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
    2014-02-28T00:04:15+00:00

    Correct. Followed directions over a dozen times. No such listing at all.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-27T23:19:07+00:00

    OK, so you really ticked this option under the "View" menu in Device Manager:

    View (menu) choose "Show Hidden Devices"

    ...and then you actually didn't see the hidden device "Microsoft WiFi Direct Virtual Adapter" (or anyone else) ...???

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-27T22:50:16+00:00

    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.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-27T21:51:14+00:00

    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  :-)

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-02-27T11:25:12+00:00

    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

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