My college Wi-Fi works normally on my phone, Mac, and Steam Deck, but the network does not appear on my Windows desktop. My personal hotspot and an occasional random network are visible. I have already reset the network adapters, reinstalled the drivers, and tried several other troubleshooting steps. The PC uses a B650 Eagle AX motherboard. I also tried Ethernet, but that did not work even though I registered the correct Ethernet MAC address with the college. The computer was shipped to college and its side panel arrived slightly damaged. I have contacted campus IT, but they have not replied yet. Could missing Wi-Fi antennas or damage from shipping explain this?
3 Answers
Since the computer was shipped and the side panel was damaged, inspect the rear I/O area and the wireless card or motherboard connectors for loose or bent parts. Also make sure the antenna connectors did not get pushed inside the case. A hotspot appearing does not completely rule out a weak or damaged Wi-Fi radio, since different networks can use different bands and signal strengths.
For the Ethernet problem, try another known-good cable and a different wall jack or switch port if available. Confirm that the link lights come on and that the college has registered the wired adapter’s MAC address, which is different from the Wi-Fi MAC. If there are no link lights with a working cable, the port or the desktop’s Ethernet hardware may be the issue rather than Windows.
Check whether the Wi-Fi antennas are attached to the two threaded connectors on the back of the motherboard. The B650 Eagle AX normally includes external antennas, and the built-in Wi-Fi can have extremely poor range or fail to detect networks without them. They may have been left behind, removed during shipping, or hidden in the motherboard box. You can buy compatible replacement antennas if they are missing.
I’m not sure my motherboard came with antennas. I used Wi-Fi successfully at home, but I’ll check the box and the back of the PC.