Q: My Laptop Won't Connect to My Wifi Network.

A: First, make sure there isn't a switch on the side of your laptop that turns your wifi on and off.  If so, make sure it's on. Many computers have a keypress combination that turns the wifi radio on-and-off. On Dell machines, it is often FN-F10. Look on your Function keys and one of them will have a blue icon of a radio tower.  Hold down the FN key and then tap that Function key, and see if that turns on your wifi. For other makes/models, carefully inspect your keyboard and see if you can figure out which button it might be, or consult your system documentation to find out.

Next, try to determine if the network connection is disabled.  In Windows XP, right-click My Network Places -> Properties -> look at your Wireless Network Connection.  Is it disabled? If so right-click and enable it.  In Windows 7, choose Control Panels -> Network and Sharing Center and look for your Wireless Connection - make sure it is enabled.

<----- Back to Networking FAQ