99% that it was a wrong driver from the information you told us. Couldn't have been the card dying since you said it was fine until a clean install.
Some laptops will have a sticker underneath it that tells you what wireless card/bluetooth module is installed.
Next time, try checking out what chipset your laptop has. The ASUS U56E line of laptops have the HM65 chipset -
Intel® HM65 Express Chipset - Take a look under Wireless Lan section, and you'll see Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1030.
