I can turn the wireless "wifi power" on but the wifi icon does not show - it will only show when the wifi power is OFF - I have no way of connecting to my home wireless system. Do I have a defective netbook? Is there something else that I can do to enable the wireless network?

Usually WIFI is Disabled/OFF if you typically use a wired LAN connection, and a lot of systems only allow you to have One Or The Other on at one time, otherwise it would not know which method to send your internet and network traffic.

So, you may have to Temporarily Disable the LAN connection before you can Enable the WIFI connection.

If your dell has an antenna sticking out of the back, then you have wifi, otherwise I believe this model needs a wireless card. If you do have wifi, here's how to turn it on.

- click Start,
- choose Control Panel on the right
- If the top right says 'View by: Category'
click the down arrow on the right and choose either Large Icons
or Small Icons.
- choose Network and Sharing Center
- you will now see your wireless network if the adapter is on,
if it is not on, chick on Change Adapter Settings on top left
- two connections typically show up:
1. Local Area Connection and
2. Wireless Connection
- right click the Wireless Connection,
- choose Status

> the next window lets you Enable your wireless device, check its
Properties, or Diagnose connection issues.

Let me repeat from above:
Usually WIFI is Disabled/OFF if you typically use a wired LAN connection, and a lot of systems only allow you to have One Or The Other on at one time, otherwise it would not know which method to send your internet and network traffic.

So, you may have to Temporarily Disable the LAN connection before you can Enable the WIFI connection.

Just reverse this later if you want to go back to a wired connection on the desktop machine. I use all WIFI at home, then I connect my laptop by a cable to my router if I have an issue to solve, which is maybe once every two years.

It's easier when you are doing it than it may seem just reading this.

Hope this helps
All the best to you,
KerryHos

I have the same problem. The only way I could get it to work is to click on the wifi icon. Select the wireless information tab, select your connection. Right click on it and delete it. Then Add new and reinstall. Right now I have to do this every time I power down or 'Suspend' but it does work.

your adapter may be disabled.go into the device manager by right clicking on computer and choose properties left click on properties when the window opens look for device manager,click on the device manager and when it comes up scroll to network adapters look for the wireless adapter by left clicking on the heading network adapters,if there is a red flag on the wireless adapter left click on it and choose enable.that should do the trick if not there are more solutions but that is the most likely

No, it has a built in wireless card. There is an ICON when you bootup called WIFI Power. You double click on that ICON and then click on the radio button Power ON. This button turns to "POWER OFF", the card is now turned on and will try to connect to a sensed WIFI connection. See http://digitalgadgets.com/netbooks/support-7in-netbook.htm

should work. make sure the radio is on from either the desktop (not the task bar) or the f9 key. You might need to select the router connection and enter the pass key if locked.

using your pc/laptop you will have to create a new connection an search for the printer when this has been done, make sure the printers wireless is enabled before attempting to create a new connection

In connecting through a wifi, there are two factors to consider. (1) Wireless Router broadcast and (2) Wireless Receiver.

Make sure that your network router is broadcasting wireless internet or wifi. Also, you have to know if you need a pass key or password in order to connect to the wireless network.

Now, given that there is a wifi spot, your laptop should automatically recognize the wifi broadcast and negotiate connection without your intervention. This will only happen IF AND ONLY IF your laptop has a wifi radio receiver and that it is TURNED ON. When it is turned ON, it will connect you immediately if the network has no pass key set. If there is, then you have to enter that key when you try to manually connect it. (Right click on wireless network icon on system tray. Then it should say: Wireless Network Available. Then Click CONNECT)

To turn your wifi radio receiver ON, slide a switch button to ON position depending on your laptop model. If you dont have that kind of switch, look for the wifi icon printed in the keyboard keys. In some laptop, it is in F2. Now Press FN+F2 to turn wifi radio receiever ON and OFF.

When your computer is switched on, the WiFi radio is almost always transmitting or receiving signals. In certain situations, as in an airplane, signals from the radio may cause interference. Use the following methods if you need to disable the radio and use your notebook without emitting radio signals.
Use the Optional Computer Radio On or Off Switch

If your computer has an external switch installed, use it to switch the WiFi radio on or off. See the computer manufacturer for more information about this switch. If you have Intel® PROSet/Wireless installed, the current state of the radio displays in the Intel PROSet/Wireless main window and on the Taskbar.


Use Intel PROSet/Wireless to Switch the WiFi Radio On or Off

From Intel PROSet/Wireless, the WiFi radio can be switched on or off. The status icon on Intel PROSet/Wireless displays the current state of the radio.

To start Intel® PROSet/Wireless, use one of the following methods:

• Click Start > Programs > Intel PROSet Wireless > WiFi Connection Utility.
• Right-click the Taskbar icon located in the lower right corner of your Windows* Desktop to open the Taskbar menu. Click Configure WiFi.
• Double-click the Taskbar icon to open Intel PROSet/Wireless.

Switch the WiFi Radio On or Off from the Taskbar Icon

To switch the WiFi radio on or off, click the Taskbar icon and select WiFi On or WiFi Off.

How to use the Device Manager to Disable the WiFi Radio

The WiFi radio can be disabled (made non-functional) from the Windows* Device Manager.

Note: If you disabled the WiFi radio from Windows*, then you must use Windows to turn the radio on. You cannot use a hardware switch or Intel PROSet/Wireless to enable the radio again.

Windows* XP

1. From your desktop, right-click My Computer.
2. Click Properties.
3. Click Hardware.
4. Click Device Manager.
5. Double-click Network adapters and expand the selection by clicking the Plus symbol.
6. Right-click the installed WiFi adapter.
7. Choose Disable from the menu.
8. Click OK.

Windows Vista*

1. Use Control Panel > Mobile PC > Adjust commonly used mobility settings (if you use Classic View, select Control Panel > Power Options.
2. Click Turn Wireless Off .

SCENARIO 1

1. Goto "Start"
2. Click on " RUN"
3. Type in "ncpa.cpl"
Click OK
Now the network connections window will come up
Right click on wireless network connections TAB
Goto properties
Under the general category
U will find two check boxes- Show icon in notification area when connected
Notify me when this connection has limited or no connectivity
Make sure that both are checked....
Then click on OK and you will find the WIFI icon in ur system bar...
IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED THEN FOLLOW SCENARIO 2

SCENARIO 2
Right click on start button
Goto properties
Under the taskbar category
click on customize
it will give u the list of options
Find wireless network connection option
click on it and change the status to always show and click ok
Then click apply and then ok
Problem shud b resolved 100%

Hi, Normally there should be an Icon at the system tray (lower right) which is for the WiFi. Placing your mouse over the icons would tell you what the icon is for. Right clicking on the WiFi icon would show you whether it is enable or disabled. Double clicking on it would give you the WiFi access window where you can select which WiFi network you can connect to. Some of these wireless internet cafe would grant free access while others would need you to check-in with their admin or somebody and on certain cafes for a fee. Hope this be of some help to you and pls post again how things turn up. Kind regards.