Several issues with new machine

[MurrayTheTalkingSkull]

Just the other day got my new computer from PCS. Mostly great, but I've run into a few issues.

First off, the wireless isn't working. It's the basic 802.11N PCI-E card. The computer can obviously find the card, and it can be disabled and enabled. I've installed the drivers on disk and found them online, and no luck. The problem is that no networks are showing up whatsoever. There are other wireless networks around, and other computers can connect to my router, so I'm sure it's an issue with the computer.

The other thing I discovered last night is that the front USB ports (both USB 3.0) aren't working. No response when anything is plugged in. The back USB 2.0 ports are working fine, but I didn't have a chance to look under device manager and see if they're detected.

I've scoured the internet with no luck, but after finding the USB problem i'm beginning to think that there's an issue with the devices being plugged into the motherboard. Could anybody offer any advice? I'll be getting onto the live support when i'm back at home but it would be nice to have some ideas.

 

[steaky360]

Usually the issues with the wireless card are due to the external arial not being attached, it will have been included in your welcome pack so ensure its plugged in correctly and that should enable you to find your network.

Obviously first check the device manager to see if its showing up. The issue with the USBs not working might be because the cable has become loose during transit. Have a check inside see if everything is secure (ground yourself before touching anything first). If everything is plugged in its worth checking to see if it was actually connected in the first place.

What case / motherboard do you have?

 

[Boozad]

Are you running Windows 8? My father-in-law's laptop wouldn't discover any networks and by trial and error I found that Airplane Mode was turned on and wireless connections were turned off. Worth checking if that's your OS.

And as Steaky has said, your USB 3.0 connection could have come loose from the motherboard header.

 

[MurrayTheTalkingSkull]

Usually the issues with the wireless card are due to the external arial not being attached, it will have been included in your welcome pack so ensure its plugged in correctly and that should enable you to find your network.

This is where I rub my neck awkwardly and stare at my shoes. I don't remember seeing any arial, so that could well be the issue. Awkward. I'll try it out when I get home.

Are you running Windows 8? My father-in-law's laptop wouldn't discover any networks and by trial and error I found that Airplane Mode was turned on and wireless connections were turned off. Worth checking if that's your OS.

And as Steaky has said, your USB 3.0 connection could have come loose from the motherboard header.

No, I have Windows 7. Got no reason to downgrade to 8 (ooh controversial :whistling.

I'm not too keen on cracking open the case when it's so new and I don't have any experience with it :S I can get hold of an anti-static wristband easy enough so i'll give that a look.

In response to Steaky, its the Corsair Carbide 300R case (which has 'compact' in the name but is actually huge ) and the Asus P8Z77-V LX motherboard.

 

[vanthus]

It could be you just need to install or reinstall the USB3 drivers,I would give that a try first before opening the case,even if nothing is showing amiss in device manager.The drivers for USB3 should be on the motherboard driver disk provided.

 

[ChrisByatt]

I'm not too keen on cracking open the case when it's so new and I don't have any experience with it :S I can get hold of an anti-static wristband easy enough so i'll give that a look.

You just need to touch something that's grounded - a kitchen tap for example

 

[Boozad]

If your USB 3.0 header is an ASMedia XHCI controller you may have to download the latest drivers from somewhere other than the ASUS website, I had to in order to get my BitFenix front panel working. I'll try to find out where I downloaded the latest version from.

 

[MurrayTheTalkingSkull]

Why is the community around here so much more helpful than the rest of the internet?

You just need to touch something that's grounded - a kitchen tap for example

I know you can do that but I thought it was best to play it safe. I was in college at the time anyway so I just borrowed one of the wristbands from the computing department.

Solved the problem of my own stupidity and sorted out the arials, so i'm now posting this from my new computer! I'll look into the drivers (thanks Boozad), and wait until i've got a stretch of quiet time to myself to think about opening the case to check the connection.

 

[moosEh]

Good to see your wireless problem is fixed!
The blue ports on the left edge of the motherboard should be where the USB ports are plugged into. (Circled)