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The Asus VivoBook X202E is a small laptop released in late 2012. It has an 11.6-inch touchscreen display and a 3rd-generation Intel processor inside.

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Asus X202E Atheros WiFi Intermittent, Bluetooth Working (AR9485WB-EG)

On-hold / Will update soon:

I will try to replace the I/O board to try to narrow-down the potential cause of the problem. I will post my findings and update here when I do that.

  • Big thanks to @jayeff for guiding me and for being so patient.

Background:

Bought this as a pre-owned device. Everything that should work, works, except for the Wi-Fi.

Problem:

  • Wireless Adapter: Qualcomm Atheros AR9485WB-EG Wireless Network Adapter
  • The Wi-Fi software switch on Windows is DISABLED intermittently (grayed-out).
  • Bluetooth from the very same wireless card always works.
    (Though the Bluetooth device is identified by a different model number)
  • (ADDED) When the Wi-Fi software switch does work, websites may or may not load, even when signal strength values seem acceptable.

Things already tried:

  • I already tried a fresh install of another operating system (Windows 10), the same problem is present.
  • (ADDED) I already tried DISABLING "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" in the properties window of the wireless adapter in the Device Manager.
    This did NOT make the issue go away, and also causes the laptop to get "stuck" when going to sleep or hibernation.
  • (ADDED) The software switch will work, when it works, will NOT work when it doesn't, regardless of which power state I resume the device from: boot with fast startup; cold boot via restart or via restart + interrupt next boot to power on using power button; resume from sleep; resume from hibernation.
  • I already tried reseating the wireless card, and also try another Wi-Fi card, the software switch still will not budge if it is DISABLED.
  • I already tried reseating the I/O board / secondary board.
  • USB wireless network adapters work.
  • Windows Device Manager "sees" the device, does NOT report any problems.
  • Problem seems present regardless of which driver I'm using.
    (The built-in one from Microsoft; Version .260 by Qualcomm from Windows Update; Version .263 by Qualcomm from the Asus website)
  • Problem seems present even after updating the BIOS version from 207 to the most recent one, version 210.

Other hypotheses:

  • This may be an issue with the black " sheet covers" missing from the "I/O board / secondary board" that also connects to the wireless card?
    (There seems to be two [2] boards inside this laptop: the motherboard with the CPU and memory, AC power port, and I/O ports like the one USB 3, two USB 2, HDMI, and Ethernet;
    The "I/O or secondary board" that surrounds the SSD, and connects to the PCI wireless card, with I/O ports for VGA, USB, 3.5 mm audio jack, and SD card reader)
  • This may be an issue with the missing screws (not all screws were included on purchase) interfering with the Wi-Fi, or other similar electrical issues?
    Does this make sense?
  • This may be an issue with the "I/O board" itself, potentially needing replacement.
    We have reason to believe that it is NOT the contact point between the I/O board and motherboard, nor the motherboard itself that's causing the issue because all other I/O ports on the I/O board, also including Bluetooth connectivity are working well.

Image(s):

[Screenshot of the Device Manager]

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[Screenshot of the "software switches" on Windows 8.1]

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Update (10/24/2022)

@jayeff hello

I do not know how to add images to comments.

When closer to the router, I get around -50 to -45.

Here is the screenshot when I'm at my usual spot (farther from the router):

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Answer this question I have this problem too

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2 Answers

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Hi @daniel524,

Check if the power management setting for the WLAN adapter is enabled and if it is, disable it and see if this resolves the problem.

Go to Device Manager > Network Adapters > right click on the WLAN adapter entry > Properties > Power Management > uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" > OK. Restart the laptop in the normal manner and check if it now works OK

If still no good, what is the status of the WLAN adapter in Device Manager when the WiFi soft button says it's off, does it say that it is working properly?

Go to Device Manager > Network Adapters > right click on the Qualcomm WLAN adapter entry > Properties > General tab - device status box. Not sure if this is where you checked when you said "Windows Device Manager "sees" the device, does NOT report any problems."

If it shows that it isn't working OK I'm wondering if there may be an intermittent problem with the cable connection from the I/O board which the WiFi card is connected to and the motherboard and the WiFi card is not communicating with the OS.

Turn off the laptop and disconnect the charger, open the laptop and disconnect the battery (you don't have to remove it, just disconnect it) and then inspect the cable connections at both ends to make sure that they're secure or even if the cable ends are corroded.

If you go to remove the cable, be gentle and check if there any latches, locking bars etc on the connector that have to be lifted etc before removing the cable from the connector.

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23 Comments:

I'll report back to you as I try to DISABLE power management in the Wireless Adapter via Device Manager AND restart. I tried this before but I did NOT restart.

----

Some other things that I tried before:

- Windows ALWAYS sees the wireless network adapter EVEN WHEN the switch on Windows is disabled. It also always shows a "device working properly" status in the Device Manager.

This is also the case EVEN if I replace the wireless network card with another one (so a different wireless adapter). I checked the pins on the wireless cards but there doesn't seem to be a problem at face value. The other wireless card is guaranteed to be working on another laptop.

I would also want to add that the Bluetooth function of this laptop works, and seem to be from the same wireless card (it was not shown in the Device Manager when I replaced the wireless card with a Wi-Fi-only one).

----

>> Go to Device Manager > Network Adapters > right click on the Qualcomm WLAN adapter entry > Properties > General tab - device status box. Not sure if this is where you checked when you said "Windows Device Manager "sees" the device, does NOT report any problems."

I checked the properties tab too.

----

by

I tried turning off the box in the "power management" tab of the Qualcomm Wireless Adapter propertis window.

While the built-in Wi-Fi can see and connect to Wi-Fi access points, it's incredibly slow and the website just quits loading.

And it is not unexpected for this to work "now", but not work tomorrow if I leave the laptop unused.

While not usable, the built-in Wi-Fi is "working" now (could very much be intermittent) regardless of whether "Allow the computer to turn this device off to save power" is on or off.

Having it off prevents the laptop from going into sleep or hibernation.

by

I'd like to add that its BIOS version is currently 207. I read from the website that versions 208, 209, and 210 are available.

by

@daniel524

Windows will see the WLAN adapter regardless of whether it is turned off in software or not.

The adapter is still there. It has just been disabled in Windows software, not removed.

The only way that the WLAN is not in Device Manager should be if it has been disabled in BIOS. Go to BIOS > Security > Wireless Network Interface and there is the option to "unlock" which is enable or to "lock" which means to disable. If it is disabled in BIOS Windows can't detect it and install it when it boots.

Have you tried using the function keys on the laptop i.e. Fn + F2 to turn the WiFi on rather than the Windows soft key option?

Also slow WiFi could be an antenna problem. When the WiFi is working, try using the laptop as close as possible to the WiFi router of your network i.e. <15cm and check if the connection is faster and it works better.

Just trying to eliminate things to try and isolate where the problem is.

What is the model number of your laptop? Looking at the Asus X202E support page that latest BIOS is 210 for an X202E, 206 for an X202EP and only 200 for an X202EV.

by

@jayeff hello

>>Windows will see the WLAN adapter regardless of whether it is turned off in software or not.

I mentioned this because you might want to know that information.

>>Have you tried using the function keys on the laptop i.e. Fn + F2 to turn the WiFi on rather than the Windows soft key option?

I cannot do this because (included in its purchase), the keyboard is defective, thus, physically unplugged from the motherboard.

>>Also slow WiFi could be an antenna problem. When the WiFi is working, try using the laptop as close as possible to the WiFi router of your network i.e. <15cm and check if the connection is faster and it works better.

I will try this, because right now the problem is being "connected" but NOT able to load anything after about 10 seconds. For the first few seconds things are fast but then grinds to a halt eventually.

----

I would like to clarify a few more things:

- I already updated BIOS to the latest version (210)

- Wi-Fi software switch is working right now, but Wi-Fi is not usable because websites won't load. Wi-Fi icon does NOT show exclamation mark.

- Wi-Fi software switch was suddenly working perfectly yesterday -- connection speed was also perfect!

Before that I always used a USB Wi-Fi adapter. And then early this morning switch doesn't work again. Right now, switch works but Wi-Fi cannot load websites.

Summary: Wi-Fi behavior is erratic t_t

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@jayeff hello

I do not know how to add images to comments.

When closer to the router, I get around -50 to -45.

Here is the screenshot when I'm at my usual spot (farther from the router):

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