Symptoms of a Failing Wi-Fi Card

The Wi-Fi card is an internal hardware component that is responsible for connecting your laptop or computer to wireless connections. One of the first symptoms of a failing Wi-Fi card is when you stop recognizing the Wi-Fi connection from your laptop or device tab. The card will also stop working from your network settings. For modern laptops the card is internal while for older PCs. It can come in the form of an internal expansion or PCMCIA card which is then installed in the motherboard.

When you are not connecting well to the internet it could be as a result of a number of factors including a faulty router, not powering the device and a failing Wi-Fi card. You need to diagnose issues carefully so as to identify the root cause for your loss of connection.

Here are top signs of a failing Wi-Fi card

Wi-Fi card not recognized

The reason for your Wi-Fi card not being recognized is it is not properly installed. You will need to remove it from its slot and put it back in. For the PCMCIA Wi-Fi card remove it from its slot like you would for the memory card and place it back in. Then ensure it is firmly secure and firm before restarting your machine. For internal Wi-Fi expansion cards you need to open the computer casing and check whether the device is secure and firm. Loss connections can cause the Wi-Fi card to fail.

Lack of detection for wireless connections

If the card has being securely placed but you are still are unable to detect wireless connections then the problem could be your range. Your laptop may not be receiving adequate signal strength and you need to move closer to the access points. Also, ensure that the button on your laptop written wireless is turned on. For most laptops simply press it and it will be activated. For your computer you may also need to check that the your adapter is activated. To do this go to your start button, click the control panel and type adapter. This will bring you a page where you can view your network connections. This is under the “network and sharing center” button. Right click on the network adapter icon and select enable.

Hardware damage

If you have tried everything you know to get a connection but are not succeeding then the problem could be a hardware problem. This means that your adapter has completely failed and will need to be replaced. You can begin by first physically examining the adapter for any external signs of damage like burn edges. You can also try plugging it to another slot. When all fails replacing the Wi-Fi card is the only solution.

Intermittent wireless connections

There are other moments you try connecting but every time you make the connection you get disconnected or some form of issues arise during the connection. The first thing you need to do is ensure that the Wi-Fi drivers are up to date. You can automatically update this by going to the start menu>control panel>system and security>device manager>system. Under the system click on network adapter and right click on the icon then select properties. Under the driver tab click update driver.

Ping issues

Ping is a word used in the world of networking that symbolizes that there is a connection between two devices. The ping will measure the packets of data that are sent and how many arrived at their destination and back. If they took very long then you are going to experience issues accessing the internet. Ping is very important for gamers as it draws the line between winning or losing the game. If you are getting a delayed response then it means by the time commands are executed from your end someone else took a cause of action. You can check your computers ping rate by going to the Windows command prompt and typing ping 127.0.0.1 then click return. If you do not get a response here then know your Wi-Fi card is faulty.

Wi-Fi card is not visible

If you open the device manager for Windows you will see all the hardware that is connected to your computer. The card should show up in this window and if it doesn’t then know it is faulty. The problem could also be related to the Wi-Fi adapters and you may need to update them first. The drivers could also have being installed but they become corrupted. If you are using a Mac OSX computer then go to the Device manager and check whether your Wi-Fi card is visible.

Resetting your computer

At times the problem can be solved by simply restarting your machine. You can start by going to your Network connections menu in the control panel and right clicking the adapter icon. Click and disable then enable again. If this does not work, then restart your computer. If the drivers are corrupted then it may mean installing the latest drivers. Both MacOSX and Windows have automatic drivers updates but you need to enable them in your computer so that they automatically search the net for the latest drivers and automatically update to your computer.

Conclusion

It is quite irritating having a laptop with Wi-Fi access but you are unable to connect to the internet. The problem could be a case of outdated drivers which you need to update. You can check your device manager page to see whether your card is visible. If not you may need to restart your machine. Simply replacing your adapter card from one slot to another can solve the problem. If you have tried all these but the card is not visible then it could be faulty.

FAQ

What do I do when my Wi-Fi card is not being recognized?

You can try checking whether the card is firmly in place. Remove the card then replace it.

My Wi-Fi card is not being seen on the device manager tab?

The problem could be outdated drivers which you need to update