I have a Dell Precision M4800 computer, which came installed with Windows 8.1. I installed Windows 7 SP-1, 64-bit, and all seems to work well. EXCEPT that the computer cannot connect to to the internet via Wifi--red x over the bars icon, etc. I do have a nearby working hot-spot, but it is undetected by the OS. I checked the BIOS settings and the Wireless Switch position. They are correctly set. I navigated to the Device Manager screen; found no entry for "Network adapters", but there is an entry for "Network Controller", with the driver reported as missing..
For comparison, I have a working Dell Latitude D630 computer, Windows 7, 32-bit, which doesn't show a "Network Controller" but does show a "Network adapters" entry which expands into two entries. The first is for a Broadcom controller, and the second is for an "Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network connection".
so--I don't know exactly what is wrong, or what I should do about it. Suggestions are welcome.