Thinkpads Forum

Hi,
My wife's Y550 was stored away for a while and now when we tried it out, noticed
WiFi is dead(unable to turn the radio on). I tried spare Intel WiFi link 5100 card but
symptom didn't change. Right now Fn key #5 does not do anything, the WiFi sw.
in the left front corner does not do anything, Ready Comm says radio is not on.
Device manager says the WiFi card is working.

Thi is really odd because it was working fine B4 we put it away for storage. I am
about the reinstalling Vista home premium 64bit, the original OS. Or please anyone
has any idea?
TIA,

G'Day Tony;
Sorry am really a ThinPad man - only ideapad I have is an older S-10; which kinda has had a similair issue - WiFi card kinda went crazy after being stored for weeks (while we were away from Xmass) However it worked when I did these steps (on Win7 Starter)

1) Disable Wifi in Device manager
2) physically remove card
2.a) - Download LATEST DRIVER from lenovo website and 'expand" it in its default directory HOWEVER , DO NOT INSTALL THAT DRIVER YET !!!!!
3) reboot and check BIOS SETTINGS has WIFI card "enabled" - save(((F10))) & exit.
4) boot to login screen (dont boot to windows desktop) ; and do sut down
5) Leave laptop off for more than 30sec etcetc
6) Re-Install WIFI card in slot
7) boot and MUST GO TO BIOS SETTINGS ; and look for WIFI = ENABLED (if not than enable and MUST SAVE & b 4 exit....
Boot all the way to WIndows ; and when WINDOWS finds a NEW HARDWARE = than install that DRIVER MANUALLY (((BROWSE to the relevant directory where U expanded it b 4)))
9) after driver install = MUST REBOOT ...... dont forget this step !!

The IDEAPAD Tech Supp - in Singapore - they told us - IDEAPAD = Wifi dies itself if not always used !! so my wife told them - sure does like it self distructs maybe it was designed By JAMES BOND

Hi,
Thanks. The WiFi is back on the air.
Still boggles my mind for such a symptom.

CoolBeans > glad its working


Enjoy!