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Causes
If your computer is unable to connect to any Wi-Fi network, then your WLAN card may be at fault. The internal antennas may also be loose or disconnected. If this is the case, you may notice the following:
- There is no Wi-Fi option on your computer's taskbar.
- You are near a working router and no networks appear when searching.
- Wi-Fi connections fail to authenticate or connect, and disconnect with no discernible cause.
A temporary fix to a damaged WLAN card is to use a USB Wi-Fi adapter. However, this is best used as a temporary solution, as these adapters tend to be much much slower and less reliable compared to a built-in WLAN card.
If your computer is unable to connect to mobile data, and you know that you have a valid SIM card, then you may need to replace your WWAN card. The internal antennas may also be loose or disconnected. If this is the case, you may notice the following:
- There is no cellular connection or mobile data option in your network settings.
- Your computer does not receive any signal after connecting to cellular data, or disconnects with no discernible cause.
As with the WLAN card, you can use a USB WLAN adapter (often called "4G adapters") as a temporary fix, with the same caveats as the above.
To check if you have a SIM card in your laptop, you can eject the SIM tray at the back of your laptop. SIM tray removers often come with new phones, however one is also included in your iFixit tool kit as a screwdriver head. These tools should be firmly inserted into the small opening on the outside of the SIM tray.
The validity of your SIM card will need to be checked with your carrier.
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