WiFi and USB hardware/driver issues

[Bas71]

hey support crew, i have trouble with my wifi hardware(speed issues), and USB ports, also speed issues.

first, when i registered my laptop by s/n#, it gives me a wrong laptop.

i have a 

hp 17-k144nd

with s/n# :

[edited]

The wifi card is a combo :

bcm943142hm

with a wifi part :

broadcom bcm43142 802.11 bgn

pci\ven_14e4&dev_4365&subsys_2230103c&rev_01

so after some research i understand this hardware is only compatable with win7/8

i have an old usb 2.0 wifi stick to try so i put it in my chromebook of HP and it reached 200Mb

now putting it in the HP laptop with win10 it reached a max of 50Mb

now i have problems with the transfer speed when i copy from hd to usb drive, max speeds of +- 4MB

so both wifi and usb have low speeds.

-my question is, can i replace the wifi combo card safely with one the work on both hardware/win10 config ?

-and can i fix the usb(its onboard, usb3.0) so speed wil get better/normal again ?

thankz 

if you need something/info, let me know, i have this problem allready for a long time, but now annoing.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Bas71 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for the detailed explanation — that helps a lot. You're dealing with two core issues on your HP 17-k144nd laptop:

Issue 1: Slow or Unstable Wi-Fi (Broadcom BCM43142)

You're correct:

The Broadcom BCM43142 Wi-Fi card is only 2.4GHz and doesn't support full modern 5GHz or high-speed Windows 10 features well.

Windows 10 driver support for this card is limited and often unstable — especially for speed and streaming.

 

Can you replace it?

Yes, and it’s strongly recommended.

 

Recommended Upgrade:

Replace with a dual-band, M.2 or mini PCIe Wi-Fi card (depending on your laptop's slot).

Example replacements (with Windows 10/11 full support):

Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 – Works great with HP laptops, supports 2.4 & 5 GHz

Intel Wireless-AC 3160 or 8260

Intel AX200 or AX210 (Wi-Fi 6, but may require adapter or BIOS check)

How to Replace the Wi-Fi Card:

Power off and unplug laptop.

Open back cover.

Locate the Wi-Fi card (usually labeled and has 2 antenna wires).

Unscrew and carefully remove it.

Insert the new card.

Reconnect antennas, close cover.

Boot into Windows and install the new driver from Intel’s site.

Issue 2: USB 3.0 Ports Working at USB 2.0 Speeds

You mentioned 4MB/s USB speeds — this is USB 2.0 behavior, not USB 3.0.

Troubleshooting Steps:

Check Device Manager:

Go to Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus Controllers

Look for "USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller".

If missing or has a warning icon, USB 3.0 drivers aren't installed properly.

Install Correct USB 3.0 Drivers:

Use Intel's USB 3.0 drivers for your chipset:
🔗 Intel USB 3.0 Driver for Windows 10 (HP Site)

Try a Different USB Port:
Some HP laptops have one port wired as USB 2.0 and others as USB 3.0. Look for blue-colored ports — those are USB 3.0.

BIOS Settings Check:

Enter BIOS (Esc or F10 at startup)

Ensure USB 3.0 is enabled (not in legacy mode).

Let me know how it goes.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Bas71]

Hi, sorry for the late response, was on holiday and after that trying to figure out some things on wifi and usb.

for the wifi part i will replace it.

HP sells this in its store ?

The usb part i cant get it to run faster than 40Mb/s.

They are all (3) usb 3.0 ports.

The usb flashdrive (storage) is usb 2.0 64GB.

It should run at least 150Mb/s.

All the settings as you describe are set and in the device manager.

It looks like everything runs in FailSave mode somehow ?

Any thoughts ?

 thankz in adv

[Max3Aj]

Thank you for your response @Bas71. 

@Hawks_Eye is away at the moment, I will be happy to help you out. 

You're absolutely right to consider replacing the Broadcom BCM43142 card. Unfortunately, HP typically does not sell internal Wi-Fi cards directly through its online store. These cards are considered service parts and are usually available through HP authorized service center, HP® Service Center Locator - United States | HP® Support

Recommended replacements:

• Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 (Mini PCIe)
• Intel Wireless-AC 3160 / 8260
• Intel AX200 / AX210 (Wi-Fi 6 – check if your laptop supports CNVi or needs adapter)

Important: Before buying, confirm your laptop uses Mini PCIe and not M.2. The HP 17-k144nd typically uses Mini PCIe, but it's best to open the back and check.

USB Speed Issue – Diagnosis & Next Steps

You mentioned:

• All 3 ports are USB 3.0
• Flash drive is USB 2.0
• Speeds max out at ~40MB/s
• BIOS and Device Manager settings look correct

Let’s clarify expectations and dig deeper:

USB 2.0 Flash Drive Speed Expectations

• USB 2.0 flash drives rarely exceed 40MB/s in real-world usage.
• Even high-end USB 2.0 drives top out around 30–40MB/s for reads, and 10–20MB/s for writes.

150MB/s is only achievable with USB 3.0 or 3.1 flash drives, not USB 2.0.

Test Suggestions

To confirm USB 3.0 functionality:

1. Use a known USB 3.0 flash drive or external SSD.
2. Plug into the blue-colored USB 3.0 port.
3. Run a speed test (e.g., CrystalDiskMark or copy a large file).

If speeds exceed 100MB/s, USB 3.0 is working fine.

Failsafe Mode Suspicion

If you suspect the system is running in a degraded mode:

• Check Windows Power Plan: Use High Performance or Balanced, not Power Saver.
• Check Device Manager > USB Controllers:
  • Right-click each controller > Properties > Power Management tab
  • Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”

Optional: Chipset Driver Reinstall

Sometimes USB controller issues stem from outdated chipset drivers. Try reinstalling:

• Intel Chipset Device Software
• Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver

I hope this helps!

If my response resolves your issue, please click “Accepted Solution” to help others find the answer. Also, don’t forget to click the “Yes” button to say thanks!

Take care and have a great day.

Max3Aj

HP Support

[Bas71]

to correct you at the speed, im talking about 4.5MB/s (36-40Mb/s) max

this is the same speed i got on wifi.

the wifi card is a mini pci, took me a minute to find it 🙂

where to check CNVi support ?

[Max3Aj]

@Bas71, Thanks for the clarification! You're absolutely right, 4.5MB/s (≈36–40Mb/s) is indeed USB 2.0 speed, and if you're seeing the same on Wi-Fi, it confirms both interfaces are underperforming.

Let's break this down:

Wi-Fi Card: Mini PCIe Confirmed

Great job locating it! Since it's Mini PCIe, you're free to upgrade to cards like:

• Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
• Intel Wireless-AC 7265 / 8260 (some variants available in Mini PCIe)
• Intel Advanced-N 6235 (if you want dual-band but not necessarily AC)

Avoid CNVi cards - they only work with motherboards that support CNVi, which is not compatible with Mini PCIe slots.

How to Check CNVi Support (for future reference)

CNVi (Connectivity Integration) is Intel’s newer wireless interface standard. It requires BIOS and chipset support, and is not backward-compatible with Mini PCIe.

To check CNVi support:

1. Laptop Specs: Look for Intel 8th-gen or newer CPUs with CNVi mention.
2. Slot Type: CNVi cards use M.2 Key E, not Mini PCIe.
3. Motherboard Manual: If available, it will specify CNVi compatibility.

Since your laptop uses Mini PCIe, CNVi is not supported, so you're safe choosing any standard Mini PCIe Wi-Fi card.
 

USB Speed Still Capped at 4.5MB/s?

Let’s double-check a few things:

Try a USB 3.0 Flash Drive

Even if the port is USB 3.0, a USB 2.0 flash drive will bottleneck the speed. Try a USB 3.0 or external SSD to test.

Check USB Controller Driver

In Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus Controllers, confirm:

• Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller is present
• No yellow warning icons
• Driver version is from Intel, not Microsoft generic

If needed, reinstall:

• Intel Chipset Driver
• Intel USB 3.0 Host Controller Driver

Power Management Settings

Disable selective suspend:

• Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Advanced settings
• Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting
• Set to Disabled

BIOS Settings

Double-check:

• USB 3.0 is enabled
• Legacy USB is disabled (if not needed)

I hope this helps!

If my response resolves your issue, please click “Accepted Solution” to help others find the answer. Also, don’t forget to click the “Yes” button to say thanks!

Take care and have a great day.

Max3Aj

HP Support

[Bas71]

Hi, thankz for all the help.

I also took a deeper dive in the motherboard and CPU.

Figured out that CNVi is not available on this board and CPU(4e gen)

For USB, usb2.0 sticks are capped in 2.0 speed in a usb3.0 port.

So involving wifi and USB is clear now.

[edit] i really think its the hole mainboard. all settings are set and pressent as you siscribe as above(bios and drivers)

with usb for example : 

i have an old usb2.0 wifi stick, only 2,4G

if i put it in my hp chromebook with also usb3.0 port, it meassure speed of 200Mbit/s DL

if i put it in this hp envy 17 laptop with usb3.0 port, it meassure max. speed of 50Mbit/sec DL

so something goes wrong with in the board or usb3.0 host/hub ?

i gues its not in emulation mode though?

I also gues it ain the OS, because it then can be solved by a driver.[edit]

now one last question, since win10 is coming to an end, and the CPU is not supported for win11, i want to swap out the motherboard with CPU 8e gen support.

is there any compatibel board that fits my laptop case ?

incl same locations of connectors and in/output (usb,lan,hdmi etc.)

and not to forget the power suply sins they all are usb-c now

mine is still plug.

i dont wanna drill (to many) holes in the case 😉

So my board is the following : 

day11amb6e0 Rev. E 

Model : Y11A

CT : PEKBP018J7R0GG

ID : 228E

with :

intel dual core i5-4210u 840m 2gb

[Hawks_Eye · Accepted solution]

@Bas71 

You're clearly doing deep-level diagnostics and hardware analysis—impressive work. You've pinpointed the limitations of your current setup (no CNVi support, USB bottlenecks, aging CPU), and you're thinking ahead about future-proofing with an 8th-gen upgrade. 

Let’s break this down and explore your options.

 

Why You're Seeing USB Bottlenecks

• Your HP Envy 17 with i5-4210U uses an older chipset (likely HM87 or similar), which supports USB 3.0 but may not fully optimize throughput due to:
  • Shared bandwidth across ports
  • Low-power USB controller
  • Driver limitations or firmware quirks
• The fact that your USB 2.0 Wi-Fi stick performs better on a Chromebook suggests the Envy’s USB host controller is underperforming or throttled.

 

CNVi and Wi-Fi Implications

• CNVi (Intel’s integrated Wi-Fi architecture) is not supported on 4th-gen CPUs.
• That means modern M.2 Wi-Fi cards (like AX200/AX210) won’t work unless you use non-CNVi variants (e.g., Intel 9260 or USB-based adapters).

 

Motherboard Swap Feasibility

Swapping to an 8th-gen-compatible board is ambitious—but here’s the reality:

1. HP Laptop Motherboards Are Proprietary

• HP designs boards to fit specific chassis layouts, port placements, and thermal profiles.
• Your DAY11AMB6E0 Rev. E (Y11A) board is custom-fit for your Envy 17 shell.
• There is no drop-in replacement that supports 8th-gen CPUs and matches all port locations (USB, LAN, HDMI, power jack) without modification.

 

2. Power Supply Mismatch

• Your current board uses a barrel-style DC jack.
• Most 8th-gen boards (especially newer HP models) use USB-C power delivery, which would require:
  • A new power circuit
  • Chassis modification
  • Possibly a new battery and adapter

 

3. Connector and I/O Alignment

• Even if you find a board with similar dimensions, the mounting points, cooling system, and I/O cutouts (USB, HDMI, audio) will likely misalign.
• You’d need to drill or 3D-print custom brackets and modify the shell—something you’re rightly trying to avoid.

 

Recommended Path Forward

If you're committed to upgrading without drilling holes or risking incompatibility:

 

Option 1: External USB-C Dock + SSD + Wi-Fi Upgrade

• Use a USB 3.0 dock to expand I/O and bypass internal bottlenecks.
• Add a USB 3.0 Wi-Fi adapter with dual-band or even AX support.
• Install a SATA SSD if not already done to boost performance.

 

Option 2: Lightweight Linux Distro

• If Windows 10 support ends and Win11 isn’t viable, consider Linux Mint, Zorin OS, or Pop!_OS.
• These distros run well on older hardware and offer modern security and UI.

Option 3: Refurbished 8th-Gen HP Envy or EliteBook

• Look for refurbished HP laptops with 8th-gen CPUs and USB-C power.
• You’ll get full compatibility, better performance, and avoid the pain of retrofitting.

You’ve done the hard work diagnosing your system’s limits. Let’s make sure your next step is efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with your goals. 

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Bas71]

Hi thankz @Hawks_Eye and @Max3Aj for your helpful info and listening ear on this. I see there are many questions on the wifi part on the site which helped me alot.

I'm very technical, worked at companyś building networks and computers, so I have some background knowledge. Got my MCSE in a very past (Win2000) but its Software only, hardware architecture is a different level, especially when it dont wanna do what the software wants blame it on the hardware LOL 

I love tech, outside and inside.

For this 1 i was just really curious if my knowledge was right, and really really appreciate your info and heads up to help me understanding the problem, learned alot from you, keeps me wanting to learn more along the way.

So i found out in the meantime that swapping/upgrading the mainboard is impossible due that the board is not made for the laptop case but the other way around.
This should be different. There should be just 3-4 standards in laptop boards, like a normal pc that can easily be upgraded because of their uniform standard layout.

Considering everything I know now I was already thinking of installing some Linux version/brand on it.

I'm gonna replace the Wifi card, install some extra Mem and screw it all back to getter and make it ready for Linux. (that also dont like some mainboard and hardware as some are Win only)

Alright, thankz a lot again.

Greetings
Bas

[Hawks_Eye]

@Bas71 

Thank you for sharing your experience and reflections—it's energizing to hear from someone who approaches tech with such curiosity and depth. It’s clear you’ve got a strong foundation, and your insights into hardware limitations and modularity are spot-on.

You're absolutely right: laptop architecture often prioritizes form over flexibility, making upgrades like mainboard swaps nearly impossible due to proprietary layouts. The frustration is real when compared to the clean, standardized world of desktop builds.

Your plan to replace the Wi-Fi card and expand memory before transitioning to Linux sounds like a solid move. 

Just a quick note—when selecting a Wi-Fi card, make sure it’s supported by your chosen Linux distro out of the box, or that open-source drivers are available. Intel cards tend to offer broad compatibility, while some Realtek or Broadcom models may require extra configuration.

If you need anything else, I'm all ears (or rather, all text). Just let me know! 

You're awesome, and I'm honored to have been your go-to guide today! 😊

Stay fantastic, and have an amazing day ahead! 

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye