Lion - WiFi no hardware installed

I've already taken my laptop in for repair and had the wireless card (I think) replaced. My next step will be to reinstall Mavericks when I have a spare moment. :-/

*Update - Fixed Problem via New Flex Cable - If pushing down the corners worked for you, then replace your flex cable - do this on your own seeing is $20 dollars and 20 minutes of your time. Having Apple do it will cost you $300 and will take 2 weeks*

If you didn't see my original post, I have had intermittent problems with my wireless for months. I was able to push down the corners of the laptop to get the wireless back from time to time.

The fix: I purchased a used flex cable online and replaced the old one. I will provide pics of the old one to follow, which shattered (I'm not kidding), when I removed it. This has fixed the problem entirely.

The story leading up to my repair: So, my wireless completely stopped working right before Thanksgiving. I went to the Apple Store in Manhattan Village (Los Angeles), where they now had people waiting outside like it was a nightclub. I waited inside with my appointment for the obligatory 25 minutes after which I met my Genius who was unable to diagnose the problem. Instead, the Genius said he would have to charge me $100 some odd dollars to fix it and promised it would be done in a few days in time to retrieve it before Thanksgiving. I also asked the Genius to replace 3 of the screws on the back of the case (which had fallen out) and they told me they didn't always carry screws. I reminded the Genius that not having screws in a repair shop is like saying you don't a wrench at an autoshop. I don't think the Genius got it.

I called before my trip, a day later than the Genius had promised to have it ready, and another Genius told me they didn't have it ready, and that they recommended sending it out which would cost me another $300 some odd dollars, MINIMUM. I told this Genius I couldn't understand charging $400 some odd where 1/4 of it was to tell me they didn't know what was wrong. She didn't get it.

Needless to say, I told the Genius I was disappointed and that I wanted to speak to the Genius manager. I explained to her everything, at which she said she could try to expedite the outsourced repair. I told her, "No thank you," and that I wanted to pick up my computer ASAP. She said she wanted to speak to me when I arrived and I hesitantly agreed, as I felt they had already wasted my time by promising things they couldn't deliver on. When I arrived, I spoke to the Genius manager who was apologetic for the timeframe issue, but entirely unapologetic (which she actually said, she wouldn't apologize for) for not being able to fix the problem. This was unprompted and bizarre, seeing that I didn't do anything, but ask for my computer back. She offered to waive the $100 charge, which I thanked her for. It was the very least they could do, I think.

When I got it home I went ahead and opened the back and took a shot at figuring out the problem myself. I used to repair PCs, but never Macs or Laptops so I was in foreign territory. I went ahead and re-set the gold connectors bridging the card to, what I think was, the receiver, making them a tighter fit. This didn't fix the problem. I then attempted to remove the flex cable at the center of the computer connecting the Logic Board to the wireless. As I attempted to remove it, one of the ends shattered entirely. I had to pick out piece of metal connectors from the flex cable out from the Logic Board connection.

With a destroyed flex cable I had no choice, but to order a new one. The new one came, but was a bit too long for my case. I installed it anyway, taping it down to the harddrive "case" to hold the slack. It worked!

I think it is needless to say that I am incredibly disappointed with the support and general physical quality of my MacBook. I wish you all the best of luck in your wireless repair endeavors!

Unfortunately pushing down the corners doesn't work for me. My macbook air has this "WIFI no hardware installed" since last april. Sometimes, the wifi conection comes back randomly. I tried all suggestions, the problem has not been solved permanently. When I cannot get the wifi function, I normally use the USB ethernet.

Recently, I just found a very strange thing: When i have the wifi connection, all software work well. But if I use the USB ethernet when the wifi doesn't work, the itunes has a problem. The error information is the following: After I click "iTunes", I get "An unknown error occured (-50)". Then I click "Ok" and then "Radio". On the "iTunes radio" page, I cannot play any radio station even I have the internet access. The error message is "We could not complete your iTunes Store request. You are not authorized to access the requested resource."

So based on the above testing, I am pretty sure that it should be a software conflict whick make the wifi not work. I hope all you can test your iTunes and then find a solution for this.

Apparently beating my MBA up worked just fine. My trackpad didn't work for a wile, but now it's fine! Thank you!

As far as I'm concerned, the faulty flex cable mentioned by absv is the correct diagnosis of the problem. Once you start taking note of when the problem occurs, it becomes clear that it's related to physical adjustment of the machine, & most often to closing/opening the laptop. All the software-related fixes are a red herring, though they sometimes appear to work temporarily by coincidence.

absv, there's one point I'm not clear on though regarding your fix. You say first that you resoldered the cable & that this is difficult:

I came to this conclusion after carefully resoldering the tiny connection points of the flex cable (logic board side). (which is extremely hard, you need an smd soldering device plus a good magnifying glass and steady hands)

But later you mention the ease of replacing the cable:

My suggestion to anyone who has these kind of issues is to order a new cable (not a used one!) and see if that works. It can be very easily replaced.

Are these in fact the same cable, or are there two components involved? Is soldering required?

Thanks!

I'll weigh in here on an issue thats been plaguing me for the last few months.

I randomly got the wifi no hardware installed and went about trying to find a fix. I've literally read all the posts and all the fixes on various forums, some have been temporarily successful, while others did nothing. My machine is massively important for work and especially client meetings where i'm required to demonstarte websites i've built. To say this problem is a major issue is an understatement. I've got a usb dongle, but to be completely honest after shelling out almost £1800 for a machine this is not an acceptable long term option.

Biting the bullet, shelled out almost £200 and instructed a 3rd party apple certified repair centre to replace the wifi card in my machine. I got it back it was working. for a week. same problem. I took it back to them again, and they took another look the card was faulty. They replaced it again. 2 days later it's gone again. Ridiculous. I can only assume there is a problem with the logic board thats causing it to blow the wifi card. This is a know problem that apple is choosing to ignore. I phoned apple support and spoke to a representative who told me my only option was to take it back to where i bought it and try and claim "consumer law" under the machine not being fit for purpose. I'd say my chances of success are pretty slim to be honest.

This is a massively known problem that apple is choosing to ignore despite hundreds of comments from people getting the same issue. The least they can do is offer to replace the machine or provide a permananet fix regardless of warranty or apple care status. I'm left with either using a solution i shouldn't have to or returning my machine to where i bought it hoping to claim the machine is not fit for purpose. it's not their problem, it's apple's and they are doing nothing!

had the same problem and got the flex cables replaced, works great now

Thanks, that worked perfectly for me!

Interesting, I'll try to replace the flex cables and see if it fixes it, but I would like to say that in case nobody else noticed, if you leave the laptop plugged to the mains the problem will not manifest.

I have tried many of the 'fixes' online, some work sporadically, but no permanent fix. The best solution I've found is to use a usb wifi dongle to work around using your b0rked wifi hardware. This one has a tiny profile, and is <$10 on amazon and does the trick beautifullyl Edimax EW-7811Un - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003MTTJOY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF 8&psc=1

Hey Brmusic1,

I know this post is kind of old, but I'm having the same problem as you (even the part where Apple is trying to charge me 400 USD without knowing the problem exactly. I have tried the procedure that I have to press all 4 corners at once and then reboot the system..... and it WORKED.

I didn't want to open up the laptop, but it seems to be the only alternative now. Can ypu please tell me if this is all I need?

Tool:

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/TORX-r-T6-Take-Apart-Screwdriver-Tool-p-16452.html

Flex cable:

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/MacBook-Air-133-Mid-2013---Early-2014-IPD-Flex-Cab le-p-26364.html

Thanks!

Better yet, did you do this?

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Air+13-Inch+Mid+2013+I-O+Board+Cable+Replac ement/15227

I don't know how relevant this is in your case but maybe this will help someone else...

In my experience with servicing MacBook Pros, sometimes the wifi and bluetooth hardware is reported as uninstalled after servicing the logic board or replacing the dvd drive. Usually, the fix is as simple as removing the back of your computer and ensuring the black 0.5" cable running at an angle from the logic board to the side of the case is securely connected in both locations. If the tech was not careful servicing the machine, said cable might be loose, inhibiting the hardware from being detected. Sometimes you even need to pull back the black tape over the cable and reseat it. Tread carefully- this might void your warranty.

@bechardj, do you know if the Macbook Air (mid 2013) has the same flexcable that I could exchange for a new one?

Sometimes, when I press all four corners of the laptop, it will work, but sometime it doesn't...

Thanks for shaking the MacBook. That worked for me. I fix computers, help desk, network building, etc. Once in a while I'll slap the tower to shake the dust off the fans or wake a stuck and dying 20 year old hard drive. For whatever reason, shaking it didn't occur to me. I shook the MacBook, powered back on and behold, WIFI was back!

This is definitely a hardware issue. At this point though, until shaking stops working, I won't bother taking it in for warranty because I don't want to sit at the Genius Bar for 2 hours.

Thanks for the tip.