Most laptops have a hardware switch which disables the wireless card. More than once, I've come across a laptop which has had that switch either broken or broken off. The obvious solution would be to fix the switch, but that involves opening every screw on the laptop to get access to the motherboard, just to solder two small points. There is a huge potential of breaking something important in the process. So honestly, it wasn't worth the effort to open it up. So I started looking up how the wireless card is actually turned off and on using the switch.
1)First you need to know what kind of wireless pci device you have.
Is it Mini-PCI o mini PCI-Express.
2) A) This fix, applies to MiniPCI wireless cards only. Pin # 13 controls the "silent RF" mode. That is what most hardware switch activate in order to turn off your wireless. You'll notice that while you lose your internet connection when the switch is turned off, your hardware is still visible in device manager. The solution is to take your wireless card out, and apply a small amount of tape over just pin #13, and put it back in. That's it. Your wireless card will always see the hardware switch as being turned on. You can still disable the wireless using Fn+f2 or whatever the hotkey is for your laptop.
This is pic of mini-PCI.
http://s5.tinypic.com/mjbfwh.jpg
B) For mini-PCI Express, it is pin #20, which is responsible for the same function (also active low). It is located on the underside of the board, second pin from the notch toward the side with more pins.
This is a pic of Mini-PCI Express.
Do this and you will have a permanent wireless card, that's always enable. I hope this helps someone else as this took me hours to figure out.
Mine was Realtek Mini-PCI Express and it worked perfectly.
Enjoy :)
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