There is a touch button / media key on the Dell Studio XPS that disables all wireless devices onboard, including WiFi. This stupid button is located immediately above the F8 key on my Studio XPS model, and I constantly hit it on my way to the function keys. It was the subject of SelfSolved problem #71.
Now having been annoyed by this button for the last time, I am looking for a way to disable this media key, and hopefully only this button without affecting the other keys like the volume controls or the media player keys.
#116: Disable Dell Studio XPS wireless button
Solved!on June 12, 2011, 12:26 AM UTC — from 
yliu ( 13,899 views )
yliu ( 13,899 views )
Disable Dell Studio XPS wireless control button
- yliu on June 12, 2011, 12:26 AM UTC
On the 2009 version of Dell Studio XPS 1645, the wireless media key is controlled through the BIOS.
Boot into the BIOS by pressing F2 during the boot screen. Look for the "Wireless" entry (I believe it is under the Advanced tab). Hit Enter to go into the entry, and the first option should be something like "Wireless Control Hotkey".
By default it will have been set to WLAN&BT or something similar to that, meaning that it will turn on/off both WiFi and Bluetooth devices when pressed. Switch that option from WLAN or WLAN&BT to None. Remember that you are not disabling wireless (which is controlled by the other options on that screen). You are only disabling the hotkey, so don't touch the other options.
Save & Exit from BIOS, and the key should now be disabled. The rest of the media keys should remain functional.
Your mileage may vary, depending on the BIOS version and the model version of your Studio XPS.
Boot into the BIOS by pressing F2 during the boot screen. Look for the "Wireless" entry (I believe it is under the Advanced tab). Hit Enter to go into the entry, and the first option should be something like "Wireless Control Hotkey".
By default it will have been set to WLAN&BT or something similar to that, meaning that it will turn on/off both WiFi and Bluetooth devices when pressed. Switch that option from WLAN or WLAN&BT to None. Remember that you are not disabling wireless (which is controlled by the other options on that screen). You are only disabling the hotkey, so don't touch the other options.
Save & Exit from BIOS, and the key should now be disabled. The rest of the media keys should remain functional.
Your mileage may vary, depending on the BIOS version and the model version of your Studio XPS.
References used:
#71: Dell Studio XPS wireless failure | SelfSolved
( http://selfsolved.com/problems/dell-studio-xps-wireless-failure ) - found by
yliu on June 12, 2011, 12:26 AM UTC
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#71: Dell Studio XPS wireless failure | SelfSolved
http://selfsolved.com/problems/dell-studio-xps-wireless-failure - found by yliu on June 12, 2011, 12:26 AM UTC
The previous recorded problem identifying the mysterious "WiFi turned off" issue