Wireless Disabling in BIOS at Random

[Newton]

Has anyone had issue with the wirless getting disabled in the BIOS on new laptops.

 

Will be enabled one day disabled the next.

 

Definatlly not a kids or users as happening at a number of different sites, no firumware up dates available as laptops are pritty new.

[Michael]

If they're brand new, have you contacted the manufacturers about this problem? It could be fixed in a future revised BIOS update.

[Newton]

Yep suppliers have so far,

Blamed the BIOS battery - but as the times + dates not changing dropped that reason

Blamed the power packs and have replaced some, made no difference.

next target is the laptop trollies, but as they are not all in trollies this one doesn;t hold water either

[Michael]

It could be the battery, but as you say, if the date and time are ok, then the battery is probably fine. It does sound like a bug, but in a worse case scenario you might also have a duff set of laptops. Touchwood I hope it doesn't come to that!

[Singist]

Could be system utility that disables the wireless & LAN card when battery is being used (usually happens when the power lead is disconnected), i.e Dells quickset utility. Usually found in the taskbar. What make of laptop is it?

[Newton]

For reasons I dont want to go into can't list the Make.

 

They have the Intel Pro set on them, but on a sample have taken that off use the windows Zero config same effect.

[Geoff]

Also seen this where the WiFi was a miniPCI addon card. If it was loose and the machine booted up, the BIOS would decide there was no WIFI card present and disable the WIFI setting in the BIOS configuration screen. So even if you reseated the card, you still had to go into the BIOS to make it work again. One laptop had a dodgy connection, so it was forever disabling it's WiFi card. Very tedious.

[Valentine]

We have some laptops here that will turn the wireless off if you turn the laptop on when it isn't connected to the mains (and hasn't been used off the mains since it was last enabled). It works fine if you have the laptop connected to the mains however which i find most odd.

 

I tried updating the BIOS revision to a later version but managed to kill a laptop completely as it froze during the process so i gave up with that idea. Teachers that have these laptops have just been told to check the wireless and enable it before they log on.

[Newton]

Thank you Valentine that is most intresting and something I will look into.

 

Its all onboard wireless card (haven't had the laptops apart yet).

[Redfive]

Update on Newtons problem (we work together) if you put a BIOS password on it will randomly reset this to no password set aswell as disabling the wireless in the BIOS so its not exclusive to the wireless only.

 

It is also a wide spread problem, not just 1 batch of laptops.

 

Valentine what make laptops are you getting that problem with?

Edited July 3, 2008 by Redfive

[Valentine]

They are Acer Travelmate 6413LMi. I will have to see if they are also resetting BIOS settings like the password next time one comes back into the office.

[Newton]

Sorry I was under the impression it was just the wireless setting disabling, and not including the BIOS password, my mistake Thanks Red

 

I think the laptops are rebranded Samsungs

[Redfive]

The Laptops are Stone laptops, dont think thats been mentioned, anyone any ideas?