Q: Wi-fi off and will not turn on - MacBook
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Aug 6, 2013 7:13 AMby Patricia Henwood,Many thanks for the response Bob - may I ask whether that was an expensive 'fix'?
Even though it's now 'ancient' I'm very happy with my MacBook - I've upgraded the RAM to 8GB as well as replacing the original HD with a 750 GB 7200 rpm Western Digital HD, however, I realise that one reaches a stage where parts start to fail or become unreliable and there's no real point in spending any more money trying to keep the old MacBook going indefinitely.
I had a look online and couldn't find any reference to replacement wireless cards for my Model A1278 - only a Bluetooth Board replacement - I thought that if there were a replacement wireless card the reference for it would be Airport Extreme?
Perhaps, if I don't turn it off again the problem won't arise .....
I persisted this morning in turning the machine on and off and, after about 15 minutes, I finally managed to have it turn on with the wireless icon functioning. Fingers crossed....
Tricia
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Oct 2, 2013 3:08 PMby AtlantaElise,HelpfulI just had this similar problem happen to me! Although you have probably resolved your issue by now, this is what I ended up doing to fix it.
1. Go to System Preferences and open 'Network' - or click your wifi triangle along the top tool bar and select 'open network preferences'.
2. Click your wifi on the left hand side from the list, and then click the small cog at the bottom of that box, and click 'Make Service Inactive'.
3. Once you've done that, click the minus to delete your wifi as an option from this box.
4. APPLY!!
All other instructions I read said to click the plus and add your wifi again and then restart. Well that did nothing for me, infact it did nothing about 7 or 8 times, soooooo...
5. Restart your computer now, without any wifi configuration setup.
6. Once restarted, go back into system preferences, into network, and use the + button to add a wifi connection back into your computer. With any luck, you will be able to click on 'Turn wifi on' and it will actually work!
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Oct 2, 2013 11:46 PMby Patricia Henwood,Thanks Elise, fortunately for me I haven't had the problem since my last post (although I have had it several times in the past) and, as Bob Tmmons pointed out, it's most likely because my MacBook is now coming up to 5 years old which, I believe, is positively jurassic in IT years ;-)
If my problem does re-occur I wil remember your 'fix' and see if it works for me, too.
Many thanks
Tricia
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Oct 3, 2013 12:43 PMby Smokeyp,once you hit the plus u should see select interface and name for new service and beside iterface it shows bluetooth pan.dont know if u tried or not but click little arrows on bluetooth pan and wireless option is there.if u just mean its not showing up after doing this sorry fo not helping
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Oct 3, 2013 9:48 PMby AtlantaElise,Good to hear Patricia! Mine did the same thing the next day so I'm hoping this isn't going to become a regular occurrence... My MacBook is also one of the first released unibodies and is still pushing on like a trooper so I have no doubts that mine cracks it every now and again purely because it's old!
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Oct 6, 2013 10:01 AMby alexinfla,I wrote too soon ... Shut down the bitbox to attend to a few honey-do projects and when I powered back up the wi-fi was off again. Elise's procedure brought it back online (great relief).
A trip to a fix-it shop is on my short list for the first of the week to check configuration and (probably) install a new wireless gizmo. I don't want to push my luck.
Thanks to Tricia for posting the question originally, to Bob for his hardware answer and to Elise for a great temporary work-around.
-alex
