What to do with a laptop that isn't fit for purpose?

ineedhelp23

I've had a laptop since August last year. It has an Intel AC9560 Wi-Fi chip in it, and this chip has a problem where the Wi-Fi will just disconnect, and no longer work (can't post links, but a Google search for "ac9560 code 10" will bring up a bunch of results). There is a "workaround" which involves resetting the BIOS settings, but sometimes this doesn't work, and also it's not really practical to have to do this several times a day sometimes.

I pretty much just put up with it until now, because I know how to reset the BIOS, and couldn't be bothered going weeks without my laptop, but now I want to sell the laptop on eBay. The problem is not only would I feel bad selling it to someone knowing this issue exists, but also if someone receives it and has this issue, I will have to deal with them returning it as a faulty item and lose out on postage, etc.

I'm not sure what ASUS could do about it, other than swapping out the chip for another one (which I'm sure they won't do) and I doubt Very.co.uk would refund me after 7 months. Is there anything I can do?

DCFC79

Can you not use it wired so plug ethernet in and turn the wifi off.

You would sell it by stating what the fault is, when the buyer comes to collect you show them said error message, maybe get them to sign some something stating they have seen the error and ok with it (maybe excessive to do this).

dj1471

Why not replace the WiFi card? They're pretty inexpensive and easy to replace with most laptops, unless you have one of the few where it's built into the motherboard.

ineedhelp23

DCFC79 wrote: »

Can you not use it wired so plug ethernet in and turn the wifi off.

You would sell it by stating what the fault is, when the buyer comes to collect you show them said error message, maybe get them to sign some something stating they have seen the error and ok with it (maybe excessive to do this).

I could, but it kind of defeats the purpose of having a laptop

dj1471 wrote: »

Why not replace the WiFi card? They're pretty inexpensive and easy to replace with most laptops, unless you have one of the few where it's built into the motherboard.

That's a good idea, thanks

forgotmyname

Code 10 = driver not installed, whats conflicting or blocking the driver?

Plug in a £6 or less wifi dongle, sorted.

I have a couple that are tiny, barely enough to grab to remove them.

MothballsWallet

dj1471 wrote: »

Why not replace the WiFi card? They're pretty inexpensive and easy to replace with most laptops, unless you have one of the few where it's built into the motherboard.

From my reading of the OP, the WiFi adapter is a chip on the motherboard rather than something like a PC Card (aka PCMCIA) plug-in adaptor.

I could be wrong, however, I'm not very familiar with ASUS laptops.

m0bov

Asus warranty claim? Or swap it out, look under the laptop and look for a cover. Remove small cover and pop out the chip, its on a mini circuit board with 2 coax cables plugged into it. Or take it to a local PC shop and get them to swap it. It will be a "Mini PCI Card".

Or, get a micro USB dongle for wifi.

dj1471

MothballsWallet wrote: »

From my reading of the OP, the WiFi adapter is a chip on the motherboard rather than something like a PC Card (aka PCMCIA) plug-in adaptor.

Most laptops use a mini-PCIe combined WiFi and Bluetooth card which plugs into the motherboard, they're easily removable and replaceable but you have to disassemble the laptop to do it. There's usually a model specific manual or build guide which will confirm and show you how to do it. They tend to be built in on more expensive laptops which are using custom parts rather than off-the-shelf, e.g. the Microsoft Surface Book.

MothballsWallet

dj1471 wrote: »

Most laptops use a mini-PCIe combined WiFi and Bluetooth card which plugs into the motherboard, they're easily removable and replaceable but you have to disassemble the laptop to do it. There's usually a model specific manual or build guide which will confirm and show you how to do it. They tend to be built in on more expensive laptops which are using custom parts rather than off-the-shelf, e.g. the Microsoft Surface Book.

Interesting, thank you: I think my Compaq laptop (which is now 13 years old) uses an on-motherboard chip (and it was about £400 (equivalent) when I bought it in 2006 in NZ), but I've not looked at that part of the casing, I've only ever opened up the memory slots and the hard drive areas.

stragglebod

See if you can find the service manual for the laptop. If my other (non Asus admittedly) laptops are anything to go by the wifi card will be a little daughter board that plugs into the motherboard.



If you can find a replacement that'll be the neatest solution, but unless you fancy the educational experience of poking around the inside of your laptop a new cheap USB adapter would be the most practicable solution.