Windows 8.1: WiFi dropping and/or "Limited"

I know they're not located everywhere, but for those who live near a Microsoft store, if you take your device into a Microsoft store, they will fix this problem at no charge. 

A side note, for those who keep playing around with their router, this ISN'T a router problem, Yes, whatever you do with your router MAY fix the problem for whatever reason, but this is specifically an 8.1 issue--NOT a router issue.

Thanks Chris for posting your solution. Right now I am trying something I found last night on my Netgear Geanie, (This is a Neatgear site used to troubleshoot the router's problems). After I did what I found there, my Wi Fi has been working fine.  I haven't have to reset  or anything since last night. If this ultimately doesn't work, I will give your suggestions a try.

Thanks

I see many people are still struggling with this issue so I have re posted what worked for me below in case people do not have time to trawl through the whole thread..  Since I used this I have had only two limited drops and both were solved by un connecting and re connecting to the network.  No unplugging of wi fi adapter as what was previously needed every 15 minutes after installing Windows 8.1.  It's bee a couple of months as well so this obviously worked for me.

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.

Same here. I researched and researched for months before updating to make sure I  would not have any problems and here I am. I have to reset my Wi Fi just about every time I start Explorer. It started immediately after I downloaded the 8.1 update.

I have been checking and rechecking every thing thinking that maybe I had done something wrong. I even called Toshiba the maker or my laptop, and was kind of crossed with them for telling me to update the driver, before installing 8.1.

I tried every thing I could think of  with no results. When I found that Power Management place and saw that power saving button there, I was so happy. I thought, I had found the answer. Wrong!!!!

I have never had any trouble with my router before the update. So, I am a 100% sure it has to do with it. And that is not the only thing. So far, I have found several other things that got mixed up since the update. I just updated 2 days ago. Oh! why did I do it. Why has MS done this to us. Why didn't they make sure that everything was working fine before launching the faithful Windows 8, and then again when they tried to fix things with 8.1. What a mess!

I haven't read all this thread yet, but I plan to do it, to see if something has been found that works. I hope MS is working on it, and let us know as soon as they find what to do about this.

My Router

Netgear N600 Wireless Dual Band Router. My next step will be to give them a call and see what they have to say.

The problems have already been solved in a multitude of ways. I doubt there will an update by MS since it does not appear to be a problem. Unfortunately the multitude of hardware options and routers with out of date firmware create a huge test path. MS could easily say that if it works for one it should work for all.

Do note:

1. Hardware patches in Windows are not mandatory but listed under optional most of the time.
2. Wifi card manufacturers have their own websites for fixes card and OS specific.
3. Laptop manufacturers have their own applications for updating the manufacturers software. Toshiba  had  15 patches for applications that were Windows 8.1 specific and installed by their update app not Windows update.
4. Modern routers can be updated by going to 192.168.1.1 signing in as admin and getting the latest firmware.
5. Windows has diagnostic tools that can test connections.
6. Apple is a viable solution for those not wanting to get involved. Single source, expensive but a far more controlled environment.