I've been using my HP ProBook 440 G7 as a backup laptop, and everything was fine until my child pushed it too far back, damaging the hinge. The screen still works, a few keys are broken, and it charges without any issues. However, I'm puzzled because I've noticed that the Wi-Fi connection has gotten worse since the hinge broke, even though there were no problems before the damage. I can't share a photo right now, but there's a mess of cables at the hinge, and one cable is taped down which seems to be holding everything together. I'm wondering if getting the hinge fixed will also resolve the Wi-Fi issues. What do you think?
2 Answers
It's possible that the Wi-Fi antenna goes near the hinge, which could be causing the connectivity problems. If the cables are damaged, it might lead to weak signal strength. You should check if the antenna is near a small PCB in that area. These cables are pretty easy to replace if they're broken, so your technician should be able to help with that!
Your hinge damage could definitely affect the Wi-Fi if the antenna connection was impacted. Most laptops route the antenna through the hinges to the display. If it's already damaged, they might need to replace the antenna or connections there. You'll want to have someone check to make sure it's all connected properly.
That's what I'm afraid of... I've run speed tests on other devices, and the HP is really struggling. It connects fine when I’m right next to the router, but not anywhere else. It was working perfectly before! Do you think it's just a cable thing?
I'll definitely mention that to the technician! I'm totally lost with this. Hopefully, they can replace the antenna if needed. Thanks! Also, I noticed a black cable dangling from the hinge that might be the antenna...