Compatible replacement for Ralink RT3290 which isn't working

[slopitchfever1]

My niece hasn't had wifi on this HP Pavilion 15-n034ca Notebook Running windows 10 for quite some time. I told her I would look at it and see what's up. What a job this has been. Almost every post points to the Ralink RT3290 card and that it is a piece of junk and HP doesn't seem to want to help it's customers when it's out of warranty. I hoped I could rely on some of you good people who know their stuff to help me out. The canadian price for this adapter on amazon.ca is over $200. which is way out of whack. She would be better off putting that money towards getting a new notebook. Was wondering if I could get a different replacement card that would be compatible with this HP so that all will work well when installed. I will look around to find the driver for it after I purchase one. Thanks in advance for your attention and hopefully your help. Rob

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

If the current wireless card has two antenna wires connected to it, get this top of the line replacement...Dual band N with bluetooth.

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

https://www.amazon.ca/Wireless-7260hmwan-Bluetooth-Intel-717381-001/dp/B00KS0BQU0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8...

If you want the AC card (would be my choice if I had a wireless AC router), then get this one...

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

https://www.amazon.ca/Intel-Wireless-ac-7260-Bluetooth-710661-001/dp/B00PDLCFL8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electro...

Make sure you uninstall the Ralink wireless card and driver in the device manager before installing a replacement card.

[slopitchfever1]

Hello Paul:

Thanks for getting back to me quickly. I took your advice and ordered the first one you listed as the router is not an ac router. Hopefully it will work.

Thanks again

Rob

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Youre very welcome, Rob.

You can get the drivers directly from Intel...

Wifi:  1st one on the left is for 64 bit.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26653/Wireless-Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-...

Bluetooth:   1st one on the left is for 64 bit.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26667/Wireless-Intel-Wireless-Bluetooth-Software-for-Windo...

I forgot to mention, you should also uninstall the Ralink BT software and driver as well before installing the new card.

Please post back and let us know how the wireless card upgrade went.

Here is the service manual...chapter 5, starting on page 49 provides the wlan card R & R procedures.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04439615