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
    2015-03-13T17:48:34+00:00

    What part of Windows handles the WLAN and how many third party drivers effect WLAN?


    You still haven't opened a question to fix your issue.

    If you want to figure out if it is an issue with windows or an issue with a third party adapter then open a question and your issue will be fixed. Until then ranting about something you don't know anything about is not going to solve your issue.

    I would be more then happy to help you solve your issue. Doesn't matter to me if it is an issue with Windows or an issue with something else. But going on about whose fault it is will get nothing fixed.

    THIS part of Windows handles the WLAN of any and all third party Drivers -

    (Wireless Zero Configuration was first introduced with Windows XP. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, the service that provides equivalent functionality is called "WLAN AutoConfig". It is based on the Native Wi-Fi architecture introduced in Windows Vista.

    Initially, there was no Wireless LAN API in Windows XP for developers to create wireless client programs and manage profiles and connections. After the release of Windows Vista, Microsoft released KB918977 which includes a Wireless LAN API for Windows XP SP2. It was later integrated into Windows XP Service Pack 3.)

    • I haven't opened a 'Question' due to it's redundancy because a few dozen others have already asked "my" Question for me (Windows 8.1: WiFi dropping and/or "Limited")

    Meanwhile, I'm scanning Internet GEEK Forums daily looking for 'new' fixes to this Connectivity issue from Hades.... and 'going on about it' is what People do when they lose time & Money wasting countless time and hours trying to 'fix' something that shouldn't be broken in the first place. My wireless Network Adapter Card is right as rain.... I shouldn't be experiencing these Wifi connection issues. I DO appreciate the fact that you do appear to be 'trying' to help, so I apologize for what appears to be a 'snarky' attitude... but all of this gets exhausting & exasperating when you have a Business, House and Family to tend to. Believe me, when AND/OR if a permanent fix arrives, I will be the first Person to post it right here on this particular thread. Thanks for responding and 'good looking out'.... :)

    If you ask about drop-range for a few seconds, then automatically connect.

    This means that the area is a device (card) with one antenna WiFi.

    (second antena empty or not connect or cable broken)

    The problem of hardware configurations.

    When this problem occurs frequently:

    If there is Wifi open and you or others use such a open network,

    or when there is a large free WIFI antenna in the area.

    However, if you ask for the drivers,

    are two ways either manually manager, folder location.

    or

    the second way, run applications, installation of drivers.

    Copy them from the TEMP folder before the next step in the application.

    Continue the first way.

    In my case, when the Connection 'drops' or goes to 'Limited', I have to manually disconnect and reconnect.... sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't.  As for the Drivers, I've installed them 'both' ways you suggest.... no difference in Connectivity issues... problem persists.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-03-13T19:24:00+00:00

    Good advice.

    The disabling off power saving using the power management tab and UAPSD is a feature added to tell windows to ignore the third party drivers features to turn off to save power. This was done a few years back because third party adapters were not respecting the wake up command. When they don't wake properly it can cause a whole bunch of issue from slow boot times to limited connection since other drivers rely on the network driver.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-03-13T19:27:25+00:00
    1. Are you sure the router and the laptop has two antennas?
    2. Do other devices connected to the router have two antennas? (print, TV)
    3. Do you have the original drivers for the "Device Manager"?
    4. Option wifi card power of win8.1 management must be disabled.
    5. In the router enable automatic frequency channel.
    6. Advanced wifi driver set maximum signal strength.

    In advanced wifi driver set maximum aggressiveness mobility.

    1. If you have time is: in the place where the "limited" internet. Disconnect interneto of roautera and check only the connection to the router.
    2. Disable IPv6, IPv4 leave.
    3. Perform the internet speedtest where you have the most limited.

    10 Test the available wifi network on which channels are suitable whether they are free channel.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-03-13T19:38:32+00:00

    You are referring to an API used by third party driver makers https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms706593(v=vs.85).aspx which was replaced by https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms706275(v=vs.85).aspx is for devolopers as part of WDF.

    You have hit the head on the nail. Windows provides the tools for the vendors to make a driver that works with Windows. How ever, like many programs there are bugs and programmers don't always get it right the first time.

    This is what my point is. Windows doesn't program these drivers the third party companies do. They are responsible for making, supporting and providing updates to the driver. That is why telling Microsoft to fix it will never work. They can't fix what they don't make. Telling the PC vendor they have a broken WNIC and not accepting its Windows fault will force them to get these issue fixed.

    Often their stuff works but the router has old firmware that doesn't support certain security or handles security in a way that causes the wireless connection to break. By telling the correct person you start a chain or communication that can get the issue fixed.

    Most of these issues were fixed already but since people don't always get an update to a router or other hardware a small amount of people will continue to get issues. Here is an example of an issue that was cause as a result of Windows 8 causing an issue. It was an issue that was always present but due to upgrades in security it wasn't caught until 8 was released http://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2749073

    This is what I am trying to convey so these issue are fixed. The way it works is Windows makes the OS. The vendor must provide support for windows and their PC for a year. In this year they can contact all of their hardware vendors and Microsoft to discover the issues and repair the issue.

    In a perfect world Microsoft could collect information from your computer and send the data collection to the vendors and force them to fix the issue. However due to privacy laws and other factors they can't collect data in this matter and send it off.

    Good luck I will look for your question and be happy to help you

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-03-13T19:48:51+00:00

    I didn't see an open question asked by you. It is better to open a new thread.

    If you can connect but it then drops and a manually disconnect and reconnect solves the issue do this

    press windows key + X > device manager > expand network adapters > double click the wireless one > power management tab > uncheck allow windows to turn off this device to save power.

    This will prevent windows from sending out notice it can sleep.

    Next press windows key + x > command prompt > type these commands and press enter after each one

    ipconfig /flushdns

    ipconfig /release

    ipconfig /renew

    if you get a message that there is no adapter or something similar let me know. When you get a chance to open a new question post this info in the question. To copy the info right click the command prompt and choose select all then press enter. This will copy the output of the command prompt

     I would need the output from these two commands

    ipconfig /all

    and

    netsh wlan show networks mode=BSSID

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