What does it mean when my laptop wireless network status says 'media disconnected' (it has an internal card).

Answer 1

"Media disconnected" means that there is no signal going to that particular network card, so it assumes the "media" (technically name for a network cable) is not plugged in.

If you are using the wireless card, and do not have a cable pulled into the "regular" network card, then you will get that message on the "regular" card since there is no cable connected to it.