Solution for: #71: Dell Studio XPS wireless failure
There is a button that turns off wireless
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yliu on November 09, 2009, 12:00 AM UTC
The button that turns WiFi on and off looks like an indicator light. It is located at the top of the keyboard, above F8, along with a number of other "touch buttons" that look like indicator lights. See the blurry photo attached to this solution.
In fact, if you press a button, there is no apparent response (the light does brighten for a short bit), but it will turn on card back on.
You don't know how many times I mistakenly touch this stupid button and kick myself off the Internet. At least now I know why my network dies mysteriously.
Human-computer interface FAIL, Dell. Read some Don Norman, perhaps? You can't design a button that looks like a light and expect users to deal with it.
In fact, if you press a button, there is no apparent response (the light does brighten for a short bit), but it will turn on card back on.
You don't know how many times I mistakenly touch this stupid button and kick myself off the Internet. At least now I know why my network dies mysteriously.
Human-computer interface FAIL, Dell. Read some Don Norman, perhaps? You can't design a button that looks like a light and expect users to deal with it.
References used:
Studio XPS 1340 "Turn on wireless capability" - DELL COMMUNITY
( http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19266429/19477598.aspx ) - found by
yliu on November 08, 2009, 07:42 AM UTC
Comments
i actually find this one button annoying. Does anyone know of a way of disabling this one touch button?
— dev on March 22, 2010, 09:42 PM UTCThank you I was losing my mind looking for a switch!
— Emily wesemann on April 16, 2010, 02:28 PM UTCThe panel of those light up buttons frequently freeze on my computer. They do not respond during this time and my wireless is stuck in the off postition. How do I enable wireless without this button?
— Lindsay on June 02, 2010, 09:00 PM UTCThank you! I spent some too much time trying to use the F8 function key!!! Then I checked my router, etc. I had no idea I was supposed to touch the antenna light.....Do I feel dumb? Oh yea.
— Jim on August 09, 2010, 04:35 PM UTCu can disable the wirless button in the bios
— Ryan on August 30, 2011, 06:25 PM UTCThankyou... thankyou... thankyou!!!! Back on line
— Jane on November 19, 2013, 04:10 PM UTCi have a similar prob i switched on the button but tried updating driver, tried command prompt and device management but to avail..
— Tynash on July 29, 2018, 08:48 AM UTCThe airplane mode not turning off. and when i switch on the wifi its just not responding..turning on for a sec then off again