Very Strange Wi-Fi Problem - Support Forum needed

[Bilb0_]

It's been awhile since I posted here but in the past, all the information I've received here has been top-notch quality and swift.
Very professional and very useful site.

However, now I've encountered a very odd problem, not with Excel, but rather with regard to Wi-Fi networking.

I've already done quite a bit of diagnostics and troubleshooting - all to no avail.

I'm looking for some type of networking support forum, similar to this forum, where there's a lot of very wi-fi knowledgeable people willing to assist, similar to this what this forum is with regard to Excel.

I've done some looking but can't really find anything that isn't really masquerading as a paid support site or doesn't have any volume of posts.

Anyone here know of a good, old-school, support forum for Windows Wi-Fi networking?

For explanatory purposes, here's a description of the problem which i posted in the Microsoft's Windows Community (with no answers received).

(it's not letting me post the link)

Lenovo T520 Laptop
Dual Boot to Windows 7 Ultimate (not OEM).
Partition 0 is Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (main usage for the laptop)
Partition 1 is Windows 7 Ultimate x86 (hardly ever used - almost never)
Partition 2 is Storage

I told my son (who is the primary user of this laptop) to connect to the internet with a network cable I gave him when we moved into this location (5 years ago).
However, about 1.5 years ago my son told me he couldn't connect to the internet anymore.
When I investigated it turned out he never was using the ethernet cable because the ethernet cable I gave him was defective.
He never told me it wasn't working but instead he was actually connecting via Wi-Fi.
So the points here are 2:
1. For a long time, the W-Fi was working fine at this new location, and
2. About 1.5 years ago it quit.

To manage the issue as simply as possible, I just got him a proper ethernet cable and he was back online - problem solved.
I did not spend much time investigating the issue with the Wi-Fi for reasons which I'll share now.

Since that time my son has bought his own new computer so I get to reclaim my old T520 and repurpose it downstairs in the kitchen.
However, that means I now need to address the Wi-Fi issue I initially encountered 1.5 years ago but which is still present.

The issue is this: The SSIDs from our AT&T router are not visible on the list of available Wi-Fi networks. Neither the main SSID or the 'Guest" SSID show up on the list.
All my neighbors SSIDs are present.
While I have not gone door to door taking a poll of my neighbors SSIDs (that would surely be weird), based on the sheer volume of SSIDs showing up, I feel safe in assuming they're all showing up as available on my T520.
When I turn the hotspot from my phone on, that SSID appears and I'm able to connect to it.

Additionally, my other laptop (Lenovo W540), my cell phone (Samsung Note 10+) and my son's cell phone (generic Samsung), and my girlfriend's IPhone are ALL able to see our SSID's (both of them) and are able to connect to them without issue.
So, whatever this is, it's apparently only impacting this one laptop (the T520).

Furthermore, assuming it might be a Windows issue I would've been perfectly fine with flattening all 3 of these partitions (one is just for storage) and doing a clean Windows install. However, in consideration of that idea I booted into the seldom used x86 partition believing I should see the SSIDs there and my path to solution would be clearly identified. However, I was very distressed to see that in-fact, NO, the SSIDs (neither of them) are also not present on the clean x86 partition either!

Diagnostics:
1. Turned off the Wi-Fi LAN option in BIOS. Booted to Windows to confirm and shut back down. Turned Wi-Fi LAN back on in BIOS and booted back to Windows - No Joy - No Change
2. Check for updated drivers - none were found and so no change
3. Booted into a clean x86 partition on the same computer and still not seeing the SSIDs
4. Removed the prior Wi-Fi network from "Wi-Fi Networks" in Windows and tried to manually add it back. No Joy - No Change
5. Spent the whole morning on the phone with AT&T support. We:
6. Factory reset the router (3 times) - No Joy - No Change
7. Looked for any configuration information that might be blocking this laptop's IP address or MAC address. - No Joy - No Change
8. Changed the SSIDs (both). We confirmed the new names were functioning on other devices but No Joy - No Change on the T520.
9. Connected the T520 to the router by ethernet cable and the AT&T engineer confirmed he's able to see it - He was able but still No Joy - No Change on the Wi-Fi side.
10. Purchased an exact OEM replacement internal Wi-Fi card and installed it - No Joy - No Change

So I feel like I'm out of gas here and need some extreme deep help here.
Is there anything in the registry that could be blocking discovery of these SSIDs but if so, how would that've impacted BOTH partitions?
Is there some way, any way, flattening these partitions and doing a fresh Windows install could fix this?

[TMS]

So, it's NOT the router as it is broadcasting its SSID and other computers can see it and connect to it. And it's not your computer, as such, in that it can see other SSIDs broadcast by other routers. Do you have any security software like Kaspersky, McAfee or even Windows Defender that could be blocking your visibility?

I have had Kaspersky for years and, invariably, when I set up a new computer, I have to tell it that it is on a Private Network. I'm not totally convinced as I think I could see the router, and get an IP address, I just couldn't connect to anything else on the network.

So, I think that's where I'd start looking. Just a guess as I am no networking expert.

[Bilb0_]

So, it's NOT the router as it is broadcasting its SSID and other computers can see it and connect to it.

Correct

And it's not your computer, as such, in that it can see other SSIDs broadcast by other routers.

Correct

Do you have any security software like Kaspersky, McAfee or even Windows Defender that could be blocking your visibility?

None installed.

I found a thread in an old Windows 7 where someone claimed to have had the same problem and fixed it by changing the broadcast channel on the router.
I've been playing with that just now but so far, no joy.

[johnnyL]

Is the router a 5G router or 5G/2.4G (If so, do you have both turned on?) ?

[TMS]

All I can suggest is that you download a free wi-fi monitor, like Fing (others are available), to see what is going on.

[johnnyL]

I only asked my last question because it could be that the laptop can only detect 2.4G wifi signals and if your router is only sending out 5G wifi signals, that could explain why the laptop is not picking up the SSID from the router.

Maybe some excel vba code that checks for available WiFi signals could shed some light? If someone could make such a thing.

[johnnyL]

@Bilb0_ have you lost interest in this thread?

I Have created an Excel script so you can test your laptop to see what Wifi connections it can see, but you have to let us know if you are still interested.

[AliGW]

The OP hasn't been back since the day they posted this query, so I wouldn't hold your breath.

[Mingeita]

I Have created an Excel script so you can test your laptop to see what Wifi connections it can see

I am interested

[AliGW]

Interested in what? This is a request for help. Do you have any help to offer?

[Mingeita]

I refer to the offer of a script in post 7

[AliGW]

That was offered to the OP. If you require something similar, then start your own thread.

Administrative Note:

We are happy to help, however whilst you feel your request is similar to this thread, experience has shown that things soon get confusing when answers refer to particular cells/ranges/sheets which are unique to your post and not relevant to the original.

Please see Forum Rule #4 about hijacking and start a new thread for your query.

If you are not familiar with how to start a new thread see the FAQ: How to start a new thread

[Bilb0_]

Is the router a 5G router or 5G/2.4G (If so, do you have both turned on?) ?

Yes, the router is both.
The laptop is only 2.4 so it should see the both the 2.4GHz and the Guest (also in 2.4GHz)

[Bilb0_]

The OP hasn't been back since the day they posted this query, so I wouldn't hold your breath.

I sincerely apologize for the lapse.

Though I’ve been chasing it for awhile, at the end of the day it’s a somewhat lower priority objective and life being what it is, has no trouble tasking me with higher priority items.

[johnnyL]

Here is a link to the file I made for you, if you are interested in seeing what it reports:

https://www.excelforum.com/tips-and-...ml#post5851785