Lost wireless on t420 - can’t get it back

[Dd777]

I hit the FN + F5 keys not knowing it would disable my wireless. I thought it would be a toggle but it’s not, and i’ve tried and searched everywhere but am unable to get back my wireless without insert a usb adapter.
Please tell me what I’m missing. There MUST be a way to get it back.
Thank you.

[BillMorrow]

not sure what you mean when you say USB adapter..

[RealBlackStuff]

He probably means a USB-wifi-stick.

@Dd777:
What OS are you using?
Switch off completely and remove charger/battery.
Open the machine up, remove/reinsert the wifi card, insert charger, try booting.
OK now?

[axur-delmeria]

AFAIK Fn+F5 cycles through four modes:

WiFi on, Bluetooth on

WiFi off, Bluetooth on

WiFi on, Bluetooth off

WiFi off, Bluetooth off

The other possible config is to bring up a menu that allows you to turn on/off the WiFi and Bluetooth separately.

[Dd777]

Thank you all for your responses!!
Yes, I meant usb wifi adapter.
Tried removing and putting back the wifi card. No luck.
Running Windows 7.
My laptop does not have bluetooth. Hitting FN + F5 repeatedly doesn’t seem to do anything.
Hitting Windows + X brings up the mobility center, the TURN WIRELESS ON is greyed out.
Completely stumped. May need to stick to adapter.
Thanks again.

[Dd777]

I see from other forums there is supposed to be a windows that opens when you press FN + F5, but that doesn’t happen on my laptop.

[TPFanatic]

Try to install Lenovo Hotkey Features Integration version 3.81.
Be up to date on vcredist x32 and x64 first.

[Dd777]

Thank you for your reply, but when I entered my serial number, it wouldn’t let me download the Hotkey file because it’s not compatible with the T420.

[RealBlackStuff]

Hotkey 3.81.0100 here: https://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/p ... vu23ww.exe
Newer 3.89.0100 here: https://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/p ... vu43ww.exe

[Dd777]

Thank you for the link for those files. Did the install and now when I press FN + F5 it says you must use the hardware switch to turn on the Wi-Fi but I don’t have a hardware switch on my laptop. When you press FN plus F6 it brings up the communication window which allows me to access the WebCam, or change the audio settings which I did not have before, but no luck with the Wi-Fi, unfortunately.

[dr_st]

The T420 does have a WiFi hardware switch. I believe it's on the back right, next to the SD slot. See this pic:


If it's stuck in the off position, switch it on. If it's in the on position, and the SW detects it as off, the switch may be broken.

[Dd777]

OMG I have egg on my face. As the previous poster pointed out, there is a wifi hardware switch. I actually saw and thought it was some type of EJECT mechanism because it’s so much smaller than the diagrams I’ve seen of the wifi switches.
My apologies and appreciation to those who took up their precious time to try to help me. Thank you!!
At least the poster who linked the download files to the hotkey switches, enabled me to get access to my WebCam, low resolution as it is, that I did not have before.