Solved Wifi button is missing on my mom's laptop, even factory resetting doesn't help at all.

My mom complained that her laptop couldn't connect to the wifi. The wifi button that usually placed in the notification tray is missing. Tried network reset but same thing happened again and again. I decided to factory reset the laptop and, yeah, the wifi option is missing forever and i can't even boot to the OS screen is this the driver or hardware mistake?? Any solutions will be appreciated.

Model: ASUS Vivobook Max X441MA
OS: Windows 11 Home Single Language (upgraded from Windows 10 Home Single Language)
CPU: Intel Celeron N4000

I am fairly confident this is a hardware issue. Especially if it is a Realtek module which they usually stick in these cheap laptops. I've had this same happen to me a couple of times. Sometimes it's just a connection issue, sometimes it's a bad driver, but often the module itself has some issues.

If you can manage to open the computer case without destroying it, you can easily replace the WiFi module for $10-20. I've done this many times for same reasons as this and sometimes just because I wanted an upgrade.

SlicEnDicE said:

I am fairly confident this is a hardware issue. Especially if it is a Realtek module which they usually stick in these cheap laptops. I've had this same happen to me a couple of times. Sometimes it's just a connection issue, sometimes it's a bad driver, but often the module itself has some issues.

If you can manage to open the computer case without destroying it, you can easily replace the WiFi module for $10-20. I've done this many times for same reasons as this and sometimes just because I wanted an upgrade.

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Finally i'm not alone anymore. Noted with thanks.

May I suggest downloading Ubuntu on a USB stick and 'trying' it instead of installing. If wifi works, you know it's a Windows problem, not a hardware problem.

SlicEnDicE would be right. But I’d look in the BIOS anyway, make sure WiFi is still set to on. Check the BIOS settings in your manual or online.

Never mind, here’s one I prepared earlier…

Entering your BIOS

User Manual

Almost forgot, Welcome to the Eleven Forums, sleepygoat

antspants said:

SlicEnDicE would be right. But I’d look in the BIOS anyway, make sure WiFi is still set to on. Check the BIOS settings in your manual or online.

Never mind, here’s one I prepared earlier…

Entering your BIOS

[Notebook/Desktop/AIO] How to enter the BIOS configuration | Official Support | ASUS Australia

User Manual

ASUS X441｜Laptops For Home｜ASUS Global

Everyday laptops give you exclusive usability features and a wide color choice. They are the best laptops for always-great affordability for everyone.

www.asus.com

Almost forgot, Welcome to the Eleven Forums, sleepygoat

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thanks for the solution

kelper said:

May I suggest downloading Ubuntu on a USB stick and 'trying' it instead of installing. If wifi works, you know it's a Windows problem, not a hardware problem.

Click to expand...

worth giving a try, but all of us use windows and never use ubuntu. Thanks in advance

sleepygoat said:

worth giving a try, but all of us use windows and never use ubuntu. Thanks in advance

Click to expand...

By trying, I meant just once to test if WiFi works. I was not suggesting it as an alternative to windows.

kelper said:

By trying, I meant just once to test if WiFi works. I was not suggesting it as an alternative to windows.

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Noted! Tysm.

sleepygoat said:

thanks for the solution

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Let us know how you get on

Trying out a Linux distribution may partially let you diagnose the source of the problem. But it will not solve the underlaying issue. I have a suspicion that the module can not wake up from a deep sleep state after it has entered it. Booting up Linux may or may not wake up the device, same as unplugging and re-seating the module into the socket may. But this is not a long term solution.

Easier to just swap out to a module that works reliably even after advanced power saving options are applied. The fix is cheap and IMO it is not worth the effort to diagnose the problem further.

Since Windows 10, latest updates and in Windows 11 also BT hardware stop responding correctly and is reported as "Bad device descriptor" or similar. Only solution I have found is to replace the module with something else. These issues may or may not be related.

A little bit of history.

Many years ago, I purchased a very expensive ultrabook from Asus. The device worked great for about 2 days until the WiFi module failed. Reseating it made it work again, but decided to get a new device since it was on warranty.

The next device worked great for about 2 months until the same issue started to happen with the WiFi module. I decided to just go grab a high-end Intel module replacing the Realtek one.

This same device has now worked flawlessly for 7 years in a row.

...just some food for thought.

But if it's not the module he's wasted time and money.

SlicEnDicE said:

A little bit of history.

Many years ago, I purchased a very expensive ultrabook from Asus. The device worked great for about 2 days until the WiFi module failed. Reseating it made it work again, but decided to get a new device since it was on warranty.

The next device worked great for about 2 months until the same issue started to happen with the WiFi module. I decided to just go grab a high-end Intel module replacing the Realtek one.

This same device has now worked flawlessly for 7 years in a row.

...just some food for thought.

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My gosh... i'm not alone anymore with this vivobook problem. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Also i purchased an acer aspire 5 2 months ago bc my vivobook's performance degraded+distorted speaker (i bought that in 2019)

kelper said:

But if it's not the module he's wasted time and money.

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They'll waste time anyways...and the money is like pocket money. Also the new module can be put in other devices too...

Ditto what @kelper said about Linux, I use the Mint version for diagnosing whether the OS or the hardware is at fault. I also keep on hand USB dongles that have either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or both, latest is one with 802.11ax Wireless. For Bluetooth only I use an IOGear dongle. They work on either Notebooks or Desktops. I did run into an issue with Wireless at my daughter's the other day, couldn't get Notebook to connect to her Router while SmartPhones could. Turned out the Notebook has 802.11n but only for 2G and her Router was set by her ISP for 5G only. Back home I checked the Notebook on my Router and it also does not pick up the 5G, only 2G but that Notebook was new back in 2013.

Berton said:

Ditto what @kelper said about Linux, I use the Mint version for diagnosing whether the OS or the hardware is at fault. I also keep on hand USB dongles that have either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or both, latest is one with 802.11ax Wireless. For Bluetooth only I use an IOGear dongle. They work on either Notebooks or Desktops. I did run into an issue with Wireless at my daughter's the other day, couldn't get Notebook to connect to her Router while SmartPhones could. Turned out the Notebook has 802.11n but only for 2G and her Router was set by her ISP for 5G only. Back home I checked the Notebook on my Router and it also does not pick up the 5G, only 2G but that Notebook was new back in 2013.

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that seems complicated. thanks for sharing!! also no wonder why my vivobook can't connect to some android tethering especially in newer phones.

Great point about 2G/5G network bands. This X441MA probably has the lower end model WiFi card which only supports a/b/g/n

A simple diagnostics step.

Turn off the WiFi router.
Wait 2 minutes
Turn it back on
Wait about 2-5 minutes and try to reconnect to it.

You can easily get a small wifi dongle that fits in a USB port.

https://cpc.farnell.com/tp-link/tl-...7098&s_kwcid=AL!5616!3!426684131165!!!network}!1686540834949!