[SOLVED] Wifi dropping out every 30 seconds. Please help!

[Chazfem]

Hi, I was wondering if someone could please help me with my wifi. It constantly drops out. It could be ok for a while then you might have to reset or troubleshoot every 30 secs! It's making my PC almost unusable for anything online. I rang my ISP and they changed channels for me which seemed to helpfor a bit but now 2 weeks later it's worse than ever. I changed the DNS server to 8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4. as that seemed to help a few years back when I had issues but it's not helping. I deselected the "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" option also. The devices connected to the main signal seem to fair better than those connected to the booster but my PC is by far the worse affected. I'm thinking it's a patchy service but the real issue lies somewhere with my PC. I get error messages like:

"Your connection was interrupted A network change was detected.
ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED

The default gateway is not available.

reset the wifi adapter

Err Connection timed out

The connection between your access point, router or cable modem and the internet is broken

DNS probe finished no internet"

Here's what I think is the important stuff, let me know if I've missed anything out.

OS - Windows 10 64bit.
ISP - Imagine.
Router/Modem - WVRTM-127ACN
Booster - tp link powerline av600
Motherboard - ASUS P8Z68-V LE
USB Wifi adapter - tp-link TL-WN821N
Connected devices - Windows 10 PC, Windows 10 Laptop, 4 android phones, PS4, Ipad.

 

[kanewolf]

You should be able to connect to the powerline adapter via a wired connection. Does that ALSO drop, or only WIFI?

 

[Chazfem]

You should be able to connect to the powerline adapter via a wired connection. Does that ALSO drop, or only WIFI?

Hi thanks for your reply. It used to work that way but I switched to wifi because I wasn't getting a smooth connection that way anymore. I tried it again just to see and I get not internet at all. I think it's because if I move the booster closer to use the cat cable the signal is weak. Unfortunately the modem and my PC are at opposite corners of the house and the walls of this room are very thick old stone walls. But where the booster is in the hall it has a direct line of vision to the modem and is just outside this room so should be fine for my PC to pick up a signal from. The PS4 and any phones pick up the signal ok from in here and only sometimes get a dropped out signal. My PC is much much worse which males me think it's some setting or other that is wrong. DNS server not responding and default gateway not available are the two most common problems.

 

[kanewolf]

The easiest way to determine if it is the network or the PC is to connect a different PC to the same WIFI or ethernet. If the symptom persists, it is the network if the symptom is only on one device then it is the device.

 

[Chazfem]

Sorry kanewolf I didn't mean to vote that down I was trying to reply on my phone and clicked it by mistake! It won't let me change it. It's late, I'm tired...

 

[kanewolf]

What does it do if you boot safe mode with networking?

 

[Chazfem]

I can't log in in safe mode with networking. It says password incorrect even when I removed the password altogether.

 

[kanewolf]

I can't log in in safe mode with networking. It says password incorrect even when I removed the password altogether.

This is sounding like a virus or something malicious... Safe mode is often used to remove malicious software. Making it difficult to get to safe mode would be one way to protect the infection.

 

[Chazfem]

I'm reporting back on my wifi issue to let you know that I followed the advice of your last message and it seems to have worked! I left it a few days just to make sure it was definitely ok as sometimes it would work for an evening and then go back to cutting out. I ran malware bytes and my antivirus and since then I have not had one single disconnect. I really didn't think it was a virus so I didn't bother to run it, lesson learned. I used to run it regularly but haven't done so in a long time so i'll make sure to do so in future, you never know what's lurking in the dark corners of a computer... Thank you for your replies and such an easy solution, I though it would be a much more difficult fix than this.