Asus G73JW Freezes after Windows 8.1 Update - Network Related

Anonymous
2013-11-19T13:41:57+00:00

Quick background.  I had trouble installing the Windows 8.1 update - it continually crashed on installation.  I contacted Microsoft Support and they directed me to this site: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/1e1adbc5-b78e-4b2a-9661-4139d13cc7d3/0xc1900101-0x30018-error-during-update-restore-win8?forum=w8itproinstall

In the end, I was able to install Windows 8.1 by disabling all of my onboard devices (audio, networking, etc).  When I re-enabled them, I found that the computer would crash anywhere between 0 - 2 minutes after logging in.  I assumed a driver issue and, in those 2 minutes, was able to update each driver via Device Manager (requiring several reboots).

Everything worked fine for a few days.  Now, the computer has started to freeze again.  Disabling the built-in networking solves the problem, but I would obviously like to access the internet.  On top of that, it's inconsistent.  Once the freezing starts, I *must* disable networking via BIOS.  But then if I re-enable networking, it doesn't automatically lead to a freeze - I'm writing this post from the troubled computer right now.

I've confirmed that it's related to the network card because I tried a dozen things, but it kept on freezing.  Disabled the network and boom - freezing is gone.

I don't know how long I'll have a grace period.  If I only need to disable the networking once a week, I can live with that.

Thoughts?  Drivers are updated.  The install is as clean as possible since doing the update required me to wipe my system.

I'm certain that going back to 8.0 will solve the problem, but I like to keep my system current.

Hardware: Asus G73JW Laptop with Qualcomm Atheros AR9285 Wireless (as reported by Device Manager)

Thanks!

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Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-18T03:55:30+00:00

    I had a ton of problems with my G73JH and upgraded to win 8.1.  It has been running solid for a month now... without the battery installed...

    As soon as I removed the battery and kept the laptop plugged in, the incompatibility / freezing had stopped.  I can have my LAN / Wireless / Bluetooth all on, but as soon as I plug the battery back in and reboot, the system grinds to a halt.

    Give it a try and let others know if it worked or not.  If it works, then we have narrowed the problem down substantially.

    Thank you for sharing with the community what worked for you -- I might just try your suggestion some time.

    I still get the occasional lock up on my G73JW-3DE DTR running Windows 8.1.  My quick fix is to temporarily connect via an ethernet cable and reboot -- this seems to aid Windows to perform whatever it needs to do.  I then shut down, disconnect the ethernet cable, and power it back up.  WiFi then works again for a decent amount of time (e.g. I have not had a lock-up since my last posting on 1/31/2014)... until the next WiFi lockup comes along.  *EYE ROLL*

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-17T03:22:38+00:00

    I had a ton of problems with my G73JH and upgraded to win 8.1.  It has been running solid for a month now... without the battery installed...

    As soon as I removed the battery and kept the laptop plugged in, the incompatibility / freezing had stopped.  I can have my LAN / Wireless / Bluetooth all on, but as soon as I plug the battery back in and reboot, the system grinds to a halt.

    Give it a try and let others know if it worked or not.  If it works, then we have narrowed the problem down substantially.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-03T22:10:32+00:00

    John,

    Thanks for such a comprehensive list. I've never had the freezing issues (perhaps because both the G73-JW machines I have stay connected to wired ethernet; the WiFi is always disabled) but they both randomly BSOD after wake and have other strange hibernation problems. Both were rock solid under 7 and even Win 8, but both have the same issues now with Win 8.1.

    All my minidumps point to the Fresco Logic driver. I'm currently running 3.5.93.0 -- going to download your driver set and see if that helps any.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-01T01:50:34+00:00

    I am having the same problem.  I turned off the wireless and it seems to be working okay without freezing yet, but I need to have wifi.  I can't always be plugged in.  I went back to windows 8 and started having the same problems there also, so I came back to windows 8.1  I think the drivers from Microsoft for this device is not good enough and we need to get the driver from Qualcomm, but I have not been able to find the driver to install manually.  I have the exact laptop as you and have spent the last 2 weeks reinstalling to try and figure out what was going on and today figured out that it was the networking card.  If anyone knows where I can download a safe AR9385 driver apart from Microsoft pls post :) 

    I wish I could say that I finally made the problem go away, but I am typing this now with the ethernet cable plugged in to prevent the lock ups.  I thought upgrading all of the G73JW drivers really would take care of the problem, and that did seem to do the trick for a couple of weeks.  I thought I also had the USB 3 disconnection problem beaten by installing an older Fresco USB 3 controller driver.  A week ago, I plugged a USB 2.0 drive into the USB 3.0 port, and the lock ups came back.  I used the ethernet cable for a few days and then went back to the WiFi.  Unfortunately, the lockups began happening again to me this evening.  Thankfully, plugging in the ethernet cable stabilizes the system, but as you pointed out, this workaround is not ideal.  Another possibility may be tuning off the internal networking card in the BIOS (if it is possible) and using one of those 802.11n USB wifi dongles instead.

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-01-31T04:41:27+00:00

    I am having the same problem.  I turned off the wireless and it seems to be working okay without freezing yet, but I need to have wifi.  I can't always be plugged in.  I went back to windows 8 and started having the same problems there also, so I came back to windows 8.1  I think the drivers from Microsoft for this device is not good enough and we need to get the driver from Qualcomm, but I have not been able to find the driver to install manually.  I have the exact laptop as you and have spent the last 2 weeks reinstalling to try and figure out what was going on and today figured out that it was the networking card.  If anyone knows where I can download a safe AR9385 driver apart from Microsoft pls post :)

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