Wireless Network Adapter is Gone

[NDW97]

I was playing a video game, as one does on a gaming laptop, when my computer randomly threw a blue screen error message and restarted.  Upon booting up, I recieved a message that my device was offline.  Afterwards, I was completely unable to connect to or even detect any wireless networks.  I looked into my network drivers and found that my 

Realtek RTL8188EE 802.11bgn Wi-Fi Adapter was not present.  I don't know how this happened, nor do I know how to fix it.

[Huffer]

It would help to have the full model or product number...a couple different HP products have gone by the name "Pavilion Gaming" in the last couple years but as a first impression it seems the wireless adapter has gone bad. This can happen. The device is inexpensive maybe $10-15 but how to go about replacing it and which part to buy depends on the specific model number or product number of the laptop. Also, if you are under warranty, obviously HP will replace it for you free of charge. 

[NDW97]

The product number is MOU23AV.

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

15-ak000 is the model. Please go back and edit your post to remove serial number, that is private. 

See pages 39-44 here:

Manual

Remove the back cover and you will see the wireless card. 

Here is a replacement for you:

Realtek RTL8188EE 802.11b/g/n 1x1 Wi-Fi Adapter 792609-005

https://www.amazon.com/Realtek-RTL8188EE-792202-003-792609-001-792609-005/dp/B01N74QT0S/ref=sr_1_1?i...

Post back if you need any more help. 

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[NDW97]

So I absolutely need to replace a piece of hardware? Is there any reason as to why this happened, so that I might be able to avoid it happening in the future?

[Huffer]

Hardware failure just happens. On something like a hard drive or a battery it can perhaps be traced to how you use it but in this case the chip just went bad.