Chromebook: Wifi out of range, is wireless card dying? Troubleshoot

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gopherkiler9

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The girlfriend just bought a Samsung Chromebook xe303c12 used off a guy. It's been working great the past few days and now suddenly there is no internet.

When trying to connect to my protected Linksys router... it says out of range. When trying to connect to our neighbors unprotected network... it's also out of range. It doesn't have an ethernet port, so I can't troubleshoot that. The internet for her was a bit slow earlier the same day before it started doing this.

So far I have
-Powerwashed the chromebook to factory standard
- Changed the channel frequency to various ones in my router
- Changed router name
- Removed the back panel and physically removed the wifi card and put it back

As of now, it is still in the initial setup screen and I can't do anything since it won't connect to wifi.

So I'm here for any thoughts or opinions?

* I should add that the internet is working totally fine on my acer chromebook and assumingly so for my desktop. It seems to be isolated solely to her samsung.
 
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gopherkiler9

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Thanks for the response, but you might misunderstand where I'm at.
I'm working on a Chromebook, which doesn't have device manager options that I'm aware of (never found one after working on one for almost a year now). As well, I've already done more than rebooting by powerwashing (factory restore in Google terms). If this were a Windows computer, I would have tried updating the drivers. But right now I am stuck on the initial setup screen since it won't let me continue until I have a wifi connection.
 
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gopherkiler9

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It doesn't have an ethernet port. Actually both of our Chromebooks don't have an ethernet port. That was definitely another consideration, however you would need a USB to ethernet adapter... which I don't have currently and is actually more expensive than the replacement wifi card. I actually went and ordered what I expect is a replacement card (it was in a different model but most of the numbers and terminal sides were the same). So if the replacement card doesn't work, then the next step is to buy the USB to ethernet adapter.

I did however try a USB wifi adapter, which didn't work, but I assume that is because I obviously couldn't install the driver disc. I didn't expect it to work, but there was hope.
 
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Reyaz123

Reyaz123

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So its either the replacement card or the USB to Ethernet. Tough choice, because you might have needed just an ethernet connection to install, only later to find out your wireless card is working and the OS needed a fresh install to fix your wireless problem. Could end up buying both when you only needed the usb to ethernet, but you have no choice.I never knew that Chromebooks never had a device manager, let alone no Ethernet port. I learned something that I will use for future reference.
 
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gopherkiler9

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Well I had tried just about everything people suggested before I factory restored it. Nothing seemed to work. I knew something was up once it couldn't connect to the neighbor's unprotected wifi along with our own, regardless of how I set my own protections to.. both saying out of range. But that was also my reasoning behind it being the card specifically. It was actually working, but working slow about an hour before we started having the out of range issue. My internet was solid and fast on my computer, hers was very slow and laggy. Then she slept it for an hour and then all the problems began. So I figured since it is easily accessible once you pop the case open, I'd try the card first. I'll try to update if this solves the problem

But glad you learned something. Chromebooks are pretty awesome machines because they're very quick on minimal hardware. So even the cheapest one is more than enough. And once you install the linux side OS they're even better.
 
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gopherkiler9

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An update. So my card just came and it did not solve the problem. I went out and bought a usb to ethernet adapter... and I can officially connect through ethernet. While on the main menu, I still cannot connect to any wifi. I'm looking around for other options, but this is a step in the right direction at least.
 
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Reyaz123

Reyaz123

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Well at least you got some type of internet on there. You should give the company a call about that Chromebook and see if they have any fixes for the WiFi issue.

You never know, they may have the perfect solution for you.
 
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gopherkiler9

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Well Google didn't really want to help me once I said I'd replaced the wifi card. Samsung won't help because they just want me to send it in.... which it is out of warranty, so that would cost more than it's worth.

I'm currently waiting for Google's higher up tech support to help me. They should respond within 48 hours I just feel like the companies aren't going to be much help since I've opened it and it's out of warranty.

So for now, more waiting and searching I guess.
 
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gopherkiler9

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Actually, the 2nd link you gave gives me the idea to look for in other ones. I seem to be picking up that Samsung chromebooks seem to have issues sometimes connecting to 2.4ghz channels. I looked, my linksys, my backup netgear are all 2.4x ghz routers. I'm hoping that when I go to work tomorrow, that theirs will have something in the 5ghz range and I can test this theory. If this holds true, then it might explain why it just up and started doing this. It might have restarted into an update and that update ruined my connection. Just need to hunt down a 5.x connection.

I'll update tomorrow.

Thanks for your help so far. I've scowered the internet and just can't find anyone with the exact issue. Such is life though.
 
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Reyaz123

Reyaz123

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Alright, keep me updated on that status of your Chromebook WiFi. Not sure if you checked, but if you access those routers through your web browser (using their default gateway IP addresses) there might be a setting to change from 2.4 GHz to 5.
 
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gopherkiler9

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Alright. New router came today ea3500 (linksys) and it is a dual band router. I have a 2.4x and a 5.x ghz channel running.... and nothing. Still not connecting to either ones. I've been chatting with Google help and he has suggested all sorts of various router settings and Chrome OS channel settings to help get it working, and it isn't working. Samsung was no help since once they found out all the various troubleshooting steps I have gone through, they said they couldn't be of anymore help and referred me to their servicing center.

I want to get this fixed, but I really just don't know what I could possibly do differently at this point.
 
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Reyaz123

Reyaz123

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Its really giving you a hard time there. Have you tried contacting your ISP? They could be your only hope right now (since nobody else figured out a solution from here or those companies)

Can't imagine how many steps you have to go through to fix it. In the future just because of this, anytime I have to recommend a laptop to somebody, I have no choice but to be hesitant when it comes to Chromebooks.
 
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gopherkiler9

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Well to be fair, I love my Acer chromebook and I've had nowhere near the same issues. I feel like this Samsung may be one of the earlier Chromebooks, as it only has about 3.5 hrs battery life. If I can't figure this out, I hope to sell this Samsung and go towards another Acer chromebook.

But, I don't think talking to the ISP will be much help as I've tried connecting at my school/works internet and it worked the same... no wifi, yes ether.

I mean, I've learned a LOT doing my research on this problem, but I just don't know what else I could do. I already listed it for sale lol. But, here's hoping someone solves it before then.
 
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Reyaz123

Reyaz123

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I don't know if you still have that chromebook, but earlier today I came across something that could be the solution.

If you can open your bios, look through every option until you see network adapter or bluetooth and enable it
(I think your problem is because your network adapter is disabled in your bios)
 
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NOT_PROVIDED_280

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My biggest guess as to why the internet shuts off is because of the antenna connection. I have a Samsung series 3 (XE303C12) and it uses two antennas on the hinge to connect. I'm thinking the cable got worn out from 3 years of use and only a certain angle works.
 
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Alexandre_Justino

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I had the same problem with my Acer Chromebook.

Turns out, it couldn't conect to my WiFi network due to the channel it was operating on (channel 13).
I changed my router's configuration and set it to work on channel 1 and it worked! Now it connects right away!

I hope this answer helps you guys.
 
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gopherkiler9

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Sorry I never came back to this.

To be honest, I simply gave up. I sold the sucker along with the extra wifi adapter. I called Samsung and Google and neither one could help me. Google also really didn't want to help since I mentioned that I opened it up. As well, they told me to run it in beta mode and hope for quicker updates. That never solved it.

I never did find a solution to this regardless of router settings, hardware changes, tech support, or percussive maintenance.

Sorry guys =/
 
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