After a recent storm, I'm having major connectivity issues with both my WiFi and Ethernet. My Apple TVs connected via Ethernet are no longer working, but they do connect through WiFi just fine. However, my desktop can't see any WiFi networks at all and I can't get it to connect to known networks either. In the 'Hardware and connection properties', both my Ethernet and WiFi adapters show 'Status: Not Operational'. I've done a bunch of troubleshooting, like rebooting my computer multiple times, resetting the network adapter, and rebooting the router and modem, but nothing seems to work. My desktop specs are: an ASUS with an Intel Core i7-1400F, 32 GB RAM, a Realtek Gaming 2.5GbE Ethernet adapter, and an Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 WiFi adapter. Everything else on my computer works fine, so I'm starting to think the storm may have damaged the network adapter. Is there anything else I can try before taking it in for repairs? Also, if there's a better forum for this, I'd appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!
2 Answers
It sounds like your WiFi and Ethernet adapters might be damaged from the storm. Have you checked to see if the adapters are disabled in Device Manager? Sometimes a driver issue can cause them to show as 'Not Operational'. If they are disabled, try enabling them. Alternatively, if they're built-in, they could have suffered from a surge, and that may mean they need replacing. Good luck!
I agree with the previous advice. It definitely sounds like a hardware issue, especially if both adapters are showing as 'Not Operational'. If checking Device Manager doesn't help, consider trying to boot your PC in Safe Mode with networking; this sometimes helps if there are driver conflicts. If that doesn't work, you may need a new adapter or to look into repairs. Keep us posted!
Safe Mode is a solid idea. Also, if you still can't get things working, testing a different Ethernet cable might be worth a shot just in case that's part of the issue!
Yeah, that makes sense. If the drivers are installed and they still don't work, it could be a hardware problem. You might want to look into a USB WiFi adapter as a temporary fix while you get the desktop looked at.