wifi won't turn on

[aeischeid]

yes, there is a switch, and yes I have tried it in both positions. The system does recognize a difference in the two, or at least the lenovo software does, but windows itself never sees the device as switched on.

[yigit]

you using lenovo's wireless management or windows default one?

[aeischeid]

if I hit the fn+F5 the lenovo wireless management comes up. if the switch is off it says 'turn it on'. once I do that it shows a blank list... windows wireless just always shows the switch as turned off.

How hard would it be to take the wireless card out of this and replace it with one from an older laptop?

[yigit]

it's not hard. but the bios may have limitation. that means even if you install any hardware, if it's not on the white list, it won't work.

see the manual below to install wireless:
http://consumersupport.lenovo.com/uk/en/UserGuide/Guide_show_1297999688883.html