Windows 10: How do I identify if my laptop has a Wi-Fi card, and whether or not it is still functioning?

I am not very well versed in the hardware side of computers, so bear with me.


My laptop computer has been unable to connect to Wi-Fi for over a month, and I have been relying on external USB adapters ever since. However, I would very much like to fix my computer's issue without the use of a clunky antenna. I tried everything I could, including running tests, uninstalling/reinstalling network drivers, and even downloading drivers directly from the HP website, but unfortunately, none of that has worked. Because of this, I believe that my issue is with the hardware of my computer itself. I saw that some or all? laptops have Wi-Fi cards, and that they can sometimes malfunction or just come loose, which causes the Wi-Fi to simply not work. Is there some way to verify if this is the case with my computer, preferably without taking it apart? Thanks in advance.


My laptop is the HP Notebook 15-da0079nr, also called an HP Pavillion I believe.

:)

 

Windows 10 stop automatically connecting to random new wi-fi networks

Hi,

I have searched a lot, but all the tutorials I found only explained how to not connect automatically to a known wi-fi network or how to disable wi-fi sense... but this is not what I am looking for...

PROBLEM:

• When my laptop (Windows 10 Pro X64) is not connected to a network and the wireless adapter is on, it will automatically connect to any random new unsecured wi-fi network... The only way I have now to avoid this is to disable my wi-fi adapter.

UNUSEFUL TUTORIALS I FOUND ON THE INTERNET:

• How to manually uncheck the option for a particular wi-fi network not to connect automatically in Network Properties. This is not what I am looking for. This would suggest that everytime I power my computer. I would have to manually go through all the available wi-fi networks and unclick them all...
• How to disable Wi-Fi Sense. This is not useful, because I don't even have a Wi-Fi sense option in my computer where the tutorials say it should be.

EXPECTED BEHAVIOR:

• I am looking for an option to tell my computer to stop connecting randomly to unknown wi-fi networks like an hyperactive, reckless idiot.

PERSONAL COMMENT:

• Honestly, why would any respectable company think that it could be somewhat wise or secure to do this... Anyone's computer could just randomly connect to any hacker's wi-fi network without the user even knowing it...

Any solutions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

Trouble Changing Wi-Fi Password


I've been following the following steps to change my Wi-Fi password for some time:

1. Launch Control Panel.
2. Click "Network and Internet."
3. Click "Network and Sharing Center."
4. Click "Wi-Fi...."
5. Click "Wireless Properties."
6. Click the Security tab.
7. Check "Show characters."
8. Enter the password in "Network security key."

Those steps have been working just fine, but today I discovered a new wrinkle. If I change the password inside the router first, "Wi-Fi..." doesn't appear in step 4. This isn't much of a problem at home, because I can just change the password in Control Panel before I change it inside the router, but it would be a problem at a public hotspot, or something of that nature. I also tested Brink's instructions in "How to Connect To a Wireless Network in Windows 10," but they don't work for me either. How can I fix this?

 

How to Use Ethernet on My Wi-Fi Laptop

Simplest solution is to just disable the WiFi while using the Ethernet cable.


Wi-Fi - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials