Can no longer connect to home network

With machine shut-down and battery removed ... Try re-seating it. Then toggle it off and then on in BIOS.

Uninstall drivers and delete it from Device Manager. Reboot and see if it's re-detected.

I assume you mean reseat the internal wireless adapter.  I will try to do that, but would an internal adapter that needs reseating have prevented the USB adapter from working?  I have already turned wireless connectivity off and on  in BIOS. I am not sure how to get to the internal wireless card, but will try...

but would an internal adapter that needs reseating have prevented the USB adapter from working?

Not usually, but I think you can only have one WiFi card active at a time, so maybe.

Today, I opened up the case, removed and reseated the DW1501 wireless card, then entered BIOS and disabled then enabled the wireless network.  Upon booting up, I deleted the driver software then rebooted.  The computer did not detect the wireless card but gave me this message... "Device driver software was not successfully installed".  In device manager, the DW1501 was now not present and scanning for hardware changes found nothing.  However,  there was a category of "Other" just under Network Adapters which had a "Network Controller" device indicated, without a driver.  I installed the DW1501 drivers there, and then the DW1501 showed in its proper place under Network Adapters.  Bringing up Properties for the DW1501 insures me that it is working properly. 

Unfortunately, I still have no wifi connection.  I am thinking motherboard problem since a USB wireless adapter also will not work, however, I am no expert and am more than open to other suggestions. 

Tesla, thank you for helping me....

Before inserting the USB-WIFI dongle in the past, I have always deleted the internal Wifi card and it's drivers in Device Manager.  The USB dongle is then detected when inserted and I loaded in its drivers.    Device Manager has never shown both wifi cards at the same time.  I never leave the dongle or it's software in place while trying to get the internal card to be detected.

Are you saying I need to physically remove the DW1501 internal card in order for the dongle to operate?  This may be so, but I don't understand why Device Manager should not take care of it...

Thanks again for your input.  It seems no one with Alienware peruses this forum?

Are you saying I need to physically remove the DW1501 internal card in order for the dongle to operate?  This may be so, but I don't understand why Device Manager should not take care of it...

Yes.

...because you indicated it was somehow keeping the USB-WiFi-Dongle from working. So, remove DW1501 hardware and it's drivers. 

Tesla,

Where did I indicate that the DW1501 was somehow keeping the USB-wifi-dongle from working?  I did not say that, and I did not intent to imply that....

Tomorrow after work I will try removing the internal card and installing the dongle... Sure hope that works..

Tonight I removed the internal wifi card software and uninstalled it using device manager.  I then physically removed the internal card.  I then installed another wifi dongle of the same type from a working computer (that finds the network without problems) and installed the driver for it.  Still, the alienware laptop finds no wifi network at all.

Looks like I may have a problem without a solution.  Fortunately, I can connect with a cable, but the mobility of a laptop has been lost. 

I will not buy this expensive a laptop ever again, you can bet on that.

Good to hear that direct wire works.

As for no WiFi (internal or external-USB) ... I guess that just leaves software ... as in a Windows problem. 

Well, I did mention in the original posting that a direct wire works....

Also, since a system restore, safe mode and running sfc did not correct the problem, isn't this more likely a hardware problem than a windows problem?  If not, why not? 

Not trying to be argumentative, just want to understand.

Well, I did mention in the original posting that a direct wire works....   Also, since a system restore, safe mode and running sfc did not correct the problem, isn't this more likely a hardware problem than a windows problem?  If not, why not?    Not trying to be argumentative, just want to understand.

Because:

1. if the USB-WiFi Dongle works on other machine

2. AND, the USB-Port on bad computer works for things like flash drives

All the hardware is tested and there is no other "hardware" involved.

There is a media control button on the laptop that toggles wireless on and off.  Surely it is hardware and is connected to other hardware somewhere?  If it's components were malfunctioning, could it not prevent a wireless dongle from working also?  I don't know exactly how it stops wireless connections, but somehow it must do so through the motherboard does it not, and must work regardless of whether the wireless connection is thru an internal card or thru a usb dongle?

I do know that the button has no effect now but the indicator light with it works and indicates it is turning wireless on and off. But perhaps some part of that system has failed...  Does anyone know exactly how that button works to stop wireless and can confirm that it does or does not block connections with a wifi dongle?

How could I eliminate this button from being the culprit?

There is a media control button on the laptop that toggles wireless on and off.

As good an explanation as any at this point.