Bad Realtek wifi hardware/card on Win 10 HP, full rebuild necessary?

Hi, I have a couple questions about wifi problems, warranty repair and backup for restoring.

My 1 year old HP Win 10 v1909 notebook has a problem with intermittent wifi slowdowns. It has a Realtek RTL8822CE adapter which is apparently notorious for seeming fine, then melting down when under load. The connection to the wifi router looks ok at first, but then speed slows to a crawl. Ethernet works fine throughout. But when I enable wifi, it initially connects ok, initially it seems ok and actually works and speed tests properly, then.... after a minute or so..... bzzzzt, everything goes to hell (except the router connection itself, which persists).

This is confirmed with two different ISPs and two different routers using two different delivery methods (DSL and radio). This is confirmed with Net Uptime Monitor connection ping test logs, observing page loading, and speed tests.

In addition, the Netspot wifi signal tracking tool also shows that the antenna/adapter thinks that all the inbound wifi signal strengths are highly volatile with random strength fluctuations +/- tens of db's and full signal drop frequently, which simply isn't true. So, I tried an external USB wifi antenna (tp-link AC1900) and it fixed the fluctuating wifi signal strength problem, but did not fix the speed crashing.

I have been back and forth through troubleshooting hell. Yesterday, HP says: okay, send it in we will replace the wifi hardware. (After upselling me another 3 years of warranty).

Questions:

1. Does it seem reasonable that if I send it to HP, that they will be able to actually fix the problem?

2. HP wants to do a full wipe of the OS. Is this absolutely necessary? (Note: "necessary" is a function of (a) necessity to fix the problem, and (b) likelihood it actually fixes the problem).

3. Are there options I can try at home (or with a local tech) that can avoid a full wipe?

I really don't want to go through all the headache of backing up and then rebuilding my computer when it comes back. I spent perhaps 100+ hours loading Apps, figuring out the quirks, configuring, etc.. It was a struggle, but I finally have everything lined out (except the wifi). I also don't want to be without this PC for the week or so it takes to send it away. I am actually tempted to skip the fix and just leave the dang thing tethered to an ethernet wire for the rest of its existence.

4. If I do need to send it in. What backup steps can I take to reduce my headaches for the re-load.
4a. Is there a tool and/or particular device I should use? I have a WD My Passport that is several years old.
4b. How should I remove personal information?
4c. Should I send my files to a cloud system? (I do not currently use cloud or ubiquitous Onedrive types services).

The biggest set up headaches were Outlook, iTunes, Windows Media Player, adding a second user and second iTunes, my employer has Sonicwall VPN on my machine which I use for remote work, Epson Scanner, HP Smart printer App, my McAffe AV (expires this month), and a dozen or so productivity and music processing Apps. I do not use Onedrive or other cloud systems.

Thank in advance.
Heartbroken, frustrated, and burnt out.
McMike1

If It's a hardware problem then HP should be able to fix it. By HP saying they want to do a full wipe of the OS they probably suspect something is corrupted. I'm not sure if there is a way to tell if they replaced the WiFi adapter or not. Before sending it to them I would make a complete image of the drive to a external drive using Macrium Reflect. Then I would use a program to secure erase any person info and data or format the drive. I use Eraser when I want to secure erase something on my computers.

Edit: I would also make a separate backup of any data you want to save.

Problems with each hardware and software need to be ruled in or ruled out.

So as Winuser commented make a backup image.

There are tutorials and a forum room for backup and restore: https://www.tenforums.com/backup-restore

Macrium Software | It’s our business to protect your data
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

Once you have made backup images you can:

a) clean install any Windows version for testing purposes

b) install another operating system such as Ubutu / Linux for testing purposes

c) test hardware


When you've finished testing you can restore the image.

There are free and pay versions:
(Acronis, Aoemi, EaseUS, Macrium, Paragon, etc.)

Mcmike1 said:

So, I tried an external USB wifi antenna (tp-link AC1900) and it fixed the fluctuating wifi signal strength problem, but did not fix the speed crashing.

This tells me that there is little to no chance HP is going to be able to do anything about it. We have very little information about your WiFi and, so far, everyone is jumping on the receiver end. Are you 2.4 ghz or dual band? Which band are you connecting to? Where do you live, is it in a WiFi crowded area? Have you done a WiFi survey to determine which channels are best to be using? How far away are you from the router? Have you tried WiFi in a different location, although public WiFi is usually notoriously slow anyway. Have you tried reducing the channel width settings on the router? Are other WiFi devices connected to your router and how do they behave? Is the laptop always in the same location in the house, or have you tried it at different locations in the same house?

Also, I would dump the McAfee software.

Finally, if you make a system image before sending it in to HP for repair, then why would you have to go through hours of setting everything back up when you get it back? You restore the image you made, done.

Berton said:

Also of consideration is the cost of packing and shipping back to HP, maybe both ways. One can get a small USB Wireless dongle for less than $30 to check if it's a Windows or hardware issue. I keep a couple on hand just for that purpose, have one in use on a Win8.1 Notebook.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wifi+wireless+usb+adapter&i=electronics&hvadid=77859218528116&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_6ttuqlocck_e

And Yes, most times a machine sent back for warranty repair does set it back to the day it originally shipped, losing everything added since then.

The HP warranty should cover shipping both ways.

To discard that it is your current Windows, boot from a USB with another OS. Ubuntu or even Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk.

If you think it is a hardware issue and if it is a removable card device you can buy a new one and replace the current.

Megahertz said:

If you think it is a hardware issue and if it is a removable card device you can buy a new one and replace the current.

Just be careful as some HP laptops have whitelists in BIOS that will only allow certain WiFi cards to work in them. At least older HP laptops did. But, I agree, I have upgraded WiFi cards in my laptop and my wife's (both Dell).