I've been given a replacement Dynabook work laptop running Windows. It worked normally in the office, but now that I'm working from home, I can't connect it to my home Wi‑Fi because the network button is missing from the sign-in screen and lock screen. I've restarted it several times, but the option still doesn't appear. The laptop also won't let me sign in because it can't reach the company domain. Is there a way to connect before logging in, or does this need to be fixed by the company's IT team?
3 Answers
If you successfully signed in on this laptop while at the office, Windows may have cached your credentials. Try using the same username and password while offline; once you reach the desktop, connect to your home Wi‑Fi and the company VPN. If Windows refuses the login because it can’t contact the domain, IT will need to resolve it.
This is probably a company policy setting. IT may have disabled Wi‑Fi access from the sign-in screen, which creates a problem when the laptop needs the network to contact the domain. They’ll likely need to enable network access at sign-in or provide the correct work-from-home setup.
A wired Ethernet connection may get around the missing Wi‑Fi option if you have access to a suitable adapter and cable. Otherwise, contact the company help desk and ask whether they can enable networking on the login screen or give you a local sign-in method. Avoid changing account settings or using an unknown local account unless IT instructs you to.
I tried signing in, but it specifically says it can’t connect to the domain. I have an IT appointment tomorrow, so I mainly wanted to check whether the missing network button was a known issue rather than something I was overlooking.