Cannot find the correct driver for my HP dv6-635dx wireless card

[kabwebdev]

I have an HP dv6-635dx. I am having a slight problem with the wirless connection/driver for my laptop. The current driver that I have is version 1005.24.712.2011 for the Realtek RTL8188CE. Up until about 2 weeks ago, I have had no issues with it.

1. All of a sudden the connection to the internet does not stay connected. About every 15 minutes or so it loses internet connection. Does not do this with any other device wired or wireless. Tablet, phones, and other laptop work perfectly. Ethernet connection works perfectly. Just this laptop with the problem.

2. Before this began happening, when I would open it up out of a sleep, the wireless connection to router would automatically connect. Now all of a sudden it doesn't. I have to manually connect it. When I do manually connect it it first takes forever, gives me the message "connection to device is taking longer than usual", then says could not connect. Then a couple seconds later it is all of a sudden connected.

This prompted me to check the drivers and settings for the wireless connection. When I went into advanced settings I found that it was still checked as "connect automatically to network", and no incorrect settings in LAN advanced settings in "Internet Options". So nothing wrong there. Those problems make no sense to me. 

Then I checked the driver to make sure there were no issues and that it was up to date. Everything is fine in device manager, no errors and driver is uodated and working properly. I did check, however, on HP website driver downloads and found that the drivers they have listed for my model are not the same brand or driver that I have on the laptop. They have 2 Ralink drivers listed as the correct ones for my model of HP. 

So I'm a little confused as to which driver is the correct one; the Reaktek that was on the laptop when I bought it, or the Ralink that HP has listed on their downloads website for this model? Overall I am pretty disappointed with this laptop. There are problems with the screen which I returned the first one for when I orignally bought it. This one also has a bright spot at the bottom left corner that you can clearly see during boot and Windows loading. There is also a dead pixel on the bottom right of the screen. Occasionally the screen kind of flashes and occasionally I get a line flash across the top. I have changed some power settings to stop that, but I shouldn't have to change settings I need just to make sure it doesn't mess up. I also found out this model was discontinued soon after it was released. I'm not sure what I can do to get it repaired or replaced for a different model. It is still within warranty for another 10 months.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

The card you have installed in your notebook is what is listed in the device manager. HP sometimes does not list the drivers for all of the different wireless cards that can come in a specific model series.

I have heard a lot of complaints recently about the Realtek 8188 card.

That is the latest HP driver for it.

My understanding is you can fix your issues by going to the advanced settings and changing the wireless mode from B/G/N, to B/G and that supposedly stops the craziness.

Of course now you only have a G transmission speed, but at least you will have stability until a new driver is released which hopefully fixes the problem.

I think I have read at least 10 such cases of this problem here.

To access the advanced settings for your card, go to the device manager, click on the wireless card and then click on the advanced tab.

Paul

[kabwebdev]

Paul,

I appreciate the quick response. This is actually the first time I have used a posting to ask a question; it went a lot better than I thought. That did work. I haven't lost a connection yet. The connection does happen by itself now. It isn't as quick as it was, but it does finally connect on its own. 

I called HP after I posted here, and they are going to send a box to send the computer in so I can get the screen replaced.

Thanks for your help!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I hope that Realtek releases a new driver soon that fixes the problem.

I have no idea what could have caused that...maybe a recent Windows update and that card's software don't like each other?

In any event, at least you can keep a stable connection for now.

I hope HP does a good job replacing the screen on your PC.

Best regards,

Paul