Was OS totally destroyed by hacker? (wi-fi button frozen in OFF position)

Tablet: Dell Venue Pro
OS: Windows 8
Age: One year old BUT hardly ever used, device sat on shelf for a long time collecting dust

Symptom: Wi-fi button - unable to switch wi-fi button on - can't connect to the Internet - wi-fi button frozen in OFF position all the time.

Steps taken:

I formatted the OS not once but approximately 4 or 5 times in order to try and cure problem. Why 4 or 5 times? Because the wi-fi button is always frozen in the OFF position no matter how many times I format Windows 8.

In between each format I did not go on the Internet because the w-fi button never works. The OS comes with Windows Defender already installed, a Windows based anti-virus program.

I scanned the OS and nothing malicious comes up. Because the problem prevents me from going online, I am unable to update Windows Defender.

I went to the device manager to inspect the network card, and nothing looked unusual.

My opinion, as a layperson:

Because the tablet was formatted approximately 4-5 times in order to solve the problem,

because a tablet needs to be able to connect to the Internet wirelessly,

and because the wi-fi button is always frozen in the OFF position,

it would appear a hacker rendered the tablet's operating system completely useless,

would you agree?

The problem has not been solved, the symptom persists, if you have a cure please suggest one. The tablet will play a crucial part in my life when I relocate and move across the U.S., when I bed down in any one Airbnb and begin the hunt for a new place to live in unknown territory.

 

Your assumption is completely unwarranted. Hackers did not render your device useless - as usually something doesn't work or is configured improperly. Not a single thing even hints at hackers.

What id the Wi-Fi card in this device? What driver version does it use?
No exclamation mark in device manager near any of the devices, I assume. Is that right?

Make sure that "airplane mode" is not on.

Download any and all BIOS and driver updates from Dell, put them on a memory card, insert in the tablet and install.

If all of the above fails - find and uninstall KB2903939 and KB2887595 windows updates.

 

I'm pretty sure the wireless switch requires a driver you haven't installed


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

A hacker (as in a person with a hacksaw) may have snuck into your room and destroyed the wifi switch, but otherwise, the explanation is either you are missing a driver as mentioned, or the switch itself is busted.

 

Sounds to me like a physical hardware problem; ie: either the switch or wifi module.