My laptop has been having this issue where if it has to do too much for too long, it completely stops being able to see or connect to any wifi networks. The only way to fix it is to shut it down and wait 15-30 minutes before using it again.I think it's a hardware issue because it happens faster when charging, Ubuntu is still able to see the internet card after it stops working, and since a week or so it has started doing this shit straight away when I power it on. It also only started happening about 6 months ago while it was working fine for the entire 5 years before that, and also happens on Tails OS and Linux Mint live USBs, so I don't think it's a driver issue.What do you guys think the issue might be exactly? Should I buy a new Intel 6 AX200 (that's what it has right now) and replace the one my laptop already has or is there a cheaper way to fix this?
I'd help you, but you used a frog as the OP image.
>>1560543without access to the system it's hard to say for sure but at a guess it sounds like it's overheating. either the wifi chip itself or something upstream of it. is it just wifi? are usb ports or attached peripherals affected at all?i'd start by opening it up and using some canned air to blow everything out. be careful with the fans, hold them in place so they don't spin when you blow them out; spinning fans can generate current and cause issues and you can also spin them faster than they're rated for and damage them (less likely).also physically examine the wifi module for issues. does it wiggle around? does it have nicks or corrosion or something? is the antenna not connected? just examine it for any signs of something being off.i can't give you any advice on the software side since 99% of my knowledge is windows-related but you may also want to check if there's a bios update available, it might be a regression in a previous bios update that they've since fixed.
>>1560543>Should I buy a new Intel 6 AX200A quick Google if that specific card is great >Every device I have with Intel cards has caused no end of trouble at the end of its life. Once Intel cards are a couple of years old Intel starts to sabotage them with broken drivers so you need to keep replacing their devices.>They start constantly disconnecting and get fussy about what networks they connect to or start crashing the OS. Intel used to be a reliable company once upon a time, but nowadays they're focused on the very short term, like most companies.So like, no. Just buy whatever the fuck wifi card that is cheap
>>1560560Have a bear instead.>>1560568>is it just wifi?Seems to be the case. I have not experienced issues with anything else, but I also never use the USB ports anyway.>the fansThe laptop actually doesn't have any fans. It has a (what seems to be copper) heatsink. Do you think the thermal paste could have degraded to the point where it no longer absorbs enough heat?Couldn't see any issue with the wifi card.>>1560570I literally never update my drivers or my BIOS. (Ubuntu doesn't seem to be able to.) All I do is download the Ubuntu updates which are just security patches since a few years.
>>1560587passively cooled laptops are usually pretty awful because they don't adequately expel heat. heat is what kills components.>Do you think the thermal paste could have degraded to the point where it no longer absorbs enough heat?yes, this is a thing that can happen. thermal paste can get crusty and lose efficiency. i'm assuming your laptop is at least 2011 or newer, so the two relevant problem points would be the cpu (which handles northbridge functions since 2011) and the wifi module itself (which in most cases doesn't have a heatsink but on a passively cooled laptop it might have one).they might also be using thermal pads or liquid metal instead of thermal paste. i'm not as familiar with those so i'd research before removing anything.either way, before doing anything, verify that's the problem. run hwinfo64 in sensors mode and keep an eye on the sensors, see how hot they're getting after prolonged use. 70-80C is normal, 90 or higher is undesirable for sustained use, 100 or higher and you're way too hot. cpu sensors will tell you how hot the cpu is, any other sensors that aren't on something hot can get you a general idea of ambient temperature. assume your wifi module is probably heating up too so it might be 10-20 degrees hotter than ambient.if you have clearance, you could peel the sticker off the (presumably m.2) wifi module, put a thermal pad on it, and stick a tiny heatsink on it. that might help a bit.
>>1560588Thank you for your help. The wifi module has yet to malfunction again but I'm checking the temperature if it does.
