Windows (8, 10, 11) - Verify Your Network Card Is Installed and Enabled

This document covers how to make sure that your network card is working correctly on a Windows computer.

Windows 8

For Windows 8 users, either press the Windows key on your keyboard or hover the cursor in the bottom left corner of the screen until a small image of the Start screen appears; then click on the icon to toggle over to the Start menu.
For Windows 8.1 users, either press the Windows key on your keyboard or click on the Start icon in the lower left-hand corner (identical to the Windows key icon) to open the Start menu.

Once in the Start menu, type Device Manager in the Search text box, and then click on the Device Manager application from the results.
In Device Manager, click on the drop-down arrow for Network Adapters (your wireless card will be listed here).

If a yellow exclamation mark appears, the drivers are not installed correctly. Reinstall the wireless card drivers.
If a red X appears, the device is disabled. Right-click on it, and select Enable.
If the wireless card is not present, the device is not installed properly. Make sure the wireless card is installed properly before attempting to reinstall drivers.

Open the Start menu.
- To do so, either press the Windows key on your keyboard or click on the Start icon in the lower left-hand corner (identical to the Windows key icon) to open the Start menu.
Once in the Start menu, type Device Manager in the Search text box, and then click on the Device Manager application from the results.
In Device Manager, click on the drop-down arrow for Network Adapters (your wireless card will be listed here).
- If a yellow exclamation mark appears, the drivers are not installed correctly. Reinstall the wireless card drivers.
- If a red X appears, the device is disabled. Right-click on it, and select Enable.
- If the wireless card is not present, the device is not installed properly. Make sure the wireless card is installed properly before attempting to reinstall drivers.