JD277

Q: Wifi interface deleted

hi all, like many people I have had recent issues with my wifi on my 2009 unibody MacBook running Yosemite. The issue is that the wifi interface was deleted using the '-' symbol in the network window. I then tried to add this back but the only options I was given were Ethernet or Bluetooth. I have scoured the forums to find the most common solutions. So far I have tried a number of things:

 

- adding a new location

- deleting the system configuration folder in 'library' and rebooting. This is the most recent thing I have tried but the computer only makes it to the loading screen and wont fully boot.

 

i Feel like I'm making things worse by trying to solve the issue. Any ideas where I might go from here?

 

thanks in advance!

MacBook

Posted on Apr 2, 2016 12:13 PM

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Q: Wifi interface deleted

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  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Apr 2, 2016 1:10 PM in response to JD277
    Level 6 (17,194 points)
    Apple Watch
    Apr 2, 2016 1:10 PM in response to JD277

    See if a safe boot can get your Mac running again Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

  • by JD277,

    JD277 JD277 Apr 2, 2016 1:58 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 2, 2016 1:58 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Hi Mike, thanks for your reply. i have just tried this and unfortunately it still refuses to boot. The 'timer' under the apple symbol has stalled at a bit under half way...

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Apr 2, 2016 2:31 PM in response to JD277
    Level 6 (17,194 points)
    Apple Watch
    Apr 2, 2016 2:31 PM in response to JD277

    Can you boot into recovery and run Disk Utility to repair the boot volume?

  • by JD277,

    JD277 JD277 Apr 2, 2016 4:27 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 2, 2016 4:27 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    IM a bit of an amateur when it comes to computers mike. How do I boot into recovery and will I loose anything by doing it?

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Apr 2, 2016 4:42 PM in response to JD277
    Level 6 (17,194 points)
    Apple Watch
    Apr 2, 2016 4:42 PM in response to JD277

    When you installed Yosemite it set aside a small portion of your hard drive called a recovery partition. It has utilities and a basic operating system that can be used if your boot volume is having problems. The only way you would lose anything is if you booted into recovery and chose to erase the hard drive, don't do that and you should be fine. Boot onto recovery by starting your computer and pressing Command-R immediately after hearing the chime. Once you're in recovery you'll see the options and it will make more sense to you OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support

    I'll refrain from scolding you about not keeping backups for now.

  • by JD277,

    JD277 JD277 Apr 2, 2016 5:45 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 2, 2016 5:45 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    I Do have backup but they probably could be more up to date than they are... I am in disk utility but don't know which 'disk' to repair. I have 4 options; 500.11 GB WDC, MacBook, disk1 or OS X base system. Which one do I need to repair? Thanks again

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Apr 2, 2016 7:24 PM in response to JD277
    Level 6 (17,194 points)
    Apple Watch
    Apr 2, 2016 7:24 PM in response to JD277

    You must have changed the name of your boot volume from Macintosh HD to Macbook, that would be the one to repair.

  • by JD277,

    JD277 JD277 Apr 6, 2016 3:32 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 6, 2016 3:32 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    HHmmm...I was able to repair 'macbook' but it just said that everything appeared to be in order. I then restarted but the computer still wouldn't boot. I also tried booting in safe mode without success...

  • by Mike Sombrio,Apple recommended

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Apr 6, 2016 3:50 PM in response to JD277
    Level 6 (17,194 points)
    Apple Watch
    Apr 6, 2016 3:50 PM in response to JD277

    Boot into Recovery(Command-R) and reinstall OS X.

  • by JD277,

    JD277 JD277 Apr 6, 2016 3:53 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 6, 2016 3:53 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    OK, will that wipe the hard drive or should I attempt to pull data off it first?

  • by Mike Sombrio,Apple recommended

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Apr 6, 2016 4:07 PM in response to JD277
    Level 6 (17,194 points)
    Apple Watch
    Apr 6, 2016 4:07 PM in response to JD277

    Reinstalling OS X won't erase any of your data unless, as I said earlier, you choose to erase using Disk Utility. This time you're not even going to use DU, you're going to click the option to reinstall OS X. That said.....it's always wise to have a current backup before proceeding but since you haven't kept a Time Machine or other backup strategy current the only way that I know to back up your files is to use another Mac and Target Disk mode. I don't want to confuse you with that unless that's what you plan to do. Let me restate, simply reinstalling OS X will not erase any of your apps, data or settings.

  • by JD277,

    JD277 JD277 Apr 12, 2016 12:51 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 12, 2016 12:51 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Mike, I have only just got around to installing a fresh version on Yosemite. Unfortunately it has not worked. I still have no option to add wifi in network preferences. I have just found another solution that worked for someone with an identical problem to me:

     

    1. Restart your Mac.
    2. upon start-up, hold down the Opt key until you see your drives.
    3. click on the recovery drive (note: this will not affect or delete any files you currently have).
    4. login if needed.
    5. in the top right hand corner you will see the Wi-Fi icon (hopefully). Click the icon and then click "turn wifi Off" and then again click "turn wifi ON"
    6. restart your Mac again and start it up normally.

    But unfortunately this did not work either. Very frustrating given that the computer works fine with the ethernet...

     

    Thanks

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Apr 12, 2016 6:31 PM in response to JD277
    Level 6 (17,194 points)
    Apple Watch
    Apr 12, 2016 6:31 PM in response to JD277

    Does your Airport card show up in System Profiler? Are you sure that your wireless router is broadcasting a signal?

  • by JD277,

    JD277 JD277 Apr 15, 2016 3:46 AM in response to JD277
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 15, 2016 3:46 AM in response to JD277

    IT doesn't look as though the airport card is howling in the list. I have tried the computer with a number of different routers - none work. I've been told that I could use a wifi dongle as a work around to get the wifi functionality back?

     

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