iMac wifi card

Question

jvspringrose Author

Level 1

13 points

iMac wifi card

I think the wifi card on my 27" 2015 iMac has gone bad. How do I confirm this suspicion?

iMac 27″, macOS 12.0

Posted on Dec 7, 2021 10:54 AM

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Answer 1

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Dec 7, 2021 2:57 PM in response to jvspringrose

The best antivirus, cleaning app, and overall maintenance app for Mac OS is Mac OS itself. All you need to do with Mac OS to keep it secure and running well is to keep it up-to-date and do periodic (about 1x per week) restarts. Other than that, leave it alone. Adding third party antivirus, cleaning, security and other types of maintenance apps to Mac OS adds no additional level of security. The only thing these apps do is have the opposite affect users want. They make Mac OS slow, unstable, generate odd behavior (much like you are experiencing) and make Mac OS appear buggy.

Please locate the developers uninstall instructions for eSet Security Pro and follow to the letter. Then restart in Safe Mode per the directions in Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac and then restart normally and test your Wi-Fi. If the computer works as it should then I was correct and you know the eSet Security Pro was the issue. If it still doesn't work okay, then you can always re-install eSet Security Pro and we can try other measures.

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Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Dec 7, 2021 4:05 PM in response to jvspringrose

I wished you had not re-installed the security app again. Please uninstall it once more per the developers instructions. Then please do the following:

It will help us get a good idea of what is causing your problem if you provide a report of your system, that way we do not have to play 20 questions with you. The report we are requesting does NOT provide any personal information and is extremely safe to use. Please navigate to www.Etrecheck.com and download the free version of EtreCheck. Once you have you downloaded the app and installed it, please run the report and save it.

When you have your report, you can attach it when you reply to this message and we can then review it and help you determine what is needed to get your system running well again.

For instructions on how to download your EtreCheck report and attach it to your reply to this message please click https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250000211

It will help us get a good idea of what is causing your problem if you provide a report of your system, that way we do not have to play 20 questions with you. The report we are requesting does NOT provide any personal information and is extremely safe to use. Please navigate to www.Etrecheck.com and download the free version of EtreCheck. Once you have you downloaded the app and installed it, please run the report and save it.

When you have your report, you can attach it when you reply to this message and we can then review it and help you determine what is needed to get your system running well again.

For instructions on how to download your EtreCheck report and attach it to your reply to this message please click https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250000211

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Answer 3

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Dec 7, 2021 11:15 AM in response to jvspringrose

There is no "card", Wi-Fi is on a chip integrated onto the main logic board of the computer

Before we go further, why do you feel Wi-Fi has failed on your iMac and please let us know exactly what troubleshooting steps you have already taken?

One last thing, by chance do you have any third party anti-virus, cleaning or any other similar utilities installed on the computer?

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Answer 4

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Dec 7, 2021 4:52 PM in response to jvspringrose

I see you have FindAnyFile installed on the system, please use it to uninstall any HP apps and also to find any files with the word "Into" in them and move to the Trash, then please empty the Trash. Please restart in Safe Mode then restart normally and re-test.

After you have done this, please run a new EtreCheck report and look for any evidence of any HP apps and Intego files.

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Answer 5

jvspringrose Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 7, 2021 11:27 AM in response to rkaufmann87

I thought there was a card because earlier models appear to have had one. I just assumed . . .

I thought my card was bad (or whatever is actually causing wifi to fail), because when I select "Network" in System Preferences it shows I can connect either through ethernet (which works fine) or via Wi-Fi. But if I select Wi-Fi and then select the "Turn Wi-Fi On" button (even with ethernet off), nothing happens. No "Wif-Fi On", no Networks to select from, nothing. In the left window pane, Wi-Fi remains listed as "Off". The button is "Dead".

Yes I do use a third party security software, eSet Security Pro, but I have used that for years without incident. In the past, I was able to have both the ethernet and wi-fi active at the same time, but now only the ethernet connection is working. Access to wi-fi is important to me for Mail Drop, location on Maps, etc.

BTW, my other devices access wifi networks just fine, so I don't think the problem is with my local network; I think it is specific to this iMac device.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

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Answer 6

jvspringrose Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 7, 2021 3:55 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thank you for the guidance. I have

Uninstalled eSet per eSet uninstaller app
Restarted iMac in Safe Mode. Problem was not solved.
Reinstalled OSX Monterey 12.0.1
Problem continues
Reinstalled eSet (appears not to have been the problem).

Please advise next steps. Thank you.

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Answer 7

jvspringrose Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 7, 2021 4:41 PM in response to rkaufmann87

I have uninstalled eSet once again, restarted my iMac, downloaded EtreCheckPro and run a report. The report will follow

EtreCheckPro Report - Springrose

Thank you for your attention to my issue!

(BTW, I have made no changes to my system as a result of this report, other than to disable remote login, which I know I don't want and don't need).

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Answer 8

jvspringrose Author

Level 1

13 points

Dec 7, 2021 5:19 PM in response to rkaufmann87

I have a few HP related files that are links/weblocs, urls, pdfs, user manuals, etc (for my wife's printer), but apparently no HP application files on my computer per se. Files with Intego in them all relate to the app Backup Assistant. I'd rather not Trash these as:

Apple's Time Machine does not have the scheduling capabilities I need, and which Intego provides.
I've used Backup Assistant for at least 5 years now without incident, all the while (until the last few days) my iMac's Wi-Fi capabilities have performed flawlessly.

I'm having a hard time considering eliminating an extremely useful app that has caused no problems to date and seems very unlikely to be responsible for the current issue.

Is there another way I can approach this?

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