Connecting to wireless? Feeling stupid :'(

I realized after registering that this might not be an appropriate forum to ask a question regarding my new acer aspire netbook, but I'm a complete computer dummy and need a hand, and I apologise if this isn't the right place to ask for help.

I just got a refurbished acer aspire one happy2 netbook. Haven't done anything with it yet, wanted to connect to my home wireless broadband to download WSE, Chrome etc but can't figure out how to enable my wireless or do whatever it takes to connect to the internet!

Please help I feel like a proper idiot! Thanks in advance

 

Hi and welcome to NBR.

Use Fn+F3 to enable/disable Wi-Fi. If it doesn't work make sure that you have Launch Manager installed. It can be downloaded from Acer support website and is responsible for managing different on/off buttons and combos.

 

Thanks. How can I tell if launch manager is installed? And how can I download it if I can't connect to the internet on the netbook?

 

First check if Fn+F3 combo works- if it doesn't check the list of installed apps available via control panel (whatever it's called in your version of Windows).
If it's not installed you'll have to use Ethernet cable to connect to the router or download on another computer.

 

I tried Fn+F3, that's what I'd tried before, to no avail. The little indicator light doesn't come on, which I thought it would when it turned on and off??? I went into my programs via control panel and launch manager is installed. So still stuck

 

Check if there is a Wi-Fi card listed in the device manager in the first place.
It may not be installed at all or drivers may not be installed co check if there are any devices with yellow exclamation mark there.

 

How do I check that?

 

"Network controller doesn't have a driver" is this what you meant? Because I went into devices and printers and under the netbook there is a triangle ! and when I run the trouble shoot that's the message that appears. Also says "problem with PnP"

 

Use this app to recognize your card and download Atheros, Broadcom or Intel

 

Is there anyway to find out which one I need without using the internet? and then download the right one onto a USB then onto the netbook? Silly question probably but can't find the ethernet cable.

 

Download the app on whatever computer you're using to post on NBR and all 3 drivers, copy them on a flash drive, put the flash drive in the acer notebook, copy the app on it, run the app on the notebook, install the driver you need out of the three you previously downloaded, profit!

 

I did try that but I don't think that you can download the app But I do have all 3 drivers on a USB.

 

I'm sure you can download the app using another computer, i mean you are posting on NBR meaning that you have at least a partial access to internet, unless you are on a mobile device in which case maybe you cant down load the app, if you are on another computer, it shouldn't be a problem.

If you are on a mobile device, there's one not so easy way to check, go into the device manager and right click on the network adapter (device with the ! in your case), fo on the detail tabs and check what the hardware ID is. That ID is specific to a certain manufacturer.

The one for Intel is: PCI\VEN_8086, what comes after is device specific, i.e. PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_422B is an Intel 6300 wireless adapter. The info on which ID is for which vendor is sometimes not easy to find though, i'll see if i can dig up Atheros' hardware ID.

EDIT: This one should be Atheros: PCI\VEN_168C.

If the hardware ID is different from those two, then you have a Broadcom.

 

I am accessing the internet from my old (and very temperamental) laptop, and I can run the app but not download or save it onto a USB.

I went to device manager and clicked on Network adapters, it opened to Realtek PCe FE family controller.

I never knew how stupid I was when it came to technology before...

 

Your wireless adapter probably won't be under network adapter, it'll be an unknown device. The realtek adapter is the LAN adapter.

Look at the first picture in this thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/96442-device-manager-finding-unknown-devices.html, your not recognized wireless adapter should look like the device with the ! in the yellow triangle.

EDIT: By the way, it's normal to need to learn those kind of things, we all went through that with varying degrees of ease at one point.

 

Ok, think I've got it PCI\VEN_186... So Atheros?

 

186C is Atheros so yeah, i'd try the atheros drivers.

 

It's working!!! Thank-you so much tijo and downloads, I really really appreciate your help.