WiFi LAN card undetected

[Encrypted11]

Not sure about their current stance but whitelisting is pretty consistent with HP/Lenovo. You need to find user inputs online to find the answer.

For user replacements (if you're really sure is WLAN card), models like the one you own should be considered easy to work with already as it likely carries a lot of modular components than soldered or using proprietary connections. If you do abit of DIY fixing, this shouldn't be too challenging. If personal repairs with a service manual (+ plastic cards, pry tools, magnetic tray/egg tray for screws, recording what goes where) are beyond your means, honestly the economic option would be a cheap Wi-Fi dongle.

Most importantly, if not confident don't resort to this option.

Though, I've had a HP with BIOS updates containing a revised mPCIe whitelist before. BIOS rollback was required to allow the stock WLAN card to work.

Just some honest advice.

 

[u0206397]

OK, just an update on my attempt at recovery. Further attempt at powering up the laptop. No success.

RAM and HDD still connected. Not removed/disconnected.
Keyboard and touchpad are disconnected.

The switch is connected to the motherboard via the white cable.

The power LED is on, meaning power is received.

This is how it looks like when I put down the power button.

I have disconnected the keyboard and touchpad. Just aim to test power up first. No luck.

Pressed the power on button many times. No reaction from the laptop i.e. fan not spinning up, nothing seems to start, no video, CPU also no reaction, no BIOS POST check. Nothing.

Means motherboard is fried/spoiled?
Did I miss anything obvious?
Is the system supposed to at least power up and show the BIOS POST screen but complain about no keyboard/mouse attached?

Any laptop expert feel free to give me pointers or advice. Thanks.

 

[Encrypted11]

I thought it was just the WLAN card not working, the laptop is unable to power on too?

Did you tug the power button board's ribbon cable abit too hard? Tried reseating the ZIF cable? (flip open the clip holding the power button PCB ribbon cable with finger nails)

Can't see the WLAN (with black antenna wire) card clearly near the ODD bay. Looks like its a BGA soldered version from blurry pics?

 

[u0206397]

I thought it was just the WLAN card not working, the laptop is unable to power on too?

To check on the wireless card, I had to dismantle the power button frame, keyboard and touchpad. Now put back cannot even power on. This is now the bigger problem.

Did you tug the power button board's ribbon cable abit too hard? Tried reseating the ZIF cable? (flip open the clip holding the power button PCB ribbon cable with finger nails)

Tried a couple of times already. Thought it could be loose or misaligned. But it's not helping.

Can't see the WLAN (with black antenna wire) card clearly near the ODD bay. Looks like its a BGA soldered version from blurry pics?

The card is removable. Held in place by a single screw. I could pull it out, but I have v inserted it back to reseat it. Now this becomes the lesser concern.

What else can I try?
What might be spoiled and how much it might cost to fix this?

 

[SiaoAngMoh]

Couple of questions ...

# Did you remove the battery before you unplug/plug back in the cables?

# For the recovery attempt in the photos, you mention the KB/Trackpad not connected. Have you tried with them connected?

 

[Encrypted11]

Can you put back the touchpad+ keyboard zif with it dangling? (don't forget you have a loose ribbon cable under it and rip them)

As you do all these try to use AC power only with battery disconnected.

You can also try clear CMOS by removing the battery with the wire assembly, disconnect AC charger. Let it sit for some minutes before adding back, try power up with keyboard and touchpad ribbons connected this time.

 

[SiaoAngMoh]

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04513798

Service guide. Doesn't give any steps for troubleshooting no power, but it does show the correct way to disassemble/reassemble the parts.

 

[u0206397]

Couple of questions ...

# Did you remove the battery before you unplug/plug back in the cables?

Battery all along removed for disassembly convenience.

# For the recovery attempt in the photos, you mention the KB/Trackpad not connected. Have you tried with them connected?

Yesterday I reassembled and reconnected back everything (keyboard, touchpad, DVD drive) but couldn't power up.

Thought I could troubleshoot the power up problem first by ensuring the power button switch can at least trigger a BIOS screen. Certainly, the RAM and HDD are left in place to ensure at least the system should be able to power up. Keyboard, touchpad might be peripherals that do not affect the power up, but I might be wrong.

 

[u0206397]

Can you put back the touchpad+ keyboard zif with it dangling? (don't forget you have a loose ribbon cable under it and rip them)

Will give it a try again tonight.

As you do all these try to use AC power only with battery disconnected.

Battery all along disconnected. Not required for a basic power up.

You can also try clear CMOS by removing the battery with the wire assembly, disconnect AC charger. Let it sit for some minutes before adding back, try power up with keyboard and touchpad ribbons connected this time.

I can't find the CMOS battery probably the motherboard is installed backside facing up. This involves unscrewing and turning the motherboard over, which I have not done before. I may not want continue troubleshooting further if it involves more disassembly which can lead to more and worse problems.

 

[u0206397]

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04513798

Service guide. Doesn't give any steps for troubleshooting no power, but it does show the correct way to disassemble/reassemble the parts.

Thank you.

 

[u0206397]

Can you put back the touchpad+ keyboard zif with it dangling? (don't forget you have a loose ribbon cable under it and rip them)

As you do all these try to use AC power only with battery disconnected.

You can also try clear CMOS by removing the battery with the wire assembly, disconnect AC charger. Let it sit for some minutes before adding back, try power up with keyboard and touchpad ribbons connected this time.

Tried all the above tonight.
Reattached everything.

Laptop remains dead. The power DC jack LED lights up to show power, but pressing and holding down the power button doesn't start the machine at all. Fan doesn't even spin up.

This may not be an assembly issue now. The cables have been reattached and checked several times.

Giving up on trying to recover it. Thanks for all the advice given.