MacBook Pro unable to connect to WiFi after SSD installation

Question

MacBook Pro unable to connect to WiFi after SSD installation

Hi folks,

So I installed a new SSD tonight, and all went well. I had the machine connected to the internet via ethernet during configuration, but when I disconnected and attempted switching over to WiFi, it will not connect. Oddly, reconnecting via ethernet does not work until restarting the machine. It then exhibits the same behavior: start up with ethernet, disconnect club to switch to WiFi, WiFi doesn't work, reconnect via ethernet (to no avail). Rinse. Repeat.

My machine is a late-2011 MBP. It initially installed with 10.7 over the internet. The first thing I did after installing 10.7 was log into my account and use the Store to upgrade to 10.8, so I can't speak to any experience using the SSD in 10.7 (or whether it exhibits the same behavior).

I'm debating starting all over with reinstalling the OS, but have heard that's not good for the SSD, and would prefer to resolve the issue without such drastic actions.

Does anybody have any ideas what is wrong, and/or recommendations for how to fix the issue?

EDIT: I should add I have attempted power cycling the router several times, both by turning on/off and unplugging. All other devices in my house - and there are many - continue to function normally, with full WiFi signal and access.

MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011)

Posted on Jul 3, 2013 5:40 PM

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Answer 1

May 1, 2017 11:58 PM in response to thelightbulbsun

This was a real head-scratcher for me, so for anyone that might encounter this, here my very similar scenario and what worked for me and my late 2011 2.4GHz i5 MBP:

Replaced 5400 RPM drive with small SSD.
Booted from USB stick to install macOS Sierra; everything looked good.
Restarted and at the point where you can first attempt to connect to wifi, no joy.
Still no joy after fully logging in. Same symptoms as OP: can't connect to wifi, but can see all networks in house and neighbourhood. Only get local 169 address.
Verified connections, nothing cut/broken. Put old HDD back in, wifi is back. Weird - must be software/configuration.
Put SSD back in, no joy once again.
Went to router to use Ethernet cable. Still no luck even after manually entering TCP/IP configuration.
1. Manual configuration included adding my router IP and my "search domain" to the DNS tab.
2. I recalled these entries when I had my old HDD, and are still there now.
Finally succumbed to troubleshooter suggestion to restart router; MBP still plugged into Ethernet.
Once router restarted, Safari browser window loaded Apple.com (the site I attempted to visit after TCP/IP configuration).
Turned WiFi on - boom.

I have no idea what happened and why this worked, but it did. I haven't restarted MBP without Ethernet cable yet, but will do so now. If WiFi fails, I will report back.

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Answer 2

Jul 3, 2013 6:48 PM in response to thelightbulbsun

To add a little more information:

- The computer does "see" my wireless network. If you click on it, it says "Alert: No Internet Connection..." with a triangle and exclamation point.

- In the "Network" tab in System Preferences, Wi-Fi is the top option. It has a little yellow light and says "Self-Assigned IP".

- And for the life of me I can't get this thing working!

Anyone out there? Bueller??

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Answer 3

Jul 3, 2013 7:04 PM in response to thelightbulbsun

Self-assigned IP says "no one will talk to me to give me a good IP Address via DHCP"

Use System Preferences > Network > WiFI > (assistMe) > (assistant) ... to set it up from scratch, including a new "Location".

"Location" is an Apple term that means a basket of many settings used to change all those settings when you get to a different place and have to connect to a different Network. If you use this feature, create a new Location for home, one for work, and one for your neighborhood Starbux -- you get the picture.

If no joy, the next moves are into KeyChain Access and stored passwords.

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Answer 4

Jul 3, 2013 7:06 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you, I will try that now. Should I delete anything (settings, profiles) before attempting?

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Answer 5

Jul 3, 2013 7:10 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I went through the process. It ended up with "Unable to establish a network connection". I'm given two options: "Diagnose" and "OK"...

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Answer 6

Jul 3, 2013 7:11 PM in response to thelightbulbsun

(Diagnose) may provide you more information. It won't hurt anything.

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Answer 7

Jul 3, 2013 7:17 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

It didn't seem to offer any useful information or help, unfortunately. I tried setting up another "location" under the same name, but it's telling me using the same name isn't possible because it's a duplicate. Should I delete those last few attempts? And if so, how do I go about that?

What should I try with KeyChain access?

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Answer 8

Jul 3, 2013 7:22 PM in response to thelightbulbsun

You need a new name for a new Location. You can probably delete the old ones aor name the new one the default (the date & time) or Test.

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If you changed drives, you may have changed something about the User account you are using. You could try deleting yout home Network on the list of preferrd networks and [√] ask to join new Networks, which would let you specify the password again.

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Answer 9

Jul 3, 2013 7:24 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

For keychain, read this thread:

I forgot my Wi-Fi security password, how can I find it on my computer?

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Answer 10

Jul 3, 2013 7:27 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

With regard the locations, how do I go about deleting the old ones? I would prefer to not have extraneous profiles/locations lying around, if possible.

I've tried deleting the home network several times. Either I'm doing it wrong (entirely possible), or there's something wrong, because it never disappears. I've successfully deleted networks many times, so not sure what I'm doing wrong. Did something change moving from 10.7 to 10.8?

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Answer 11

Jul 3, 2013 7:38 PM in response to thelightbulbsun

Choose this menu and one entry will be "Edit Locations"

Make sure the Lock is unlocked (under the Interfaces list) or you can't change ANYTHING.

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Answer 12

Jul 3, 2013 7:40 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks. I got in there and managed to delete most of the old ones, but it won't let me delete everything. So I started over with some new ones, but it hasn't yielded any positive results. Any other ideas?

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Answer 13

Jul 3, 2013 7:57 PM in response to thelightbulbsun

On the WiFi pane, click (Advanced) delete ALL the prefered networks.

When you save changes, it should offer you your Home network again, and allow you to enter the password.

.

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Answer 14

Jul 3, 2013 8:04 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

When I try that, it attempts to re-establish a network connection. When I click the WiFi icon (top right), the drop down shows my wireless network, and it already has a check mark next to it (right after having deleted the network). It shows a full signal, but not connection.

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Answer 15

Jul 3, 2013 8:07 PM in response to thelightbulbsun

You could try unchecking [√] Remember all networks this computer has joined, so that it would not think it has the password and allow you to enter it anew.

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