Question Wlan adapter and USB port glitching.. What do I do?

[hosa]

Hello there;

I have two problems with my laptop that happened around the same time..
First is the Wlan adapter, It used to work for a limited amount of time until it stopped working,
and then I would restart my PC and it would work again.. But then it stopped working at all anymore.
There is a yellow exclamation mark on it in the Device Manager..
I tried reinstalling the drivers and making another Windows account and safe mode, but still doesn't work..

Secondly, one of my USB ports isn't working anymore, when i stick a device in it, Windows tells me "device not recognized"
and it also doesn't work after doing the procedures that i had tried with the Wlan..

Sadly i did not find any restore points on my PC, and I'd really hate to Refresh/Reset my PC obviously..

There are some IMPORTANT key points I need to mention, The two problems happened basically at around the same time.
At that time my PC was getting hot, Windows froze frequently, and i had gotten a BSOD..
Then I sent it to the technician and it was SO DUSTY..
unfortunately he could'nt fix the issues but we determined it isnt a hardware issue because they worked under UBUNTU.

I am now desperately looking for solutions, is there any kind of tool that can perform diagnostics or attempt to reset or fix these
components somehow?

I didn't perform a CHCKDSK because i kind of doubt it will fix the issue, but I need to hear a more expert opinion regarding that..

Thank you , I will be following this thread closely..

 

[Ralston18]

Make and model laptop?

Full system hardware specs and OS information?

What device has the yellow exclamation point?

Any error codes, warnings, or informational events in Reliability History/Monitor and Event Viewer?

Also look in Update History for any failed or problem updates.

 

[hosa]

Make and model laptop?

Full system hardware specs and OS information?

What device has the yellow exclamation point?

Any error codes, warnings, or informational events in Reliability History/Monitor and Event Viewer?

Also look in Update History for any failed or problem updates.

Windows 8.1 ... I haven't updated since 3 years.. My system was very stable before all that happened..

Sony VAIO PCG-61A14L
The yellow exclamation point is on the WLAN .
This is a copy and paste of the WLAN error code in Device Manager:
"This device cannot start. (Code 10)

{Operation Failed}
The requested operation was unsuccessful."

I guess it might be helpful to mention that the Wlan has a physical ON/OFF switch..
So If it is off the wlan is cut off as if it doesn't exist just like it is now , except now, the switch doesn't have any effect..

As for the USB port there is no indication of the malfunction except that I get a Windows notification when I stick a flash drive in it:

"The USB device is not recognized" and also tells me it malfunctioned and Windows does not recognize it..

But Ofcourse, my other USB ports are working perfectly, and my flash drive is just fine..

 

[Ralston18]

Make and model info for the WLAN.

Also run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt.

Copy and paste the full results here.

 

[hosa]

Make and model info for the WLAN.

Also run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt.

Copy and paste the full results here.

Intel Centrino Advanced N 6200 AGN

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]
(c) 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Admin
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Qualcomm Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Eth
ernet Controller (NDIS 6.30)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection 5:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : TAP-Windows Adapter V9
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection 4:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Windscribe Windtun420
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection 3:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Windscribe VPN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : TAP-BVPN-Windows Adapter V9
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Speedify Virtual Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet 4:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Symantec TAP Driver
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter HotspotShield Network Adapter:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HotspotShield TAP-Windows Adapter V9
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter VPN - VPN Client:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VPN Client Adapter - VPN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : TAP-ProtonVPN Windows Adapter V9
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter VirtualBox Host-Only Network:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : (Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

C:\Windows\system32>

I have to mention that I did try to disable all these VPN adapters, and I also tried a tool called Complete Internet Repair and checked the following :



I also tried the command "NETCFG -d" in CMD

 

[hosa]

 

[Ralston18]

This adapter?

Intel Centrino Advanced N 6200 AGN

It is not listed in "ipconfig /all"

And I am not at all sure about:

"I guess it might be helpful to mention that the Wlan has a physical ON/OFF switch.."

Do not remember any WLANs having such a switch. Do you have any photographs or links that show the switch?

If you right click the Centrino adapter in Device Manager then select Properties is there anything listed under the Events tab?

And, just to clarify, the USB port works when other devices are connected but not when a flash drive is connected?

Likely there are multiple problems - Windows 8.1 and the laptop itself. May be starting to falter and fail.

Is all important data backed up?

 

[hosa]

This adapter?

Intel Centrino Advanced N 6200 AGN

It is not listed in "ipconfig /all"

And I am not at all sure about:

"I guess it might be helpful to mention that the Wlan has a physical ON/OFF switch.."

Do not remember any WLANs having such a switch. Do you have any photographs or links that show the switch?

If you right click the Centrino adapter in Device Manager then select Properties is there anything listed under the Events tab?

And, just to clarify, the USB port works when other devices are connected but not when a flash drive is connected?

Likely there are multiple problems - Windows 8.1 and the laptop itself. May be starting to falter and fail.

Is all important data backed up?

yes the data is backed up, still, i don't want lose my Windows customizations ...

"And, just to clarify, the USB port works when other devices are connected but not when a flash drive is connected?"

,No, the USB port is NOT working with any device, however, power is transmitted and the optical mouse does emit light..

"If you right click the Centrino adapter in Device Manager then select Properties is there anything listed under the Events tab?"

"Do not remember any WLANs having such a switch. Do you have any photographs or links that show the switch?"

What do you mean? older laptops used to have those, mine looks similar like the picture below:

 

[hosa]

I just had a strange idea, what if the drivers responsible for the switch are separate from the WLAN drivers?
If that is true then reinstalling those drivers might solve it..
The only problem is that I just don't know which driver is it.. I don't know what to look for..

I also wonder if the motherboard could have been damaged because of the dust?

 

[Ralston18]

I misunderstood then.

I had it in my mind that you were using a USB wireless network adapter and that the switch was on that adapter and not on the laptop.

The laptop switch likely toogles the laptop between wired and wireless with respect to using network components within the laptop. No dedicated drivers for the switch that I am aware of. However, there is some code somewhere that tells the host computer what method of network connectivity is selected: wired or wireless.

The switch would not/should not affect a USB installed wireless network adapter. That would cause all sorts of problems if other USB devices are plugged in.

Computers ( barring special requirements) should only have one network adapter enabled at a time.

For testing purposes are you able to use a wired connection and then, once connected and stable, run "ipconfig /all" again?

= = = =

As for dust damaging the motherboard - only if thick and heavy enought to cause serious overheating,

Computer may be able to shut itself down should that be the case - overheating/thermal shutdown.

Or the dust draws in crawly things that can short things out and fry themselves and small components.

More damage is done by rough and improper cleaning procedures.

 

[hosa]

I misunderstood then.

I had it in my mind that you were using a USB wireless network adapter and that the switch was on that adapter and not on the laptop.

The laptop switch likely toogles the laptop between wired and wireless with respect to using network components within the laptop. No dedicated drivers for the switch that I am aware of. However, there is some code somewhere that tells the host computer what method of network connectivity is selected: wired or wireless.

The switch would not/should not affect a USB installed wireless network adapter. That would cause all sorts of problems if other USB devices are plugged in.

Computers ( barring special requirements) should only have one network adapter enabled at a time.

For testing purposes are you able to use a wired connection and then, once connected and stable, run "ipconfig /all" again?

= = = =

As for dust damaging the motherboard - only if thick and heavy enought to cause serious overheating,

Computer may be able to shut itself down should that be the case - overheating/thermal shutdown.

Or the dust draws in crawly things that can short things out and fry themselves and small components.

More damage is done by rough and improper cleaning procedures.

Sure, Can I just use my WiFi dongle instead? I must say however, last time, I had unplugged the WiFi dongle that I have showing up right now...

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]
(c) 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Admin
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : home

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 12:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 5:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi 3:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : home
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : 802.11n USB Wireless LAN Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.3(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, August 6, 2024 9:14:12 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, January 19, 2038 5:14:06 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
192.168.1.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Qualcomm Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Eth
ernet Controller (NDIS 6.30)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection 5:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : TAP-Windows Adapter V9
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection 4:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Windscribe Windtun420
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection 3:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Windscribe VPN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : TAP-BVPN-Windows Adapter V9
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Speedify Virtual Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet 4:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Symantec TAP Driver
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter HotspotShield Network Adapter:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HotspotShield TAP-Windows Adapter V9
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter VPN - VPN Client:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VPN Client Adapter - VPN
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Unknown adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : TAP-ProtonVPN Windows Adapter V9
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter VirtualBox Host-Only Network:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . :
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . :
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

C:\Windows\system32>

I am humbly saying, I cannot see we are making any progress..