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
    2014-01-05T05:09:14+00:00

    John, your posts have been extremely valuable.  I can't count all the hours I've lost first trying multiple times to upgrade my Asus G73JW-A1 to 8.1, finally getting the upgrade to work, then having it start crashing only a week later, and eventually being forced to do a clean install of 8 after wasting a day trying to find and repair the problem with 8.1.  

    And I'm not even including the problems I experienced upgrading from 7 to 8.  Although frustrating and time consuming, they were mild in comparison to going from 8 to 8.1. 

    I lose a ton of large desktop programs and assorted settings each time I move from 8 to 8.1 or 8.1 to 8.  As reference, I started working with computers in the late 70s.  The first PC that I actually bought for myself ran on Windows 3.1.  I set up and maintain computers and networks for local businesses. And I have NEVER experienced as much frustration with a computer as I've experienced with trying to get Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 to run on this laptop.  In spite of all that, I really liked 8.1 in the week that I was able to use it.

    Minutes ago, I got Windows 8 set up once again with almost all my programs installed and organized as I want.  One program requires Windows 8.1, so I couldn't install that one.  I'm going to wait a week or two before I try to upgrade to 8.1 again.  I'll check this thread to confirm that you're still having no problems before I make that leap.

    Thank you again for all your help.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-01-04T22:55:39+00:00

    I had the freezing issue on upgrading from Win8 to Win8.1 on my G73JW that so many has reported. It couldn't get past the 'Getting Started' part of the install. Looks like I fixed it by updating all my drivers. It may work for you too.

    Here's a list of the drivers I updated in the order I installed. I first did a clean install of Win8 as it seemed stable. I then installed all the Win8.1 drivers I could find and then upgraded to v8.1.

    • Bluetooth: Qualcomm Atheros W81 v8.01.312
    • Chipset: Intel Inf Updater 9.3.1027
    • LAN: Qualcomm Atheros Lan Driver v2.1.0.21
    • WLAN: Qualcomm Atheros v10.0.0.274
    • Audio: Realtek R273
    • USB3: Fresco v3.5.73.0 (Note: v3.5.74.0 did not work)
    • Graphics: Nvidea Geforce 331.82
    • Touchpad: Synaptics v17.0.6.13 (Newer version failed to install. Found this older one. Bonus!: Supports the gestures needed by Win8)
    • RST: Intel RST v 12.9.0.1001

    I did have one failure but realized I installed the wrong Lan driver and had not installed RST. Once I installed these two all freezes disappeared, Win8.1 installed, and my system seems stable again. I did not worry about the model laptop I had but rather what hardware was in it in finding these drivers. Seems to work great.

    I'm uploading the drivers shown above to a shared folder here:

    https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0C2TrPARs6HNkhYMDdSRUwzZWc&usp=sharing

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-04T17:03:03+00:00

    Thank you for sharing (especially the driver version numbers).  I noticed that many of your shared drive folders were empty.  With the driver version numbers you provided, we may be able to locate the drivers ourselves.  My freezing issues began happening on a working Windows 8 system.  I was able to update to Windows 8.1 without a problem, but the freezing issue began happening again a few days after the upgrade. I'm not sure if these drivers will help me, but they are worth trying.

    The folders should not be empty now. I have very slow upload speed and it took a looong time to upload them. Hope it works for you.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-01-04T06:03:20+00:00

    I had the freezing issue on upgrading from Win8 to Win8.1 on my G73JW that so many has reported. It couldn't get past the 'Getting Started' part of the install. Looks like I fixed it by updating all my drivers.

    Here's a list of the drivers I updated in the order I installed. I first did a clean install of Win8 as it seemed stable. I then installed all the Win8.1 drivers I could find and then upgraded to v8.1.

    • Bluetooth: Qualcomm Atheros W81 v8.01.312
    • Chipset: Intel Inf Updater 9.3.1027
    • LAN: Qualcomm Atheros Lan Driver v2.1.0.21
    • WLAN: Qualcomm Atheros v10.0.0.274
    • Audio: Realtek R273
    • USB3: Fresco v3.5.73.0 (Note: v3.5.74.0 did not work)
    • Graphics: Nvidea Geforce 331.82
    • Touchpad: Synaptics v17.0.6.13 (Newer version failed to install. Found this older one. Bonus!: Supports the gestures needed by Win8)
    • RST: Intel RST v 12.9.0.1001

    I did have one failure but realized I installed the wrong Lan driver and had not installed RST. Once I installed these two all freezes disappeared, Win8.1 installed, and my system seems stable again. I did not worry about the model laptop I had but rather what hardware was in it in finding these drivers. Seems to work great.

    Thank you for sharing (especially the driver version numbers).  I noticed that many of your shared drive folders were empty.  With the driver version numbers you provided, we may be able to locate the drivers ourselves.  My freezing issues began happening on a working Windows 8 system.  I was able to update to Windows 8.1 without a problem, but the freezing issue began happening again a few days after the upgrade. I'm not sure if these drivers will help me, but they are worth trying.

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-01-04T04:14:00+00:00

    I had the freezing issue on upgrading from Win8 to Win8.1 on my G73JW that so many has reported. It couldn't get past the 'Getting Started' part of the install. Looks like I fixed it by updating all my drivers.

    Here's a list of the drivers I updated in the order I installed. I first did a clean install of Win8 as it seemed stable. I then installed all the Win8.1 drivers I could find and then upgraded to v8.1.

    • Bluetooth: Qualcomm Atheros W81 v8.01.312
    • Chipset: Intel Inf Updater 9.3.1027
    • LAN: Qualcomm Atheros Lan Driver v2.1.0.21
    • WLAN: Qualcomm Atheros v10.0.0.274
    • Audio: Realtek R273
    • USB3: Fresco v3.5.73.0 (Note: v3.5.74.0 did not work)
    • Graphics: Nvidea Geforce 331.82
    • Touchpad: Synaptics v17.0.6.13 (Newer version failed to install. Found this older one. Bonus!: Supports the gestures needed by Win8)
    • RST: Intel RST v 12.9.0.1001

    I did have one failure but realized I installed the wrong Lan driver and had not installed RST. Once I installed these two all freezes disappeared, Win8.1 installed, and my system seems stable again. I did not worry about the model laptop I had but rather what hardware was in it in finding these drivers. Seems to work great.

    I'm uploading the drivers shown above to a shared folder here (may take awhile):

    https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0C2TrPARs6HNkhYMDdSRUwzZWc&usp=sharing

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