Windows 8.1: WiFi dropping and/or "Limited"

Anonymous
2013-10-20T17:01:27+00:00

Since installing 8.1 Pro, I'm having issues with WiFi dropping internet connectivity and always showing "Limited" when clicking on the system tray icon.  When I troubleshoot the problem using the system tool it is always the gateway that is faulty.  I have uninstalled/reinstalled the device drivers several times, installed the newest drivers directly from Intel, restarted the computer, etc.  I can restore connectivity by turning WiFi off then back on, but the connection will drop at what seems to be random intervals.  My applicable system specs are as follows;

Lenovo Y510P  Laptop

Windows 8.1 Pro

Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230

Apple Time Capsule router w/newest firmware

Needless to say this is quite an irritating bug that didn't exist prior to the update to 8.1  I hope this can be resolved quickly. Thanks!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-12-09T18:22:28+00:00

    The problem came back.  I tried uninstalling the Centrino Advanced-N 6235 driver and re-installing Wireless_16.5.3_e164.exe, but that didn't help.

    Meanwhile, for the work that I do that requires a stable network connection, I will need to tether to my LTE iPhone 5s until someone finds a solution.

    I am very disappointed that Microsoft introduced this problem in Windows 8.1 that was not in 8.  Small point-release Windows upgrades didn't used to introduce regressions like a network driver dropping its connection.  No wonder almost all of my co-workers have switched to Mac...for their work machine.

    It is a problem with your Intel WiFi card, look back to previous posts about it, the issue with Windows 8.1 is complementary to the Intel card.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-09T16:32:19+00:00

    tried that (unticking ipv6) and all was ok for a few days but now same problem has returned (and it's still unticked).

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-09T10:38:36+00:00

    That's interesting, I was just asked to do a survey on here.

    I have answered the questions and pasted a link to this thread and told them what I think!

    Lets see if Microsoft respond.

    Nah me neither :)

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-12-09T10:27:57+00:00

    I've never heard of this and I do not see it as a fix! Can't see this working when as you say log on somewhere else.

    Very POOR from M$ yet again still no response on here either is there MICROSOFT!

    All we are asking for is a new driver that will WORK. Is that too much to ask?

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-12-09T03:35:34+00:00

    Thanks for the replies.  Microsoft support advised me today (they don't work weekends) to manually set a DNS address in my network settings, rather than automatically obtain.  This is apparently their fix to this issue, and they were even able to give the DNS server address for my ISP, so I guess they've done this a few times now....  That's fine for my home PC (and it is now working properly), but I am not sure the laptop will be okay the next time I log in to someone else's network with a different ISP.  Will have to wait and see...

    I'm not a technician but changing the way Windows does this seems like a strange thing to do.  I've never heard of this with any other operating system.

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