You should be able to edit the file /var/lib/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.state to change WirelessEnabled to true, and that's normally all you'll need to have wireless connections populate in the applet.
** Changed in: network-manager (Ubuntu) Status: New => Incomplete -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/651571 Title: When wireless hard switch turned on, does not show networks in range To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/network-manager/+bug/651571/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs