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#1 2010-04-19 17:07:59

Stolen Identity
Member
Registered: 2009-01-31
Posts: 15

Wireless no longer works after taking machine apart.

So, I ripped apart my laptop to clean the gunk out of the heatsink fan and such.  To do so, I had to remove the wireless card.  After putting the machine back together, the wireless no longer works.

When typing the usual ifconfig wlan0 up, I get

SIOCSIFFLAGS: unknown error 132

After further tinkering, I booted from the install CD.  ifconfig wlan0 up works there, but when I do iwlist wlan0 scan, I get no scan results.

I've tried fiddling with the wireless card, making sure it is connected, and it seems in order.  I've also checked the leads on the antenna.  Everything looks good.  I also checked the button that turns the wireless on and off.  It connects to the motherboard with the same set of wires that the main power switch is on, so I assume it's OK.

I've made no changes to my configuration.  Previously I didn't need to load any extra kernel modules to have wifi working.

The laptop is a Compaq CQ50-215CA, with an atheros chipset, for your information.

Any idea what I fucked up?

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#2 2010-04-19 17:12:09

hokasch
Member
Registered: 2007-09-23
Posts: 1,461

Re: Wireless no longer works after taking machine apart.

What does "rfkill llist all" say?

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#3 2010-04-19 17:20:37

Xyne
Administrator/PM
Registered: 2008-08-03
Posts: 6,963
Website

Re: Wireless no longer works after taking machine apart.

Stolen Identity wrote:

So, I ripped apart my laptop to clean the gunk out of the heatsink fan and such. 

<snip/>

Any idea what I fucked up?

You obviously need to put the gunk back in. tongue



*now trying to actually be helpful*

You may have fried the board with a static discharge. Did you wear a wrist band or at least keep discharging your hands by touching grounded metal while working with the components?


My Arch Linux StuffForum EtiquetteCommunity Ethos - Arch is not for everyone

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#4 2010-04-19 17:26:39

Stolen Identity
Member
Registered: 2009-01-31
Posts: 15

Re: Wireless no longer works after taking machine apart.

Results of "rfkill list all":

0: hp-wifi: Wireless LAN
                 Soft blocked: yes
                Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
                 Soft blocked: yes
                 Hard blocked: no

As for the grounding, I make a point to keep grounded, but you never know.

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#5 2010-04-19 17:36:27

hokasch
Member
Registered: 2007-09-23
Posts: 1,461

Re: Wireless no longer works after taking machine apart.

that means its not disabled hardware side, I guess. tried an "rfkill unblock all"?

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#6 2010-04-19 17:38:49

Stolen Identity
Member
Registered: 2009-01-31
Posts: 15

Re: Wireless no longer works after taking machine apart.

hokasch wrote:

that means its not disabled hardware side, I guess. tried an "rfkill unblock all"?

Thanks, that worked.  For the sake of others searching this topic, can someone explain what happened?

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#7 2010-04-19 17:45:09

hokasch
Member
Registered: 2007-09-23
Posts: 1,461

Re: Wireless no longer works after taking machine apart.

no idea, really... but I had similar troubles getting up the wifi, when it was little-button-press turned off and the laptop crashed. After some random combinations of blocking/unblocking with button and rfkill, it worked again.
all voodoo to me.

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