Wi-Fi: No Hardware Installed on MacBook Pro 8,2 (15 inch, Late 2011)

I have the same problem as you. For now, I'm using a USB adapter to connect to the Internet. However it doesn't work with my school network 😠. Anyway, I tried replacing the Wi-Fi hardware card myself, but to no avail. It still doesn't work. I'm in the same boat as you right, which is a good thing to know, since this doesn't sound like a common problem. I'm suspecting a faulty connection between the logic board and the Wi-Fi card, so I'll buy a ribbon cable and replace it, hopefully fixing the issue (my computer is out of warranty). However, it sounds like you have tried this, so I have no idea what is going on.

Please let me know how that goes. If the issue is really the cables in the display assembly (which would be interesting, considering the hardware itself should still be detected), I would be forced to make a trip to the Apple store and dish out a lot of money. However, if that doesn't work, we'll brainstorm as to what might be the issue. I'm still suspecting a faulty connection between the logic board and the wifi card, since the card is not detected. Signal issues (not hardware issues) point to faulty antenna wires. However, both of us had signal issues before, so it might be the problem. Or maybe it's both. Again, please let me know how it goes for you so I can get some pointers as to where to go next.

Did you receive any news from the Apple Store? I recently replaced my ribbon cable, but the issue still exists, which leads to either faulty antenna wires or a defective logic board (please let it be the former). I'm waiting for a response from you before I take any other action. Thanks in advance.

--Iku

I solved it. First, like I said, I replaced the ribbon cable. This fixed the hardware issue (Wi-Fi was detected under the EFI and under my Bootcamp Windows partition). However, there was still "no hardware installed" under the OS X partition. This is where I turned to the solution of downgrading the kexts to the Snow Leopard Version. I'm posting the link here. After restarting, Wi-Fi was fixed.

Kext Downgrade Instructions:

http://www.compunoodle.com/wifi-no-hardware-installed-fix-for-os-x-lion/

Ribbon Cable (make an offer of $15.00):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/APPLE-MACBOOK-PRO-15-A1286-2011-AIRPORT-BLUETOOTH-FLEX-C ABLE-922-9750-/120988723837?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2b7d6a7d

I really hope this helps. This solved my issue.

--Iku

@RostLabAdmin and @Iku,

I'm curious to hear follow ups from both of you. Has each of your fixes continued to work for the last month?

My MBP-8,2 (2011) WiFi started up with this exact same senario today and I'm trying to decide if it's even worth investing in a replacement ribbon cable or if I should just bit the bullet and buy an external WiFi adapter. I don't have the extended care plan, so I'd be making any fixes myself. :\

I'm extremely disappointed in Apple if this is a serious hardware issue (and it certainly appears to be). Any further details you might have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

One other question - What type of screen is installed on your macs? I opted for the High-Res Anti-Glare upgrade. I'm curious to know if you each had the same. Maybe it is an issue that is specific to the antenna routing in thsi display?

Just thinking aloud...

Thanks for the added feedback, RostLabAdmin.

Since we both have the Anti-Glare screen, I'm wondering if it is an issue with the WiFi antenna routing behind the aluminum display bezel that comes with that option. (I always thought that the aluminum bezel was a stupid design move anyway. Why not leave the bezel black?)

I'll be curious to hear if additonal users with our MBP series & options start to have the same issue. For now, I've been unable to find a replacement WiFi card (every reseller appears to be sold out). I've got an external, USB wiFi adapter coming in the mail tomorrow. Hopefully that will be a good stop-gap.

If I come across several other users in out senario, I might put together a little website/page to see if we can gauge the number of affected users.

Cheers!

Glad to have found this thread, and thanks for posting your experiences!

Chiming in with my experience:

I used my Macbook Pro 15" A1286 (Early 2011 - Anti-Glare High-Res) without issues for about a year. I left it at home while I went traveling for 8 months, and when I came back in December I installed Mountain Lion on it (from scratch --> USB).

It worked well for a week, until the Wi-Fi stopped working. The machine was rebooted, and the "Wi-Fi: No hardware installed" is now present (bluetooth is working).

I replaced the Wi-Fi card myself, but that did not do the trick.

An appointment has been scheduled at the Genius Bar for this weekend.

I don't have Apple Care, and I'm concerned about what they're going to say. Moreover, I'm dissapointed in this happening less than 2 years into ownership of a $2,500 piece of hardware.

Thoughts on next steps?

Replace the ribbon cable that connects the Wi-Fi card to the logic board. That's what fixed the problem for me. I've had the same issues myself, and I also replaced the Wi-Fi card, but to no avail. Ribbon cables are significantly cheaper than Wi-Fi cards, as well.

Hi togume,

I had been using a 3rd-party USB WiFi adapter to at least get wireless access for my broken MBP. It worked pretty dang well for $15. However, the UI was a bit quirky and less than ideal. Plus, It just irked me that I had to have the adapter/dongle hanging out the side of my laptop all the time.

So, I purchased a used replacement WiFi card and cable from eBay. Installed them both today and...I have WiFi again!!! Of course, they may crap out again in the future, but the total cost for both parts was only $40, so I'm willing to risk it.

The installation was a bit more complicated than I had hoped. The WiFi card is attached to a "carrier" with 3 screws and then completely wrapped in some special electrical tape. The repair took me about 30 minutes and I'm very, very comfortable working inside a laptop. I've replaced many screens, hard drives, what have you.

Anyway, my two cents on the matter is it's still cheaper to fix it yourself (if you can). I'll post back here if the replacement card fails again in the future. Otherwise, assume the replacement is still working for me.

End of the day - I'm still disappointed in the original card, APPLE.

So, a follow up on my replacement card purchase...

The replacement card I purchased in January (post just above) started acting up (exacty like the original card) in mid September. I purchased another replacement card (again for about $40) and this one lasted about 2 weeks, following in the footsteps of the others (same exact series of occational drop-outs, unrecongnized card, until the card is no longer recongized at all). I've given up and just reverted to using the USB WiFi Adapter I linked to above. It doesn't work well, but it's better than no WiFi at all.

At this point, I've about given up. Obviously there is something causing the cards to fail. Anyone know a chip engineer who would be willing to diagnose it? 😀 Sounds like th ebest course of action (if you really want to fix the problem) is to replace the display as well as the card as RostLabAdmin did.

Serious, very disappointing. It's really making me worry about purchasing another Apple computer. If I do I will most certainly purchase Apple Care this time around.

I've just started getting very poor reception on a 15" MBP 8,2, but with a normal screen. Was thinking it could be an antenna issue....