HP 15-r099sm (Ralink RT3290 WiFi Adapter) doesn't find my WiFi Network

[xdujex]

I bought my HP 15 a few days ago and since yesterday (after I restarted it) it can't find my network. Also, sometimes it finds all the surrounding networks, sometimes one or two, sometimes none of them, but it never shows mine.

All my other devices connect to the network just fine and also when I connect the laptop via Ethernet cable internet works normally. I tried reinstalling the adapter and driver, but nothing happens, the problem is still here. What should I do?

[Great-Deku-Tree]

Hello @xdujex ,

Welcome to the HP Forums!

I understand you're wireless adapter is not finding your network and intermittently finds others.

Please try the following steps.

Powercycle the network:
1. Shut down your notebook.
2. Unplug the power to your router.
3. Unplug the power to your modem.
4. Wait at least 45 seconds.
5. Plug in the modem, and wait for it to come back online.
6. Plug in the router, and wait for it to come back online.
7. Turn on your notebook, and test your connection.

Disable the Power Off option for the adapter:
1. Open Device Manager. (Win Key+R > type devmgmt.msc > OK)
2. Expand the Network adapters.
3. Right click on the Ethernet/Wireless Adapter and click Properties.
4. Click the Power Management tab.
5. Remove the check mark beside Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
6. Click OK.
7. Test.

Reseat the wireless adapter:

Follow this guide on page 50: HP 15 Notebook PC - Maintenance and Service Guide.

If those three steps do not resolve the issue, try this document published by Microsoft for networking issues: Wired and wireless network problems. You can change the operating system with the dropdown in the upper-right corner of the document. You will also want to try this: Troubleshooting Wireless Network and Internet (Windows 😎.

Let me know if this helps or if you have any other questions.

[xdujex]

Hi and thanks for your answer.

I tried the first and second solution, but they didn't help. I wasn't ready to open my brand new laptop, so I got my own solution. I went to my router settings and changed network's SSID. It worked and my laptop found it. At first, it couldn't connect to it, but then it did. For some time it worked, but the other problem was still here.

My laptop still displays the surrounding networks randomly, now including mine. It loses connection after some time and then connects again, sometimes not. I've seen other users with a similar problem, but reinstalling the drivers didn't help me like some others did.

What should I do now to remove that kind of problem?

[Great-Deku-Tree]

Hey xdujex,

Good to hear you're now seeing your network. Some progress is better than no progress. 🙂

I still think it's a good idea to reseat the adapter. It's pretty easy to remove and reseat and will not void your warranty but I do understand your concern.

You can also try this:

Install the chipset drivers from here: Intel Chipset Installation Utility and Driver.

Install the I/O controller from here: Intel General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) Host Controller Driver.

Update the BIOS from here: HP Notebook System BIOS Update (Intel Processors).

Let me know if that helps. 🙂

[xdujex]

First I downloaded those updates, but they didn't help. Actually, connections became more stable, when I turn the laptop on, the WiFi is found after few minutes and doesn't disconnect much, but of course, you see the problem isn't solved.

Then I tried to reseat the WiFi adapter. First of all, it wasn't easy as I thought, but I still did it. Unfortunately, the problem is STILL here. No progress after this.

But I found a (maybe) strange fact. When I found the WiFi adapter, in the manual stands that two cables (or antennas, not sure how're they called) should be connected to it, but mine has only one antenna (the place where the other antenna should be connected is empty). Is that normal or maybe the source of my problem?

Is there anything I could do next?

P.S. Thanks for all your help. 🙂

[Great-Deku-Tree]

Hey xdujex,

Not every adapter uses 2 antennas so I wouldn't worry about that.

I want to take a step back here and make note that the connection issue made a change when setting another SSID on your network. I'd really like to see if this issue persists in another environment. Can you take the notebook to another place with WiFi and test the connection there? 

I would also suggest changing the channel on your router. This will reduce the radio frequency interference from other wireless devices in the area. In the router settings set the broadcast to channel 1 or 11. Channel 6  is the standard so you'll be taking it as far away as possible from most networks.

Let me know the results of those. 🙂

[xdujex]

I changed the channel in router settings but it didn't make a change.

Then I moved the notebook to another environment. I don't know how to describe it precisely, the problem sill exist, but it's kind of less irritating. It doesn't lose connection (like at home), but also it connecs faster. But I still need to wait for it to find all the networks, but this time in a smaller amount of time. Maybe it's just the same as at home and maybe I only think that it's better in another environment, I'm not sure. I'm only sure that it got better over time, but still the WiFi isn't fully working, the problem exist.

Now it's like this (I have a routine): when I turn the notebook on I connect the Ethernet cable to it. I use the wired connection for 4-5 minutes and when I disconnect the cable, WiFi network is found immediately. It is lost only when the computer goes to Sleep mode. Otherwise, it's perfect. It looks like a pretty wierd problem, doesn't it? Do you still have any suggestions?

[Great-Deku-Tree · Accepted solution]

Hey xdujex,

That is indeed quite puzzling.

The only other things I could suggest would be restore the notebook to before the issue started. I know your notebook is pretty new but it might help avoid being without the unit while in for repair so it's worth a shot.

If that doesn't work you can try a system recovery to wipe everything and see if the issue returns. Back up your info and give it a try.

If it doesn't resolve the issue the next step would be to call HP Phone Support for service options. You can contact HP Technical Support at 1-800-474-6836 in North America. For all other regions click here.

😞

[xdujex]

We finally solved it! Windows 8.1 has refresh and restore functions, so I first tried the refresh function because it only deletes the programs installed on my notebook and it is fixed! I think there was an interference with one of the programs I installed...I hope the problem won't come back when I install the programs again. Thanks for all your help, you're awesome! 😄