How to fix „No WiFi hardware installed“ MacBook Pro 2011 with High Sierra? No hardware issue!!!

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Level 1

5 points

How to fix „No WiFi hardware installed“ MacBook Pro 2011 with High Sierra? No hardware issue!!!

Hello Community!

Since I successfully installed Paragon extFS (no error messages etc.), my WiFi is greyed out (No hardware installed) and I cannot activate it in the system preferences.

System: MacBook Pro early 2011 with MacOS Sierra and High Sierra installed. I use High Sierra. With Sierra WiFi works fine.

When I start the Mac while pressing „alt“ I can choose my network and connect to on the Start Volume screen.

When I boot into recovery mode I can connect to WiFi.

Hardware Test: No issues found.

When I login to Guests account (only Safari mode), I can connect to WiFi.

Admin account and user account=No Hardware installed.

What I tried:

Removed Paragon extFS with the uninstaller included in the extFS.dmg.
Serval Reboots
Reset NVRAM
Reset PMC
Saved and deleted network & WiFi .plist (not fixed my problem)-restored to old ones.
Create new user (same issue)

It seems to be 100% a MacOS High Sierra issue.

If it’s not needed I don’t want reinstall the system.

Somebody have an idea how to fix the system or reinitialize the Airport Module?

Thanks!

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Sep 23, 2023 2:08 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

dan!phone

Level 1

29 points

Jul 21, 2024 9:47 AM in response to dan!phone

I found what my problem was, but forgot to leave a reply in this thread.

I installed Continuity Activation Tool years ago (together with a MBP2012 Broadcom WiFi/bluetooth board) to enable hand-off functionality on my 2011 MBP.

Every now and then (happened twice so far) this creates a problem with WiFi.

Disabling Continuity Activation Tool and rebooting brought back WiFi.

Now you can just re-enable Continuity Activation Tool and reboot.

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Answer 2

tux_troll Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 23, 2023 2:46 AM in response to tux_troll

Edit: safe boot to High Sierra - no WiFi.

It‘s really strange because WiFi is working fine with Sierra, in recovery mode, with High Sierra guests account and and on the Start Volume selection screen. 🤪

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Answer 3

ku4hx

Level 7

23,688 points

Sep 23, 2023 4:36 AM in response to tux_troll

https://www.paragon-software.com/home/extfs-mac/

According of the above link it's made for Macs with Apple silicone ... M1 and M2 chips.

You show "earlier Mac Models" ... those are likely not M1 or M2 Macs.

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Answer 4

tux_troll Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 23, 2023 5:06 AM in response to ku4hx

Hi, my problem is not „Paragon extFS is not running“ my problem is „after installed Paragon extFS for Mac from the official Paragon website WiFi hardware no longer detected“!

Paragon was working well after installation, but WiFi is missing and I’m not able to get it back working under High Sierra.

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Answer 5

tux_troll Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 23, 2023 5:52 AM in response to tux_troll

Edit: Today tried the airport module from friends MacBook Pro (same model). Same issue: Bluetooth=yes, WiFi=no

With both (my and friends module) in the network preferences WiFi is set to „off“. I can click on activate but nothing happens.

There must be a solution without clean install MacOS because my system was running well for many years and I only installed and removed Paragon extFS.

I read something about „repair permissions“ with disk utility but this option is since Mojave not available any longer. Somebody knows how to do on High Sierra?

It‘s 100% MacOS High Sierra Problem because Airport Module is working.

Hope some real professional or nerd read this and can help.

thanks again!

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Answer 6

Apr 13, 2024 4:23 AM in response to tux_troll

Have you gotten around to fix this? I've got the exact same problem, but not related to installing anything. It just didn't work when I decided to pick up my old 2011 MacBook Pro again after a long while of not using it. Wifi does work wit both my other installed OSes and in MacOS in safe mode, so again, like you, no hardware issue.

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