New 27" iMac - No AirPort card installed

I just got my brand new 27" iMac today - big day for me as I'm switching to Mac from PC/Windows ...
Anyway, powered on and the AirPort card doesn't seem to be installed - the status thing, which I've managed to show, says "No AirPort card installed".
I'm aware that a couple of other people seem to have had the same issue and that it appears to be either the AirPort card being completely missed at build time or it not being seated properly. Re it not being seated properly, is this something I can check myself without blowing the warranty? I'm in IT so I'm comfortable doing it but not if my warranty will go out the window ...
What's the deal here? Is this a problem at the Apple factory that is common on the 27" iMacs? Does anyone know if Apple is aware of it?
With Apple supposedly being so awesome I'm pretty disappointed about this as I'm sure the vendor I got it from will say sure we can fix it but you've got to send it away ... after <24 hrs ownership.

Looks like this issue has hit its fair share of people. Spoke to Apple support today about the same issue. Brand new iMac 27' 2.8 quad core with 8gb of ram and I opened the box only to find my airport card was not recognized by OSX. After performing several support steps, the staff let me know that this was indeed a hardware related issue - I am not advocating this is everyone'e issue just mine.
Here is what we did to troubleshoot and determine it was hardware related.
Open system profiler / go to network and look at airport - if all you see is "software versions" your hardware is not recognized. You will need to reboot the system and clear the SMC. To do this do the following:
Unplug everything from your iMac and wait 60 seconds with absolutely nothing connected to it. After that, plug in your power cable and press the power button down, letting it go after 2 seconds. Immediately after the power button is let go - hold down option + apple + p + r you will hear 2 "bong" sounds, then let go of the keys and boot. If your hardware does not show up you will need to boot to the OSX install DVD to get a "clean" install of OSX.
Boot to OSX DVD
Insert DVD
Shut down system
Power on system - hold down C key until you hear a chime then let go. System will boot to OSX install.
Once you pass all the prompts by selecting defaults, you will come to "Install MAC OSX" asking you to select the disk where you want to install. DO NOT CLICK INSTALL. Open Utilities / System profiler. If you still do not see anything under Airport other than software, your Airport card is bad or at the very least not showing up in the OS. If you do see the airport card there, you will need to reinstall the OS to have it recognize the card.
Hope that helps!

Similar Messages

My Imac (brand new) isnt recognizing my airport card!

Hello lets get down to business.
So yesterday i finally moved to a mac and everything worked perfectly. The airport card was getting the internet signal perfectly yet when i woke up this morning a horrible thing happened! my imac says (on the top bar) that there is no airport card installed!
I'm talking about the one which already comes inbuilt with the Imac by the way. So what do you think it is and can I fix it or do i have to send it back to the store to have it fixed there?
thanks everyone
oh and im using wired internet now ( the explanation for how i can get here in the first place!)

Not, you can't fix it yourself. Take the computer back where it was purchased. If you purchased it new, you can have it replaced within the first 14 days with no questions asked.

HT3964 I am getting the error message "No AirPort card installed" Restarting my iMac desktop does not solve this (Apple help says I need to reset the SMC this way, but nothing changes. Can somebody advise, please?

I am getting the error message "No AirPort card installed" Restarting my iMac desktop does not solve this (Apple help says I need to reset the SMC this way, but nothing changes). Can somebody advise, please?

Thanks for the flag J.K. - they contaced me and solved my problem. On this account (which I created just to ask this question), I log in with my email rather than my user name (mtalldud). On the account that I was having trouble with, they told me to use my user ID instead of my email to log in and it worked. This is a bit confusing and seems a bit inconsistent but at least I don't need this temporary account any more to get into this community and find answers!

First Gen iMac does not have a airport card installed. How do I install one?

I purxhased a ist Generation iMac G5 on ebay and they don't come with a airport card installed. I would like to add it now. The bracket is there but it doesn't look like anything else is. How do I install an express card in this machine, and how does the antennae look like if there is one there.
Thanks

alleyfromthevalley wrote:
I purxhased a ist Generation iMac G5 on ebay and they don't come with a airport card installed. I would like to add it now.
Presuming you have an iMac G5 model A1058, you might find useful advice here:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Installing-iMac-G5-17-Inch-Model-A1058-AirPor t-Extreme/966/1

Brand new MBP 13 inch, "NO AirPort card installed" message

Hello!
I just bought a new MBP 13 inch and cannot connect to my home wireless network. On the top bar and when I put the mouse cursor on the AirPort icon it says "No AirPort card installed". Shouldn't the card be pre-installed by Apple though? Currently I'm using an ethernet cable to connect to the internet which works fine.
Thanks very much in advance!

Open Utilities/System Profiler and in the left column click on Airport (in the Network section), does it show any details for the hardware or is it blank ?
Try doing a Parameter RAM reset - hold down command/option/p/r keys at start up and wait for three chimes before releasing the keys.
If still no joy then you need to take it back to Apple for them to check it out.

No Airport Card Installed - Post 10.6.6 update

Hey everyone, I have a fairly new iMac (under 8 months old), and it runs beautifully. However, after the latest update 10.6.6, I'm getting a "No Airport Card Installed" when I click on the grayed out wifi icon in the toolbar.
I've gone to the system profiler and it says connected (see results below). If I go into System > Network it's there and working, and I'm actually writing this post on my iMac. But the buggy thing is that it doesn't show in the icon, which in turn, makes apple-based applications think it's not connected to the internet (like iTunes).
I can browse the internet, download stuff, etc. But if I want to stream music through iTunes radio, I can't. It's really quite annoying, as I can't find any information on this.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Chris
Here is my system profile readout for my airport card:
Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x168C, 0x8F)
Firmware Version: Atheros 9280: 2.1.14.5
Locale: FCC
Country Code: US
Supported PHY Modes: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Supported Channels: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165
Wake On Wireless: Supported
Status: Connected

True North wrote:
after the latest update 10.6.6, I'm getting a "No Airport Card Installed" when I click on the grayed out wifi icon in the toolbar.
Welcome to Apple's discussion groups.
Do you mean the menu bar, the strip across the top of the screen?
It might help to reset the connection settings on your Mac using these steps one at a time until it works again, recognizing that, depending on your problem, not all of these steps will make sense:
1) Use the AirPort menu bar item to turn AirPort off, then on again.
2) Try to select your Wi-Fi network from the AirPort menu.
3) In the Network panel of System Preferences delete the AirPort item from the left column, then add it back.
4) In the same panel as (3), define a new location and see if you can make that work.
5) In the same panel, select the AirPort connection item, click the "Advanced" button, select the "TCP/IP" tab, then click "Renew DHCP Lease".
6) In the folder /Library/Preferences ( not <yourhomefolder>/Library/Preferences), move the folder SystemConfiguration onto the Desktop, then restart your computer. See if you can now make your AirPort connection work.
They may not help, but they'll only take a couple of minutes to try. Before you try these, if you have any special network settings on your Mac for things like DSL credentials, note all your network settings, because the latter steps will destroy them. If you got all the way to the last step, if things don't work any worse than before, you can trash the saved SystemConfiguration folder.

Re: 'No airport card installed'

I have just noticed it myself! I use Airport Card from time to time on iMac and today realized I could not connect. When I click on the Airport icon, I see gray message: "No Airport card installed. When I tried to fix it in the network setting I could not. Airport ID shows all zeros as well. Help, I need to re-gain the connection ASAP, I think this happened after the latest OS X update.

I agree that the machine needs to be off for several days. An AASP recommended no less than 5 days, and this is in the high desert of New Mexico.
Not sure exactly what is in an Americano, but keep in mind that coffee has acids in it and sugar is hydroscopic. In reality, it would be a good thing to open the machine and look for anywhere the coffee might have gone and consider having it cleaned. Any residue will cause even more problems over time by corroding the traces.
Apple would be the first choice to clean your machine, but here is another possibility:
http://www.tekserve.com/service/spill.php
I never have used this outfit, but they seem to have a lot of practical advice posted on their web site.
Good luck!

"No airport card installed" only in swedish mode?

Hi all, got this problem with my Macbook pro!
Recently when I was reconfiguring my wifi-network (assigning my time capsule as main router and the modem I got from my ISP as a "bridge"), I noticed that my airport card was acting strange.
The problem is that it says "No airport card installed", but I still got internet connection and can surf/download stuff without a problem. Also, when I go into "System preferences/Network" I can see my airport connection and turn it on/off. Although when I click "Advanced" nothing happens.
I've tried several things but none seems to work, and I'm not sure its an hardware issue. Anyway, this is what I've tried:
1. Rebooting (several times) = Didn't work
2. Resetting PRAM and NVRAM = Didn't work
3. SMC-reset = Didn't work
4. Rebooting into Windows XP via bootcamp = Airport card detected and working just fine
5. Restoring older save via time capsule = Didn't work
6. Format and reinstall Snow leopard and restore older save via time capsule = Didn't work
7. Format and reinstall Snow leopard (again) = Didn't work...-ish?
Now, here's the strange bit. As I log in to a new account with english as main language I notice that the wifi-icon on the top dashboard now is filled (it was greyed out and only said "No airport card installed [in swedish ofc]) and I can now click it, change network and all that stuff. Although, when I go to "System preferences/Language & text" and change my preferred language to swedish and log out & in, the same problem occurs (greyed out wifi-logo, no airport card installed etc.)
So, I'm totally confused. Halp?

Have you done a PRAM reset, CMD+Option+p+r...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
In fact, do 3 in a row, takes a bit of time.
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.
(Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive & clear caches.)
If perchance you can't find your install Disc, at least try it from the Safe Boot part onward.
If that doesn't help Reinstall the OS.
If that doesn't do it, the card has likely died.

G4 without airport card installed

Hi, ive got a G4 lamp style imac without a airport card installed. I have a wireless route connected to the above mac. Installed the airtunes software and it says airport card not found.
Does this mean I have to buy and airport card or can I connnect to the airport express basestation using my wireless router?
many thanks

David White15:
A Base Station won't "detect" a remote Base Station - ie you cannot just use an Airport Express, cabled to a Mac, as a replacement for an Airport card without first performing the required configuration of both Airport Express devices.
What you first need to do is set up a wireless distribution system (WDS) between these two Airport Express devices. Since you apparently don't have an Airport card equipped Mac to help you perform the configuration, you must configure each device manually, one at a time, with a direct cabled connection using the Airport Admin Utility. The general instructions are found at:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107454
This is a complicated setup, not really a beginner's project, so it doesn't surprise me you couldn't figure out how to get this all to work even with the help of Apple tech support and Apple's Knowledgebase articles. My suggestion - use one of your Airport Express devices as a Base Station, and buy an Airport card for your iMac. That will be a lot easier to set up.

New MacBook cant see Airport Card

Just bought a new MacBook "refurb" from the Apple store. It was running fine, and accessing wireless networks, but just last night, it stopped seeing the Airport Card. When you click on "turn airport on" in Network Preferences, or you click on the airport icon in the Menu bar, it says "No airport card installed". I have tried removing the airport preferences file and rebooting. I have tried repairing preferences and resetting the PRAM, just in case it is software related. Anyone had this problem, and what was the fix. I am afraid I'm going to have to send it back to Apple for repair.

Although, you can certainly try "troubleshooting" the AirPort Extreme built in your MacBook, since you just got it from Apple, I would strongly suggest that they take a look and make the necessary repairs.

Can't boot from install disk, and says no airport card installed, HELP!

I bought a new Macbook Pro a few months ago, which recently had to go in for repair to have the screen changed. It came back with the new screen fitted but they had done a terrible job at aligning the lid, so it went back again. Came back and all looked good, until i booted up and realized that where my wifi icon is at the top of the screen, it wasn't connected. When clicking it to bring down the drop down menu of available wifi spots, all it said was "No Airport Card Installed"....Thinking a repair of disk permissions might be worth trying, I tried to boot from my OSX install disk holding down C, however when holding down C all it does is go on a constant loop of restarting, not even reaching the Apple logo. If I don't hold down C then it simply boots to the desktop, so i'm unable to access disk utility correctly to run a repair.
Being pretty fedup with the whole situation, the laptop has now gone back for a 3rd time, as it never had these two issues before. I was just wondering if anyone had any idea what might have caused this? And how a status of no airport card installed and a drive that wont boot a disk normally can be related?
I'll be getting it back on Tuesday, but i just wanted to know what the heck they might have done to have screwed things up.
Thanks
Phil
Message was edited by: Philip Dexter

Hi Phil,
I can't say for sure, but it sounds to me like they didn't reconnect the WiFi hardware when replacing the screen. To my knowledge, the Airport "hardware" (including the antenna) is located inside the screen hinge. When the screen was replaced (and the hinge not properly aligned) perhaps someone improperly connected the Airport hardware, or forgot to connect it entirely.
The reason the WiFi hardware is located in the hinge is because that is the only plastic area of the entire notebook. Radio signals do not travel well through aluminum, so some area of the computer has to be plastic to allow that signal to get through. The hinge is the only area where that's possible.
As for the reason why the machine wouldn't boot up from the disc, I have no idea. Here's hoping it does when it comes back. If I were you, I'd have a chat with Apple Customer Relations about the situation.
--Travis

Weird things happened and now No Airport Card Installed.

Last night, I was playing with my iPhone 4 hotspot with my macbook unibody. Out of the blue, my macbook freeze while connecting with wireless hotspot. So what else can I do, I hard press the button and restart my macbook. Upon restart, it show NO AIRPORT CARD INSTALLED. So now I go and check my network preference, and I did not see airport listed on the left pane, I click + to add it, but no airport option. Weird... I regret with that iphone hotspot which now created problem with my macbook airport.
Where did it gone?
Is that hard press to shut down macbook disturbed every airport setting?
Is there anyway to get this setting back without fresh install or even reinstall OS? I have tried everything like PRAM SMU thinggy, but none work. Now I checked the preferences folder i dont see airport plist anymore.
This is so weird.. HELP!

Pull down the Apple menu, select "About This Mac", then click on "More Info". In the column on the left look for "Network" and within that, "AirPort". Click on that. If you see a lot of details about your AirPort card, then there's nothing wrong with your AirPort hardware.
It might help to reset the connection settings on your Mac using these steps one at a time until the problem is resolved, recognizing that, depending on your problem, not all of these steps will make sense:
1) Use the AirPort menu bar item to turn AirPort off, then on again.
2) Try to select your Wi-Fi network from the AirPort menu.
3) In the Network panel of System Preferences delete the AirPort item from the left column, then add it back.
4) In the same panel as (3), define a new location and see if you can make that work.
5) In the same panel, select the AirPort connection item, click the "Advanced" button, select the "TCP/IP" tab, then click "Renew DHCP Lease". Note that the fix this step implements may be temporary.
6) In the folder /Library/Preferences ( _not_ <yourhomefolder>/Library/Preferences), move the folder SystemConfiguration onto the Desktop, then restart your computer. See if you can now make your AirPort connection work.
These steps may not help, but they'll only take a couple of minutes to try. Before you try these, if you have any special network settings on your Mac for things like DSL credentials, note all your network settings, because the latter steps will destroy them. If you got all the way to the last step, if things don't work any worse than before, you can trash the saved SystemConfiguration folder.

Why am I STILL getting "No AirPort card installed"?

Guys, I am really struggling with my laptop. Here's what happened.
My Macbook Pro 2009 13" was unexpectedly shutting down, freezing, etc. I took it into the Genius Bar and they ended up having to replace my hard drive bracket. Not terribly expensive, not a huge deal. When I got it home, it refused to acknowledge the AirPort card. It gave me "No AirPort card installed" and was not recognizing the hardware. I went back in, told them what happened, and they replaced the AirPort card (free of charge because I think someone there had messed it up since it had been fine before).
All was well until I had an oopsie moment and it took a serious bump upside while open. The computer wouldn't recognize the AirPort card again so I brought it into the Genius Bar again (and yes, that would be the third time in about a week and a half). They did not charge me and said all they had to do was reseed the card. Wonderful. It worked fine for about a day, then it started acting funny, not recognizing the card, but when I restarted it, all was well. I left it shut and charging last night and when I opened it this morning, yet again, "No AirPort card installed".
I've reset the PRAM and the SMC, I've restarted the computer multiple times, I've massaged the black hinge some... and now I'm researching USB Wifi adapters because I'm getting really fed up. Anyone have any idea why this keeps happening? Or any suggestions on what to do? The AirPort card is literally less than a month old. I can't go into the Genius Bar every few days to have them reseed my card, plus I'm sure they'd start to hate me.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
If you are still having problems with your card and a new AirPort card doesn't solve anything, just ask for a new logic board. It will replace everything except the display, memory and hard drive, so this should work without any problem. If they refuse, insist because it looks like the only option in your case. Good luck

Wi-Fi gone: "No Airport Card Installed."

Last night I watched Netflix just fine, put my laptop to bed and this morning, no wif-fi connection!!. Blank airport icon reading "No Airport Card Installed."
Recently installed new battery, not that that probably matters. Do you think my Airport Card died overnight? I have tried restarting twice and nothing. Other devices can connect to the wi-fi just fine. Any suggestions? Looks like this, below.... thank you tech-heads for any help you can give me. Staying tethered to the modem is a drag... especially since I just forked over $130 for a new battery! I have a MBp-17 with OS 10.5.8, Mahalo from Kona Hawaii.

Unfortunately this probably means that your MacBook's AirPort card has died. Last desperate effort at reviving it, try resetting the PRAM on the MacBook and if that does not change anything reset the System Management Controller.
If none of those work, carry it in for service or call Apple at the appropriate phone number on this page to have them set up service.
Best of luck.

Getting message "no airport card installed"

I can't connect to my wi-fi network and internet. I'm getting the message "no airport card installed" on my 2010 13" MBP. There is a card installed. If the card has come unseated can I reseat it myself or do I have to take it to the apple store
Thanks

I'm having a similar issue. My airport card was working fine and then, hours later - it does not recognize it on my new MacBook pro. Not sure what is up here ...anyone from Apple able to solve this one?

New 27" iMac - No AirPort card installed

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