Personally, I have never been impressed with HP’s point-and-click BIOS interface.
The interface is slow, clicking is imprecise and generally the added complexity of the point-and-click interface is not needed.
It is easy to accidentally check (or uncheck) a feature just by using the trackpad
In fact, so easy that I did this recently on an HP EliteBook 8440p.
I must have unchecked the “Embedded WLAN device” on Security Configuration, Built-in Device Options.
What were the effects?
Some of the WLAN card functionality was present (such as Bluetooth), but not others (such as the wireless adapter)
For example, when looking in Device Manager, the Bluetooth components were present, but not the wireless adapter components
Bluetooth device communication worked, but no wireless networks could be detected.
This persisted across user accounts.
Enabling the “Embedded WLAN device” in the BIOS and rebooting resolves the issue.
Learned lesson : Always triple-check yourself when working in the BIOS.
*Sigh*
