laptop repair

[Lynton]

Have dads laptop here to mend as "it doesn't work anymore"

Its a 4 yr old Packard Bell easy Note

From what I have deduced after 5 mins is the the wifi no longer wi-fi's - or to be more accurate the wifi on off button no longer does what it should do.

Options as far as I can see

a) take it to be repaired
b) replace laptop
c) long Ethernet cable.

c) is not a favourable option.

Anyone else come across this problem with any successful resolution?

I am guessing

d) wifi dongle

 

[ChrisH]

Usually under one of the panels on the bottom of the laptop is a postage stamp sized card with two little wires pluged into tiny round connectors. There may be one pluged in and a spare. The plugs are about 2mm in diameter.

It would be worth unpluging those wires, carefully unclipping the board and cleaning the contacts with some isopropol or even an old sensor swaband a drop of eclipse. Then refit everything and give it another go. Most wifi cards are interchangeable and are cheap as chips on fleabay. Most also have an Atheros chipset. Theres a chance if it's used one someones knees the card is just getting hot and failing.

 

[arad85]

I vote b) but then that's the most expensive....

edit: if taking it apart and seeing if there's anything obvious doesn't get you anywhere......

 

[Lynton]

Cheers Chris,

I'll take it to bits over the weekend

 

[johnnypanic]

Have a look at the wireless card, as suggested, but if that doesn't work why not just buy a cheap wireless usb dongle? Disable the onboard wifi and use that instead.

 

[srichards]

USB dongle is the easiest answer. If the wifi has failed in hardware then I'd expect the laptop to die altogether in the not too distant future.

I'd also try reinstalling the drivers for the wifi on the off chance they've got corrupted and that's why it isn't working.