A Wi-Fi enabled laptop will not find the SSID (network) of your router if the wireless switch of the laptop is off. This article describes where the wireless switch is located on the laptop or the key combination required to enable it. This article covers most of the major laptop brands and models available on the market.

This article is helpful if:

the wireless switch of your laptop is off.
your laptop cannot find the SSID of the router but other wireless devices can see the SSID.
you need to turn on the laptop wireless switch.
Note: This is by no means an exhaustive list due to the large number of laptops being released to the market daily, however it is a good starting point. If your laptop is not on the list, please contact your laptop manufacturer for help enabling the wireless capability of your laptop.

ACER:

Acer (General) – FN+F5.
Aspire 1000/1640Z/1690/2012 – Launch Keys above the keyboard.
Aspire 16xx (General) the satellite -like launch button above the keyboard.
Aspire 2000 Series (less Aspire 2012, See Above) – Button on the Front of the Laptop.
Aspire 3005 – on the lower right-hand side of your laptop.
Aspire 3500 – on the lower right-hand side of your laptop.
Aspire 5612 sliding button on the side of the laptop.
Aspire 9302 the blue button on the left-hand side of the laptop.
Aspire 94xx (General) the key found below the Lock key.
Aspire One, in the lower right corner of the palm rest is a small strip.
with a picture of an antenna on it. An LED to the right of the strip lights to indicate the wireless is turned on.
Aspire One Series ZG5 – Extensa 2000/2500 Series – Far Right launch button above the keyboard.
Ferrari 3000/3020/3400/4000 – Button on Front of Laptop.
Travelmate C Series – Far Left hot key and then select WLAN from menu that appears.

ADVENT:

7086/7096 – Button next to the power button.
7100 /7104 – Fn+F2.
7201 – Wireless key top Right and then Fn+F2.
8117 – Small slide switch on the Front of Laptop Alienware.
M17x – Fn+F2.

ASUS:

ASUS (General) – Fn+F2. (some models may have a separate switch)
F5R – Toggle switch located on the Left side of the notebook.
G1S – This laptop supports multi-model switching of the wireless and Bluetooth radios via the key command Fn+F2:
1st press: On both Bluetooth / On Wi-Fi.
2nd press: Off Bluetooth / On Wi-Fi.
3rd press: On Bluetooth / Off Wi-Fi.
4th press: Off Bluetooth / Off Wi-Fi.

BENQ:

Joybook 5000u-d09 – Fn+F12.

DELL:

General – Fn+F2 or Fn+F8 or Fn+F12.
600m – Fn+ F2.
E6400 – on the right above the headphone and microphone ports. (next to “Dell Wi-Fi Catcher” button.)
Inspiron series (Less 5100, See Below) – Fn+F2.
Inspiron 1510/500M/600M/1150 – Fn+F2.
Inspiron 1505 – Wireless icon next to the time (lower right hand corner of screen) right-click & turn radio on.
Inspirion 1521 – Sliding switch (Wi-Fi Catcher) is on the right side of the laptop. (with light)
Inspiron 1525 – Wireless icon next to the time (lower right hand corner of screen) right-click & turn radio on. There may also be a little on/off switch on the side or front of the laptop that you need to check is on.
Inspiron 1720 – on/off switch on the left side of the laptop.
Inspiron 5100 – No Built-in Wireless for this model.
Inspiron 6000/8600/9300 – Fn+F2.
D400/D500/D600/D610/D400/D500/D600/D610/D620/D800 – Fn+F2.
Latitude D630 (D640 and Newer) – toggle switch on the Left side towards the Front by the PCMCIA slots and headphone jack.
Latitude E6400 – Fn+F2.
Latitude X300 – Fn+F2.
Vostro 1500 – Big button on Left side at rear. (No Fn+F# combo to toggle wireless on/off for this model.)

E-MACHINES:

E-machine (General) – FN+F2.

E-SYSTEM:

3115 – Slide switch on Front of Laptop. (Also has Fn+F5 function)

FUJITSU/SIEMENS:

Fujitsu (General) – Fn+F10.
Fujitsu/Siemens (General) – Use either the sliding “Wireless” button on the right-hand side of the laptop or use the Fn+F2 key combo Some models have the ON/OFF wireless button just below the touchpad.
Amilo A & D Series – Button above the keyboard on top Right.
Amilo K Series – No Built-in Wireless for this model.
Amilo L/EL Series – Fn+F1.
Amilo La Series – Fn+F2.
Amilo Li Series – Easy launch button (one of 3) on top of keyboard.

GATEWAY:

Gateway Laptop (Not Further Identified0 – Switch on side and then Fn+F2.
7805u FX – Wireless toggle is on front right. Software switch is Fn+F2. Fn is not in normal position and is located on the bottom left of the keyboard where CTRL is typically located.

GERICOM:

Cinema 16100 model use the Fn+F1 key combo.

HP (HEWLETT-PACKARD) / COMPAQ:

HP/Compaq (General Older models) – Button on upper Left on keyboard deck.
HP/Compaq (General Newer models) – Button on lower Left below keyboard.
Compaq (General) Press and hold the antenna-button on the upper section of your keyboard.
Compaq Armada Services – No Built-in Wireless for this model.
Compaq Pavilion ZX5190 – Wireless switch is on the keypad, slightly separate from the keys. It has a wireless symbol on it.
Compaq Presario – Button on the Back Compaq Presario.
CQ Series – Button above the keyboard. (antenna icon on button)
Compaq Presario M2000 – Button above the keyboard. (antenna icon on button)
HP/Compaq 6910p Notebook PC above keyboard to left, 2 buttons to the right of the power button.
(Wireless on/off LED is on the lower left. left of power/standby light.)
HP 600 – Button on lower Left below keyboard.
HP NC4000/4010 – Button above Keyboard.
HP NC4220 – Button on Left Side of Laptop near USB Port.
HP NC6000/6220 – Button above Keyboard.
HP NX9010 – Button on Front side of Laptop.
HP Omnibook 6200 – Button on Left side of Laptop.

IBM / LENOVO:

IBM General – Some models have the wireless slide button on the side of the laptop.
IBM DV series – use the antenna-like button found on the upper section of your keyboard.
IBM R40 – Use the Fn+F5 key-combo.
IBM Thinkpad (General) – Most have software switch or button on Left hand side.
IBM Thinkpad (model not further identified) wireless switch on Front edge of case.
IBM T43/X32 – Fn+F5 -Click “Turn On”.
IBM ZD series use the antenna-like button just below the “Lock” key.
Lenovo – button on the front on most models, Fn+F5 opens the menu to display the wireless radio status.
Lenovo T-61 – Slide button on the front of the laptop.
Lenovo X61 – Front edge on the bottom half of the clam shell, to the right of center and facing somewhat downward as the bezel is beveled there.

MEDION:

General – Fn+F1 or Fn+F2.

MSI:

General – Antenna-like button close to the power switch.
U100 – Fn+F11.

PACKARD BELL:

EasyNote B3600 use the Fn+F1.
EasyNote E2/MV46/008 – Fn+F1.
EasyNote W7730, Antenna-like wireless button on the side of the laptop.
MZ36-U024 – Fn+F2.

PHILIPS:

General – Fn+F2 key combo.
X54 – Antenna-like button close to the power switch.

SAMSUNG:

General – Blue button found in the middle section of the keyboard.

SHARP:

General – Fn+F2.

SONY:

(Many models use both a physical and a software switch)

General – Software Switch, “Wireless Device Switch icon” in systems tray. (Gray square labeled LAN)
Sony Vaio (General) – Switch on front left.
VAIO (General, not further identified) – Button (or slide switch) on the Front Left or Right side.
VAIO – VGW-AW125T – Button on Front Left, below keyboard.
VAIO – VGN-AX570G – Button on Front Left.
VAIO – VGN-B2560 – On top left of Keyboard. (light say’s wireless when on)

TARGA:

Companion 811 – Fn+F2.

TOSHIBA:

General – Fn+F5 or Fn+F8 or physical switch.
A100-078 – Sliding button on the right-hand side of the laptop.
Eqium Series – Slide switch on Front of Laptop.
Libretto Series – Slide switch on Left hand side.
M1 & M2 – Switch on Left side of Laptop, towards Front.
M40 and M70 – ON/OFF antenna-like button.
Portege & Qosmio Series – Slide switch on the Left hand side.
Quantium Series – Slide switch on the Left hand side.
R100 – Switch on Right side of Laptop.
Satego Series – Slide Switch on the Right hand side.
Satellite (General) – Physical switch on front of case, below keyboard deck, to left of center. (FN+F8 shows whether wireless communications is enabled or disabled.)
Satellite (Model Not further identified) – On the Front of case, below keyboard deck, to left of center. (may require Fn+F8 to turn on)
Satellite 1400/1405 – (may or may not have wireless) For models with wireless radios, right side of case, below Floppy Drive.
Satellite L355D-S7825 – switch is on the front edge of the case, below keyboard just left of center.
Satellite A60-S1662 – Slide switch on right side between USB Port and Mic & headphone jacks.
Satellite Pro – On the Side or Front.
TE2000 – Switch on Left side of Laptop, by volume control.
Tecra 2100 – Switch on Left side of Laptop, by volume control FN+F8 shows whether wireless communications is enabled or
disabled.

For MAC/Apple based computers:

MAC OS X 10.4.x (Tiger & Earlier)

Open Mac Hard Drive > Applications > Utilities folder > Set the Configure pull-down to Airport. Make sure the “Airport Power:” says On. (This is the status of your Mac’s Airport card.) If not set to on, click “Turn Airport On” button.

MAC OS X 10.5.x (Leopard)

Click the: Apple Icon > System Preferences > Network > Airport > Airport Power – On/Off Airport power can also be toggled off/on from the Wi-Fi icon on the top bar menu.

 

Source: Netgear KB20040