WiFi randomly disconnects and won't connect until computer reboot

[eduardowoj]

Hi community,

I am having a problem with an Asus K45A laptop, running Windows 10. This laptop computer is used solely on the university as a work computer, but since it updated from Windows 8.1 to 10, it began presenting this strange network behaviour.

Without a warning, the wifi suddenly disconnects. And I can't connect anymore unless I reboot the computer. Since the wifi network is managed by the university, I can't just restart or power cycle the modem either. However, I do know the problem IS with this laptop because every other single computer in the laboratory works flawlessly.

So far I tried reinstalling the drivers and attempting to execute ipconfig /release, /renew and /flushdns. I also disabled every power saving feature related to wifi and networking, but the problem just doesn't go away.

What can I do now?

Thanks in advance!

 

[boosted1g]

Unfortunately windows 10 has issues with older wifi drivers.

I know you said you reinstalled the drivers but did you make sure it was the newest version for win 10?

 

[boosted1g]

Worst case scenario I would recommend getting a newer wifi chip like an intel 7260 or 7265 which can usually be had for around $30.
Your laptop uses the mini pci-e cards, not the newest m2 ones.

 

[eduardowoj]

Unfortunately windows 10 has issues with older wifi drivers.

I know you said you reinstalled the drivers but did you make sure it was the newest version for win 10?

I recall reinstalling the drivers, but I downloaded and updated the Atheros AR9845 driver. I'll monitor the issue for a while.

 

[Solandri]

Based on the Asus K45A support page, they don't have Win 10 drivers. This is a problem as Windows 10 seems to consider generic Windows 10 drivers as "better" than drivers for earlier versions of Windows. It is thus overwriting your working Windows 8 drivers with non-working generic Windows 10 drivers.

Getting the drivers directly from Atheros was the right step. If they are Windows 10 drivers, then the issue should be solved.

But if Windows 10 still tries to overwrite the drivers with non-functioning ones, you're going to have to turn off Windows Update. Check to make sure Windows is up to date, open up service manager (right-click This PC -> Manage -> Services and Applications -> Services). Double-click Windows Update and set Startup type to Disabled. Then install either the Atheros drivers or your Win 8.1 drivers. About once a month, you'll have to re-enable the Windows Update service so the computer can get the latest security updates. Then repeat this process to reinstall the working drivers.

Windows 10 used to have an option to prevent drivers from auto-updating. But for some reason Microsoft removed the option last October and Win 10 always tries to update everything. So those of us with hardware which doesn't work with Microsoft's generic Win 10 drivers have to go through this lengthy work-around. (I have to do it to get my laptop's switchable graphics to work.)

 

[eduardowoj]

Based on the Asus K45A support page, they don't have Win 10 drivers. This is a problem as Windows 10 seems to consider generic Windows 10 drivers as "better" than drivers for earlier versions of Windows. It is thus overwriting your working Windows 8 drivers with non-working generic Windows 10 drivers.

Getting the drivers directly from Atheros was the right step. If they are Windows 10 drivers, then the issue should be solved.

But if Windows 10 still tries to overwrite the drivers with non-functioning ones, you're going to have to turn off Windows Update. Check to make sure Windows is up to date, open up service manager (right-click This PC -> Manage -> Services and Applications -> Services). Double-click Windows Update and set Startup type to Disabled. Then install either the Atheros drivers or your Win 8.1 drivers. About once a month, you'll have to re-enable the Windows Update service so the computer can get the latest security updates. Then repeat this process to reinstall the working drivers.

Windows 10 used to have an option to prevent drivers from auto-updating. But for some reason Microsoft removed the option last October and Win 10 always tries to update everything. So those of us with hardware which doesn't work with Microsoft's generic Win 10 drivers have to go through this lengthy work-around. (I have to do it to get my laptop's switchable graphics to work.)

Thanks for the detailed info! I'll monitor here, in a few days I'll post back with the results.

Funny that I had a problem with Windows' wireless drivers a while ago, with my gaming rig. I was having random freezes and lock-ups, until I found out it was Windows' version of the TP Link wireless driver that was locking up my system. I detailed the solution here: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3178189/bizarre-random-freezes.html

 

[eduardowoj]

Worst case scenario I would recommend getting a newer wifi chip like an intel 7260 or 7265 which can usually be had for around $30.
Your laptop uses the mini pci-e cards, not the newest m2 ones.

This could be an option, but in Brazil the prices for these escalate quickly to absurd levels :-(

 

[eduardowoj]

Based on the Asus K45A support page, they don't have Win 10 drivers. This is a problem as Windows 10 seems to consider generic Windows 10 drivers as "better" than drivers for earlier versions of Windows. It is thus overwriting your working Windows 8 drivers with non-working generic Windows 10 drivers.

Getting the drivers directly from Atheros was the right step. If they are Windows 10 drivers, then the issue should be solved.

But if Windows 10 still tries to overwrite the drivers with non-functioning ones, you're going to have to turn off Windows Update. Check to make sure Windows is up to date, open up service manager (right-click This PC -> Manage -> Services and Applications -> Services). Double-click Windows Update and set Startup type to Disabled. Then install either the Atheros drivers or your Win 8.1 drivers. About once a month, you'll have to re-enable the Windows Update service so the computer can get the latest security updates. Then repeat this process to reinstall the working drivers.

Windows 10 used to have an option to prevent drivers from auto-updating. But for some reason Microsoft removed the option last October and Win 10 always tries to update everything. So those of us with hardware which doesn't work with Microsoft's generic Win 10 drivers have to go through this lengthy work-around. (I have to do it to get my laptop's switchable graphics to work.)

Updating the post after a week of testing. The issue persists, and Windows hasn't overriden the Atheros driver. Should I begin to suspect of a hardware failure? It is strange, because this behaviour only started after Windows 8.1 upgraded to 10, and I think that if it was indeed a hardware failure, it wouldn't explain why the WiFi works for a while and then disconnects, but still can see the available networks. Also, if it was caused by, let's say, a misplaced WiFi board that's overheating, this wouldn't also explain why rebooting solves the problem for a while.