techsupport

2468 readers

4 users here now

The Lemmy community will help you with your tech problems and questions about anything here. Do not be shy, we will try to help you.

If something works or if you find a solution to your problem let us know it will be greatly apreciated.

Rules: instance rules + stay on topic

Partnered communities:

You Should Know

Software gore

Recommendations

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

GatoB@lemmy.world

Problem with my specific laptop's connection to wifi. (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago by Scrimby@lemm.ee to c/techsupport@lemmy.world

13 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hello, I have this laptop and need to update it, but the internet seems to be unable to connect. here are some details. at first it worked, but after i updated it (i think) it stopped working. I tried to enter the home's wifi password and such, but now it says (cant connect to this network). it doesn't even prompt me to enter the password anymore, it just automatically "connects" and says the error. I can't even forget the network, it only says connect when i right-click it. I tried to restart the network and nothing happened, and i deleted the wifi driver and still nothing. I honestly don't know what to do. if you have any ideas. do tell, thank you.

top 13 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] cabbagee@sopuli.xyz 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Since you've uninstalled the WiFi driver, try:

Reinstall driver
Restart computer, modem, and router
Double check that there's not a WiFi switch that's off. I've seen physical switches and Fn buttons for this.
Try to connect to WiFi
Make a hotspot with your phone and try to connect to that

If it fails to connect to both WiFi and the hotspot, then it might be a driver, OS, or hardware problem. You could redownload the driver on another computer (or via Ethernet if you can connect that way) and try again. Similar for the OS, but I don't know Windows so seek specific advice for that. Hardware is easy. A WiFi adapter like this should work

Edit: Also make sure that your network is working correctly. Do other devices connect to the Wi-Fi? Turn your phone's data off and connect, then see if it loads anything. Could be the internet's out or the modem.

[–] Scrimby@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

alright, I managed to update the os. but still nothing. everything else in the house connects to the network but the hp laptop.

[–] Scrimby@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Alright, testing the hotspot, and it works. (but that must mean they're is something wrong with the network perhaps? or i guess the drivers? because the home network still isin't working.)

[–] cabbagee@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 year ago

If your laptop's able to connect and use the hotspot, that's good news. Drivers, OS, and hardware are all probably fine. Couple more thoughts:

On your laptop, forget the network and try to set it up manually with IPv4/6 instead of DHCP. This article has some steps for that.
Does your network require whitelisting devices? Alternatively, could your laptop be blacklisted?

If these don't work, could you add your windows version, exact error wording, and the hp model to the post? It will help for looking the problem up.

[–] jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hard plug it to Ethernet if you can. If it still persists then try repairing it using a win10 or win11 installation USB.

It definitely needs the WiFi driver now that you've deleted it. Windows will take care of that as soon as you plug it in to Ethernet.

[–] Scrimby@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

im sorry to sound stupid, but where would i find an ethernet cable? would it be connected to the router?

[–] Scrimby@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

what would happen if i didn't have one/ didn't have a port? if i went with the windows install how would i do it without internet?

[–] jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

For the windows installation device, you'll have to have another computer or something to prepare it.

[–] jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

You could download a driver for your Wi-Fi chip on your phone and transfer it to your laptop to install.

[–] phanto@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

Can I make a recommendation? If you look up snappy driver installer origin, from https://www.glenn.delahoy.com/snappy-driver-installer-origin/ and download the program and the network drivers onto a thumb drive, you can run that program and reinstall the wifi driver without having to muck about with finding the exact driver on HP's site. I'd give that a try before nuking the whole system. If you do have to reinstall Windows, the installer will have its own network drivers. If it is software, you'll be able to get online without any trouble. If the wifi card is dead, the installer won't help you.

[–] luminariaprincess@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Ethernet cables are still commonly sold. It would connect from the back of the router to the ethernet port on your computer.

[–] Ringmasterincestuous@aussie.zone 2 points 1 year ago

Broadcom? lol..

Connect to your phone if you can maybe? Might be easier than Ethernet if you’re too far away/don’t have a cord

Uninstall and reinstall drivers maybe

[–] Scrimby@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Update: I unplugged the router and waited 30 seconds and....it worked again! thanks everyone for chime-ing in :)