Is my WiFi card dying?

[BLara82]

Over the past 3 weeks my WiFi has been acting crazy. My card has disappeared (from Device Manager) or stopped working 4 times; the first 3 times having to reinstall the driver before it will work again. The last time I have not been able to get it back up and running. I thought it was because the latest W10 update but I'm thinking it may be the card itself is dying... what do you think? So, now I'm looking into replace the card but I hear I have to check the BIOS whitelist first. How do I find that, or is it easy to workaround? Thanks in advance!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

From what you have written, it sounds to me like you have a Ralink wifi card in there.

There is no BIOS whitelist in your model series.

If you have or plan to get an AC router...

Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 802.11 ac 2x2 WiFi + BT 4.0    HP Part # 710661-001

Dual band wireless N...

Intel Dual Band Wireless-N 7260AN 802.11 a/b/g/n 2x2 WiFi + BT4.0    HP Part # 717381-001

Not only will this eliminate the issue you are having, but you will also have the use of the 5.0 GHz wireless band on your router.

Both cards also have bluetooth capability as well.

Both cards are readily available on eBay or Amazon and don't cost very much at all.

Query by the HP part number, not by the model number of the wireless card.

[BLara82]

Thanks for that info. Based on what I've said, do you think replacing the card is the best option or is it worthwhile to see if there is some software issue at play? Also, are you sure there is no whitelist for my model?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

If you have a Ralink 3290 wifi card in there, there is a problem with that card and W10.

The more W10 builds and updates that are released, the more issues the card has.

There is no fix for that model wifi card, other than to either go back to W7 or W8.1 or replace the card.

There is absolutely no BIOS whitelist.  

Dozens of forum members have upgraded the wifi cards in the 15t-jxxx models.

[BLara82]

The only info I can get on the current WiFi card is Realtek RTL8188EE 802.11 bgn.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes, the older hardware versions of that model also have issues with the newer releases of W10.

Here is the latest driver for that model wifi card.  You can see if it helps.

2023.54.331.2017 Rev.A     Jun 21, 2017

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp80501-81000/sp80963.exe

One thing about upgrading the wifi card if your notebook has that model card.

You need to take a look inside where the wlan card is located and confirm that there are two antenna wires present in the wireless compartment area to connect to a dual band card.

The Realtek 8188EE wifi card...many of them only have one antenna connected to them, and that would preclude upgrading to a better card.

So, if you don't see a second antenna wire in there, you wouldn't be able to upgrade the card.

It doesn't have to be connected to the card, but it must be there.

[BLara82]

That driver didn't help either.

When you say that I can't upgrade to a better card does that mean I can't upgrade to a dual band card or I can't get a card that will work at all..?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

All the other wifi cards that would work need two antennas...single or dual band.

So, you all you have to do is to confirm that your notebook has two antenna wires, and you can upgrade to one of the card models I posted.

If there is only one antenna present, I don't know of any other wifi card that will work.

There is the same model wifi card as yours with bluetooth that only needs one antenna to work...(Realtek RTL8723BE 802.11bgn 1×1 + BT 4 LE Combo Adapter), but I think it does the same thing yours is doing, so I wouldn't see the point in buying that one.

[BLara82]

Okay, thanks again for all your help. I'll check how many antennae and let you know how it goes.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Here is the link to the service manual.

The wifi card R & R procedures can be found in Chapter 5, starting on page 43.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04091768

If there are 2 antennas there, and you want to replace the card, before you install the new wifi card, go to the device manager, click to expand the network adapters device manager category, right click on the Realtek wifi card, select uninstall, also check the uninstall driver box, shut down, unplug the PC, remove the battery and install your new wifi card.