I left my Lenovo ThinkBook on overnight to run some automated tests, but my wife turned off the router at some point. When I woke up, I found it at the login screen. After logging in, I noticed that the internet icon was missing, and I couldn't see options for the keyboard, screen brightness, or volume—essentially nothing worked. After 35 years of using computers, I've never encountered anything like this. I don't have a restore point to fall back on. Is this something familiar to anyone, and what should I do next?
2 Answers
This happens more often than you think. I've had laptops where the Wi-Fi icon just disappears. If you can, try connecting it to the internet with an Ethernet cable and run a Windows Update; it might bring everything back. Also, make sure to check the Device Manager to see if your Wi-Fi chip is disabled—sometimes it gets turned off.
I tried connecting it with a cable but nothing happened, and I still had no internet access.
Honestly, your wife turning off the router probably isn't the root cause of this issue—computers can be pretty complex and sometimes just glitch out on their own. If you have one available, try plugging in an external keyboard and mouse to see if that helps. Good luck!
Exactly! I've seen similar issues before, and usually, a quick Windows update fixes the drivers when they're acting up.