Wireless LAN permanently OFF

I updated the Intel wireless LAN driver.
The update worked as showing drivers in device manager all shows well and the wireless is on at front physical switch with green light lit.
In the smart network software with the radio buttons to switch Bluetooth and the WAN Lan on and off are working but the radio button to switch the wirelss LAN on and off (which, stupidly, was off when I did the update) is greyed out and now refuses to move to on. Windows 7 troubleshooting is no help, it says there might be a driver problem but all shows well in device manager.
I have searched hours on Google and un-installed and re-installed old and new drivers many times and cannot get it to move to on. Also un-installed and re-installed smart network. If I cant fix it I have lost my wireless connection permanently. A re-install of windows would be a disaster.

The 2.4GHz - 5GHz setting in the VAIO Smart network settings is greyed out.
My instinct is that because the smart network setting was off for wireless LAN when I updated Intel driver it is still off and smart network will not switch it back on, hence cannot create profile or anything in control panel/manage wireless networks because the wireless lan is actually seen as off because of the smart network control window even tho the hard switch on front of laptop is on and green light on.

Any ideas to fix this, has the registry got something changed around the smart software which is preventing it being turned on I wonder.


My Model VPCZ13C5E

 

Have you tried a system restore yet. What wireless card do you have and where did you get your drivers.

 

My System restore is off.

Intel N 6200
Intel drivers

 

[Sounds like you need to install the original sony drivers (or roll-back your drivers):

VAIO : Sony Europe]

Sorry, should have read your message more carefully. If you're using the European utility, one thing you could try is the US utility (which is different and called "SmartWi"). That might be immune to the issues caused by the driver update:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=VPCZ137GXS&upd_id=6092&os_id=47

You'll need to uninstall the "VAIO Smart network" program first.

 

Thanks. I already tried re-installing original drivers.
Will try the US version.

 

Is there any command prompt that might start the thing?

In control panel / network connections it shows the adapter as if it's working.

 

Are you using XP 32bit and what Version of the intel software do you have loaded.

 

w7 64 bit

intel pro set original, from sony and latest

pro set opens and says 'No Network Adapters Detected' but in devise manager all is correct.

 

FWIW, you don't even need smart network or smartwi or whatever, I don't have it on my computer and I can get on wifi.

uninstall anything wifi related from add remove programs (old drivers, new ones whatever)
uninstall smart network, smartwi whatever

go to the device manager, if you see the wifi adapter remove it, make sure to check the box "delete driver for this device"

reboot, go back to device manager, if it has installed itself again remove it again, delete driver for this device checked

keep rebooting, removing, deleting until it is not recognized anymore (IIRC it will change to "PCI Simple Communications Controller"

when you have done all that, install the following driver http://downloadcenter.intel.com/con...&OSFullname=Windows+7,+64-bit*&ProductID=3407

it is the most basic, but latest driver package, without any bloat

 

CowboyCowboy

I have done all as you suggested and with earlier Intel drivers and the original driver from Sony. Same result as outlined in my first post.

It shows correctly in control panel/network connections but behaves as if it is off. In control panel/manage wireless networks it says 'wireless is not currently enabled'

Pro set opens and says 'No Network Adapters Detected' but in devise manager all looks correct.

My instinct is that because the smart network setting was off for wireless LAN when I updated Intel driver it is still off and smart network will not switch it back on, hence cannot create profile or anything in control panel/manage wireless networks because the wireless lan is actually seen as off because of the smart network control window even tho the hard switch on front of laptop is on and green light on.

It's crazy as all I did in the first place was update the intel driver all be it forgetting to switch wirless on in the VAIO Smart network (called SmartWi in USA)
When I installed usa SmartWi as someone suggested above I could move the radio button to on and off but that did not help.

 

Hi paul3000h,

I have the exact same problem than you had! So I am curious to know if you have solved the problem!?!?
THANKS,
Martin

 

Sorry I cannot remember but think I re-installed W7.