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
    2014-03-14T03:31:50+00:00

    Problem is every time I switch on my laptop, it is Limited connectivity. I have to troubleshoot which resets Wifi adapter and I get connection. Same adapter which was working perfectly in 8 doesn't work in 8.1. Also I found Windows is supposed to refresh/ reset adapter as soon as it finds connection but it is not happening.

    If I switch my wifi connection and reverts to original, I will again get Limited connectivity. This is irritating. When I upgrade, it's Windows responsibility to look after all compatible drivers.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-13T20:05:25+00:00

    So far so good, I haven't experienced "limited connection" for a while now (1 hour already, it used to be only took 10 minutes)

    thank you

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-13T17:15:43+00:00

    Have you try simply change the scan interval of wifi device from 60 to 120?

    it is work for me ;)

    device manager / right click on network adapter / choose wifi adapter properties / click advance TAB / choose scan valid interval & modify standard value 60 to 120 / the apply change

    hopefully its help ;)

    ******@gmail.com

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-13T10:55:25+00:00

    I have decided to join this discussion as it was my first port of call when I experienced this issue which started last weekend after upgrading to Windows 8.1.  My network adapter is a Netgear N300 (WNA3100).

    I tried every single option on the net practically plus advice from someone on the Microsoft forums but whilst a lot of ideas worked to start with within a couple of hours maximum the issue would return. 

    The only thing that reconnected would be to unplug the adapter from itself then reconnect but this of course isn't a fix rather than an annoying reset.

    Then I came across this site http://pureinfotech.com/2013/09/16/how-to-fix-wireless-limited-connectivity-windows-81/

    I tried the first options but again only a temporary fix.  However I then tried the bottom option which is :

    Update: If after trying all of the above solutions, you still having Limited Connectivity problems, changing the following network settings could also help.

    Note: Apparently the following changes works best for Surface RT devices. However, you can try this solution on any Windows 8.1 PC, including Surface Pro.

    1 Open the Command Prompt as administrator (refer to previous steps).

    2 Next, type the following commands (one at a time) press Enter and OK on each one:

    netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled

    netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

    netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled

    Then use the following command to verify all the previous settings are disabled:

    netsh int tcp show global

    3 Restart your device and see try to connect to your network.

    It's now been around 15 hours and the connection hasn't been disconnected or become limited once and I have tried rebooting a couple of times and waking the PC from a sleep and all seems well.

    Therefore I thought I would post this as it may help others with the same issue.

    One thing is though I have absolutely no idea though what I have actually performed here but thought it was time to throw caution to the wind so if anyone has time to explain what the steps may have done I would appreciate it.

    Just an update with regard to what I performed above.

    It's been a few days now and I haven't had any "limited" connection.

    What I have had a couple of times is "no connection" due to "no networks being found" but all I do is click on the bars in bottom right corner and connect to my router and all is well again.  Still a little annoying but certainly better than having to disconnect and reconnect my adapter every half an hour!!  So hopefully the above steps worked ok for me although waiting like everyone for a permanent fix from MS.

    The only issue I did have really afterwards was a PC freeze during maintenance where only the mouse pointer actually moved and only cure was a hard reset turning off the power.  Fortunately I ran a scan and the problem hasn't arisen in a couple of days.  Another Windows 8.1 issue by all accounts.

    A shoddy update Windows 8.1 it certainly is and shoddy performance by MS by failing to admit issues and finding fixes for them.  I mean if your car stopped working after a full service would you be expected to trawl the net to find fixes for what the garage ruined?!  I don't think so!!!

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-03-12T23:52:20+00:00

    With my Lenovo ThinkPad T440s the problem started when I updated the Intel wireless adapter drivers. I backed down to the drivers they released in October and WiFi has been stable since.

    I also saw the problem with an HP Omni 10 and had to change those drivers too to get a stable connection.

    Something is very wrong in the way Microsoft and Windows 8.1 are working with the various wireless lan manufacturers....you would think after all of the debacles with video drivers that this sort of thing wouldn't be possible to get to a release state let alone past the first service pack.

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