Windows 8.1: WiFi dropping and/or "Limited"

(Repeating my post from a different here, to help people who face the same issue)

PROBLEM SOLVED, BUT WINDOWS 8 STILL A POS.

Windows has always had issues with Wifi connection that are far more severe than say, Android or iOS.  Windows 7 had them, but they JUST GOT WORSE IN WINDOWS 8/8.1.

In my situation, Wifi was working without issues for a few weeks upon purchase of a new machine and then one day I just kept getting similar issues that other people here have.   None of the suggestions work, e.g. it wasn't a driver or power setting issue.

I was able to fix the problem by changing my router's channel from 6 to 11.   While this solves the problem, the fact that neither my iPad nor Galaxy Note had any issues tells me that this is absolutely still Windows 8's lousiness being responsible.

It is possible that the Windows 8 Wifi algorithm does not sort signals very well.

Great, just as soon as I post the above, the problem comes back again.  SCREW MICROSOFT AND THEIR EVIL SPAWN - WINDOWS 8.

This old article may probably shed some light on what's going on:

http://www.joshcanhelp.com/does-your-wifi-disconnect-often-before-you-smash-your-laptop-heres-the-fix/

Wireless Zero Configuration seems to have been replace by WLAN AutoConfig so the solution above no longer works (Turning off WLAN AutoConfig kills your Wifi), but it's a fair bet that the lousy alogrithms WZC uses live on in WLAN AutoConfig.

Steve Jobs would have put the people responsible for this PoS service before a firing squad, and he most certainly would not have let this piece of sh1t code persist over 4 OS generations (XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1).

FURTHER UPDATE.

Because it was still happening, I got so sick I did a full reinstall of Windows 8.1, THAT SEEMED TO HAVE DONE THE TRICK  (at least for the next half hour under this loser OS).

It now seems fairly certain that some POS Window Update Pack screwed the Wifi connection.  Now I know why I always had automatic Windows Update turned off and only updated upon release of a Service Pack.

I have this problem too,

my pc was fine (desktop running 8.1), i reset it because the internet was being slow and the connection is permanently 'limited' now.

if i boot in safe mode i can connect to the internet. i tried wired and wireless (which usually use) and they both show limited.

I've followed a tonne of guides which had me refreshing my ip addresses and checking for malware to no avail. I've reset the network devices and rolled back their drivers.

other computers are working fine on the same connection. 

just to top off the annoyance, i cant run a refresh because it says its missing files. My version of Windows 8.1 was upgraded from 7 originally, i have no idea what the key is and my original boot disk is Windows 7 SP1.

also how am i supposed to install any updates if i cant connect to the internet?

anyone know what to do?

I have this problem too,

my pc was fine (desktop running 8.1), i reset it because the internet was being slow and the connection is permanently 'limited' now.

if i boot in safe mode i can connect to the internet. i tried wired and wireless (which usually use) and they both show limited.

I've followed a tonne of guides which had me refreshing my ip addresses and checking for malware to no avail. I've reset the network devices and rolled back their drivers.

other computers are working fine on the same connection. 

just to top off the annoyance, i cant run a refresh because it says its missing files. My version of Windows 8.1 was upgraded from 7 originally, i have no idea what the key is and my original boot disk is Windows 7 SP1.

also how am i supposed to install any updates if i cant connect to the internet?

anyone know what to do?

Frankly, I am so pissed off that something as basic as Wifi is giving people hair-tearing problems (so obvious from the HUNDREDS of postings on this topic) and Microsoft cannot even acknowledge much less fix the problem, that my answer is: Ditch Windows and Switch to Mac.

If you were running 7 happily, going to 8 is a HUUUGE mistake.  Stick to 7.  The only reason I'm basically FORCED to run 8/8.1 is because I have new devices with touchscreens on them.

Try this:

1. In Device Manager, uninstall the network adapter device.
2. Scan hardware and it will reinstall

If still won't work, next step is to do a system restore, going back to an earlier restore point.  In retrospect, I could have probably done this as opposed to a clean install, but I just hated the fact that arbitrary rollbacks could fix the problem without any clear explanation of what went wrong.