HP Touchsmart 600 wifi issue

[frase]

Hi all - first time dealing with the particular machines.
The issue is that the wireless device seems to have vanished from device manager.

I have been working on for over 2hrs now and am at my wits end with these things.

I have tried reloading device - fails to even install [Ralink wireless lan card driver]

Tried windows update - doesnt help
Tried system restore - doesnt help
Reinstall driver from HP Recovery>Install hardware drivers>wireless driver - doesnt help.

There is no icon in system tray either - or initially one is there searching then dissapears!

I really dont want to take this thing apart - one I never have before and like everything most probably wont help either.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Try it with a Linux live CD, like Mint, and see if it's detected and works. If not, I suspect the Southbridge needs reflowing/reballing.

 

[HCHTech]

The wifi card itself could also have failed. I see a working pull on ebay for $58 here. I would install a USB wifi dongle and see if that works - if so, you might take the plunge and replace the card.

You could also just buy a nano wifi dongle and stick it in one of the back ports, especially if you don't want to tear the thing apart.

 

[NYJimbo]

Do what the above posters say but I think this is your machine and its not hard to break open to get to the wifi board if you need to:

http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalciti...tiCountry/disassembly_deskto_200910885325.pdf

 

[frase]

Thanks all - seems to be the card itself, took the system apart - jeez I really despise HP.

A dongle does work, so client will just be using that - happy enough to.

 

[ChrisTech]

Thanks all - seems to be the card itself, took the system apart - jeez I really despise HP.

I've found that they are one of the better ones for supplying maintenance/service info........just one or two iffy models