This topic

Wifi connection to computer

paulallard — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 08:50:29 GMT

Just had fibre broadband installed and the engineer connected the router to my desktop computer with an ethernet cable. I noticed that, when I switch the computer off, the wi-fi goes to sleep. Is the cable necessary?

Re: Wifi connection to computer

licquorice — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 09:21:45 GMT

Not sure what you mean by 'the wifi goes to sleep' but if your PC has wifi capability, then no, you don't need to connect via an Ethernet cable.

Re: Wifi connection to computer

paulallard — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 11:50:40 GMT

Disconnected the ethernet cable and lost wi-fi on the computer! So I've reconnected it.

Re: Wifi connection to computer

imjolly — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 11:55:41 GMT

you computer cannot be connect to internet using ethernet and wifi at same time

Re: Wifi connection to computer

licquorice — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 12:09:08 GMT

Do you actually mean you lose 'wifi' or do you mean you lose internet connection. There seems to be a tendency these days to refer to internet connectivity as WiFi.

Re: Wifi connection to computer

paulallard — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 12:13:24 GMT

I've just checked - my computer isn't connecting through wifi but through the cable, possibly too old a model! When I switched it off last night, the wifi router went to orange (if I remember rightly) i.e. working but not connecting to the internet. I'll end up ringing BT perhaps at some point or not switching off the computer!

Re: Wifi connection to computer

licquorice — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 12:18:27 GMT

The router shouldn't change colour when turning off the computer. The colour changes are indications of the connectivity of the router to your broadband service, not towards your computer.

Re: Wifi connection to computer

Carlusha — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 13:17:02 GMT

@paulallard

Disconnect the ethernet, on your computer, open Network & Internet and ensure that wifi is turned on!

Re: Wifi connection to computer

paulallard — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 15:01:30 GMT

Wifi does not appear in my Network and internet

Re: Wifi connection to computer

licquorice — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 15:03:29 GMT

Then your computer doesn't have a wifi adapter and will need to be connected via Ethernet. Or you could buy a USB wifi dongle, they are very cheap.

Re: Wifi connection to computer

paulallard — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 15:10:06 GMT

I have a USB wifi dongle which is showing on i.e. lit, but no show in Network and Internet

Re: Wifi connection to computer

Les-Gibson — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 15:33:25 GMT

Unplug the dongle and try it in another port

Re: Wifi connection to computer

paulallard — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 15:35:51 GMT

Tried that - no difference. If i unplug the ethernet cable, would that make a difference to the wifi option turning up?

Re: Wifi connection to computer

Les-Gibson — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 16:02:43 GMT

You should be able to see a list of the available Wi-Fi networks even with the ethernet cable plugged in.

Have you disabled the wireless adapter?

What operating system are you running?

Re: Wifi connection to computer

paulallard — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 16:55:51 GMT

I haven't disabled the wireless adapter (as far as i know) - never touch anything if I can help it. No wifi networks appear. Windows 10

Re: Wifi connection to computer

Les-Gibson — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 17:20:40 GMT

When you left-click the network icon in the system tray (bottom Right Hand corner of your screen), do you see the blue button and a list of Wi-Fi networks as below.

Re: Wifi connection to computer

paulallard — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 22:35:48 GMT

Only Network 2 appears

Re: Wifi connection to computer

Les-Gibson — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 10:43:08 GMT

I have no idea what you mean by that.

Do you see the blue button?

Re: Wifi connection to computer

paulallard — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 11:13:21 GMT

Sorry - all that happens when I left-click the network icon is get Network 2 - no blue button, in fact, no buttons at all. Just the words Network 2 on a grey background. Thanks for all your help so far.

Re: Wifi connection to computer

Les-Gibson — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 11:28:45 GMT

The screenshot I posted is, as far as I know, standard to all windows 10 machines so if you're not seeing that then I don't know what else to suggest.

Have you ever been able to use Wi-Fi on that machine?