a I don't know it landed on but instant lightning storm and puff of the magical blue smoke. Ouch. Long story short turns out I fried the sloth that the wireless card goes into. Swapped it into the other slot that Gateway so conveniently stuck there and all is good. Almost. Now my wirelss is always on. Better than always off I suppose, and the indicator light for the wireless under the touchpad no longer comes on. Okay so I fried something obviously, but the important stuff works. But this is where it gets weird. The wireless switch on the front of the lappy all of a sudden controls my Bluetooth? The switch works perfectly fine but it controls my Bluetooth now instead of my wireless card. Is there any sort of Registry setting that controls all this stuff that may be messed up with the wireless card in the second slot? Oh yeah, this is on a P-6831FX.

 

lol.. you let the magic out I say, don't even worry bout it. The switch is likely programmed into the BIOS, and a slot on the MOBO - I say, if it's working then who cares. Your Bluetooth can easily be turned on and off..and as long as ya got Wifi then be happy you didn't fry anything else.

 

Strangest thing....maybe a short circuit somewhere...

 

mine is the exact same way, except for the whole incident with the battery. But i took it out of the original slot before, and then put it back and the switch only works with the bluetooth. even if i switch slots, or reinstall it's like that, but i don't mind too much cause it does keep me from accidentally turning off the wireless.

 

My Wireless switch has always controlled both WiFi and bluetooth. I suspect it's intended to act as an "airplane" switch to shut off all wireless transceivers. Since you are now using the Turbo Memory slot as your WiFi slot, you are no longer able to control your WiFi transceiver, so no airplanes for you!

 

can't you just turn it off via hardware manager?

 

I don't know, I haven't tested it. It's also possible that, while you could "disable" the WiFi card in the hardware manager, power might still be supplied to the transceiver, thereby putting the computer in violation of FAA regulations.

Anyone care to try this card swap as an experiment?

 

Only thing I hate is the wireless button is so sensitive. You barely touch it and it can shut off. Kind of wish they made the button a little more stronger, in a sense that I need to actually push on it to shut it off, rather then a slight touch.

 

With post 9/11 you'd get thrown in a room with the FBI and accused of being a terrorist now a days. My humble opinion I guess =)

 

Sorry it took me a while to respond- been busy. But yeah that sounds like pretty much what I was thinking- the switch and indicator light don't work with the second slot. No biggie. You know, that switch never controlled my bluetooth before, strange that it does now, but hay if you guys say that it was always supposed to I suppose in a way I accidentally fixed something: Sweet!

I agree though I have come to like my new arrangement better- not having the fast control is a bit annoying but not all that big a deal. And at least now I know I won't accidentally disconnect myself mid-instance when playing WOW. Man that was irritating lol. Kinda wish the indicator light still worked, but I'm too happy that I didn't fry something more critical to worry about a light.