I started my laptop for cleaning, but it’s now extremely slow and the Wi-Fi connection is weak.
I started my laptop for cleaning, but it’s now extremely slow and the Wi-Fi connection is weak.
Firstly, my WiFi only worked when placed directly next to the modem, and even then its speed was weak. Before opening the laptop, I had a strong antenna and could still get a signal from quite a distance; now Ethernet is the only reliable choice.
Secondly, my overall performance is subpar at best. Games I used to play smoothly are now barely playable—like League of Legends, which only reaches around 30fps, unless I’m very lucky. When I opened Task Manager, I didn’t see any process running at full capacity.
I’m open to formatting the system if needed, but I’d rather avoid that. Still, I’m concerned I might have damaged something during the opening process, even though I was careful and followed the steps. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
I remember it wasn't particularly clever, but a couple of days ago I started my laptop, an ASUS ROG GL552VX, following a YouTube guide to clean the fan. (I haven't done this in five years since purchasing it.) I didn’t take it apart completely, just enough to remove the motherboard and the fan for cleaning with compressed air—the kind specifically designed for that purpose. After reassembling everything, I tested it and everything seemed normal until I began noticing issues.
Firstly, my WiFi only worked when placed directly next to the modem, and even then its speed was weak. Before opening the laptop, I had a strong antenna and could still get a signal from quite a distance; now Ethernet is the only reliable choice.
Secondly, my overall performance is subpar at best. Games I used to play smoothly are now barely playable—like League of Legends, which only reaches around 30fps, unless I’m very lucky. When I opened Task Manager, I didn’t see any process running at full capacity.
I’m open to formatting the system if needed, but I’d rather avoid that. Still, I’m concerned I might have damaged something during the opening process, even though I was careful and followed the steps. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Gustavgurra03
07-13-2022, 02:10 PM #2It seems you might have bumped into an antenna cable on the motherboard. For the performance problems, I don’t have any details. Have you looked at the temperatures? It’s possible the cooler was removed and caused overheating.
TEDmister95
07-13-2022, 02:10 PM #4You'll most likely need to detach the antennas from the board to disable the WiFi and probably never reattach them again.
WiFi adapters can function without antennas because they boost signal strength and extend range. Without an antenna, they still detect weak WiFi signals from the connector. This applies to routers and other devices relying on antennas. Updated September 1, 2022 by Chikensoops extra info
EnderPearl5678
07-13-2022, 02:10 PM #7There will always be some signal loss even without an antenna, which means it functions over a very limited distance, similar to the OP's situation.
FestusBrasil
07-13-2022, 02:10 PM #10I had already figured it out, but for future reference, the issue stemmed from a damaged cable during setup. It required just reconnecting it—sometimes a tiny bit of solder helped. Regarding performance, opening the laptop unexpectedly damaged several cooling supports, forcing components into a 90-degree angle and triggering thermal throttling. The fix wasn’t straightforward; soldering wasn't possible due to short-circuit risks and heat sensitivity. Instead, a non-conductive resin was used to secure the broken parts and enhance contact. Plus, I adjusted the thermal paste and optimized the cooling layout.