Windows 8.1: WiFi dropping and/or "Limited"

I'm having the same problem with Nokia (now owned by Microsoft) Lumia 2520 tablet (brand new) running Windows RT 8.1.   after tablet power up or reset, WiFi adapter changes from "connected" to "limited" and internet connection is lost.  5 kids with 10 other WiFi devices (windows, android, iOS) in the house and this is only device experiencing this issue.   sounds like a bug to me.

Mine is fluctuating between 14.5 and 29.0 mps according to the WiFi status window.

Having said that, I just checked my internet connect at speedtest.net, and I'm at 21 mps, which is the max for the plan I have with my provider, so I'm happy enough.

thanks

Ken

I actually tried several different drivers for the Athernos adapter and all failed the same way. Currently I am running the most recent of all fixes from Microsoft for Win 8.1 (god knows there are a million of them!) and the most current drivers from the Toshiba website which are dated March of 2014. I even applied the fixes suggested from Toshiba for Win 8.1 and updated the Satellite BIOS to version 1.4.

It is interesting to note that other solutions have advocated:

1. Change the adapter to Intel (might work since my other PCs seem to be fine).
2. Change from the WPA2-PSK protocol (might work since the router said this is a standards issue).
3. Change all sorts of TCP IP parameters with NETSH IP .. did not work for me
4. Back level the adapter driver - I used the MS one and older Qualcomm ones with no success
5. Hardcode the DNS to 8.8.8.8 the Google DNS.. did not work for me.
6. Use a wired connection -- definitely works since this is a wireless issue only.
7. Change the power scheme for the wireless adapter.. did not work for me.

The windows logs were screaming that is was a router issue and in my case they were right. These are the internet diagnostic logs not the event logs which did not see any issue other than the failure to resolve the DNS. I also note that my other wireless connections have speeded up as well. Even my Nexus 7 was periodically saying the internet was not available. Considering I am on a 50mb circuit that was unlikely.

I agree a driver older than October 2013 seems like it would help since my Netgear bios was about that old when I updated it. Your method might be the only one for users that have non current support routers. I would hate to give up mine since AAC rocks! Talk about speed!

Does your connection show 150 or 72.2 speed some other posts said the lower speed was because the Qualcomm chip did not support dual channel. Obviously it does since my speed is back to flying with no hardware change.

Thanks

Konrad

Thanks, Radster

1I had the same problem with my Toshiba Satellite after upgrading from Win 8 to 8.1 and installing the Windows 8.1 update and the other Windows updates this week.

This is what worked for me (so far- 6 hours without a problem):

1. open Control Panel> Device Manager
2. click on Network Adapters
3. select the adapter (wireless, ethernet, etc) that is giving you the problems
4. Right-click and select Properties
5. click the Driver tab and select Update Driver
6. Choose the option to let you select the driver manually. DO NOT choose to let Windows automatically select the driver.
7. If another screen comes up offering to let you Pick From a List of Drivers on your computer, choose that.
8. Choose an older version of the driver from the manufacturer of your adapter. It is likely to be showing the manufacturer name rather than Microsoft; the newest version probably shows Microsoft. For me, it had to be a driver dated prior to October 2013. (You won't see the date until after you select a new driver and then look at the Properties tab again)

This has solved my problem at least for now. At some point I plan to go the manufacturer's website to look for new, 8.1 compatible adapter. But I'm leaving well enough alone for the moment since things are working OK.

Credit to H. Scott Leviant for suggesting this procedure:

http://goo.gl/vRbekV

For those still having the problem. The symptoms are after a Windows 8.1 update are that:

1. Waiting for... appears
2. Diagnostics say it is a gateway issue.
3. Other computers updated do not have the problem.
4. All TCP IP changes and DNS hard coding does not work.
5. Other local computers cannot be seen on the network.
6. Connection speed showing 77.2 instead of 150 for speed.
7. Dropped packets.
8. Periodic security failures.
9. Frequent disconnects reconnects.

I have a Toshiba Satellite S55d with an Athernos adapter and the problem started right after the April 8th 2014 update.

The solution:

Upgrade the firmware on my Netgear Nighthawk Router. The latest version turned off some layer of security for WPA2-PSK for "standards compliance"....

The Toshiba appeared instantly after the reboot of the new firmware and ie is now instantaneous.

Not sure why some have this problem but mine struck 1 out of 4 wndows 8.1 machines.

Note the Nighthawk is a new SOA router and I had been keeping the bios updated.

Good luck to all. It is not a hardware issue.

Radster