Windows 8.1: WiFi dropping and/or "Limited"

I tried this solution on my Asus laptop, and there is no Microsoft Wifi Virtual Adaptor in this area at all. Tried looking other places for it as well, and no luck. I live near a Microsoft store and they told me to bring it in and they would fix it for free. Other than that, I see no other solution.

SOLUTION

The problem (maybe) is that Windows 8.1 has HIDDEN THE SETTING you need to change!  :(

Here's the solution I used for my Sony VAIO Touch Ultrabook.

Control Panel -> Device Manager.

View (menu) choose "Show Hidden Devices"

Network Adapters -> right-click Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter.

Properties-> Power Management

Unclick "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."

I tried everything else before doing this and it didn't work.  I think that this HIDDEN Microsoft Virtual Wi-Fi Adapter was the problem.  It appears in all my Windows 8 machines.  I don't know yet if this is the absolute solution, but it has worked for me.  Please let me know if it works for you.

TSM

This solution candidate sounds really promising - thank you :-)

So I've tried it out and waits to see if I get a WiFi drop/limited again :-S

I've tried about all other propositions in this forum++ that you were so kind to suggest - but sadly didn't work in the long run for me - as well as for a lot of other users :-)

Problem herein now, I guess, is that the postings here represent a lot of "fasle positivs" that are "normal" config problems - that turns out to be repaired by e.g. installing new drivers, resetting WiFi config / setup "just one more time", setting IP manual, resetting IP stack etc.

AND my guess is that there in addition is a really spooky "bug complex", that WAS introduced with 8.1 that I and others are awaiting to be solved.

This could be the fix, so I'm x-ing my fingers that this represents a long lasting solution for me  :-)

Hello - I have been doing some more testing with my Windows 8.1 tablet - and conclusively found that if I turn off the 5ghz range on my BT Home Hub 4, and leave just 2.4ghz on - it is completely fine!

I have already had the router swapped out once, and this made no difference.  When you run a DOS command prompt command:

netsh wlan show interfaces

I can see whether my tablet is pointing to the 2.4ghz interface or not.  Then, when I lose network connectivity - I run the same command, and can see its switched over to 5ghz!

Also one thing to note - is that at home I am running "authentication mode" WPA2- Personal, at work in my office I run WPA2-Enterprise, at 5ghz and has no trouble at all? So maybe its either 5ghz causing the issue with Windows 8.1, the switching between modes 2.4/5, or the authentication type.

All my other Windows 7 and apple products are of course fine!

Come on Microsoft - sort this out.

I hope this helps some of you with your issues? 

Thanks

Kevin

This is horrible response and I've seen it given by other MS engineers. Thousands of people are having this problem since the 8.1 release. I highly doubt all of us had our routers go bad at the same time. Own up to this Microsoft and please fix it. The standard response will not cut it anymore.

I agree wholeheartedly.  I cannot connect to a specific wireless with Windows 8.1.  I don't get a valid IP address, I get an APIPA address..  I can connect to the same network fine with Windows 7.  Other people get mixed results with Windows 8.1.  It is not the router or the networking equipment.  It is something with Windows 8.1.  It reminds me of when Windows Vista could not get an IP address from a Cisco switch, and Microsoft recognized this as a problem and provided a KB article with a workaround for the issue.  It doesn't work for Windows 8.1.

So what do I do?  I carry my Linux laptop with me now.  I get an IP address without a problem.  So I get connectivity to do things like lab connections, WebEx, email from my Linux laptop.  If I absolutely have to connect using my windows machine I use my MiFi, but I do that sparingly.

Hey MS.  Not good when your new OS reminds an IT vet of Vista.  Also no good when they decide to travel with two laptops to get connectivity, the reliable one of them being Linux.

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!

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Hi You may try this..

Revert your network adapter driver back to an older version instead of the one installed by windows 8.1.

1. Open Device Manager > Network Adapters> Uninstall Wireless driver ( mostly Broadcom) do not forget to tick the box that says Delete Driver Software. Restart computer or click on scan for hardware changes under the Action tab. 
2. Right Click on the wireless adapter and Select Update Driver Software . 
3. Select Browse my computer for driver software . 
4. Select "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer". 
5. Uncheck "Show Compatible Devices/Drivers" 

6.Try each drivers that are somewhat identical to the existing driver and install it (remember this is a trial and error).

e.g. Select the "Broadcom 802.11n Network Adaptor (Broadcom)" entry from the list, and click Next

also try downloading the drivers from support.lenovo.com