laptop connection symbols

[#1]

My laptop symbols normally show a wireless signal strength but this has changed to what I am told by the experts at PlusNet is a Ethernet hard wired symbol , a square with plug sign on top left corner. (not the power plugged in sign).

I have nothing connected to the laptop whatsoever but the sign still shows and the Wi Fi works!

PlusNet says this is impossible !!

Any answers.

[#2]

Usually this would mean you have some kind of software(usually a VPN)also running on the machine, the wifi brings data in, the other service then does what it needs and presents itself as a wired adapter on the computer hence the symbol

[#3]

Thanks for the info . What's a  VPN so I can look for it?

[#4]

a VPN would be a Virtual Private Network, something you can use to hide your IP address to websites you visit or connect to services as if you were in another location.

Which version of windows is your computer currently running?

[#5]

Window 7. Could this be associated with the fact that I have loaded a joint Norton protection with a friend ?

It said the card was already activated and I should load via his computer?

[#6]

I cannot think of any services within norton's suite of tools that would do this but I may be wrong.

If you click the start button on your computer and type "network connections" and choose the view network connections option, this will list all adapters including virtual ones

[#7]

Sorry Paul but when I do this I cannot see an options button.

Does having this type of symbol have any down sides, should I leave well alone?

[#8]

You shouldn't see any negative impact from it being like this, but it is handy to know where you connection is going, if it's not causing any obvious issues to yourself then you can leave things as they are  

[#9]

Try this...

On the lower right of the screen, you should see a little arrow tip pointing upwards (y/n)?

Left click it once, it should bring up a small window (y/n)?

Look for the wireless icon (y/n)?

Hold the left click button and drag (move) it down to the other icons on the main screen , let go and it should be there (y/n)?

Any icons that are there, but you don't want to see can be dragged to the up arrow, wait for the window to open and placed in there

(You can also customise what is seen there too, but that's slightly different)

Good to see I'm not the only one still using windows seven

[#10]

Alas no little arrows. Using 7 as laptop 4 years old and an OAP with no need to change.

[#11]

Okay, try this instead

Again go to the lower right, anywhere to the left of the icons you can see (where the wifi icon used to be)

Right click and select Properties, a new window should open (y/n)?

Under the heading Notification area, you should see customize in a box(y/n)

Click customize and another new window will open (y/n)

Look in there for your wireless icon (y/n)

In a box to the right of the icon you will drop menus, select Show icon and notifications

Click the OK button.

Any joy now?

[#12]

I can see the icon & notifications and clicked ok, they are all greyed out but I can see and adjust the network tab which is the same icon I have. If I remove it it comes off the line of icons but not replaced by another.

[#13]

Hmm, go back to the last window you went to (before you clicked apply)

You should see Turn system icons on and off,check in there to make sure all are turned on.

[#14]

I don't know how but I now have the arrow! I'll back to your other suggestion and see what happens

[#15]

having found the arrow and followed your instructions the wifi symbol does not appear, only the same icon I have alread