Reset Wireless Adapter

[Graeme]

Hello Loungers.

I hope you're well.

I think this is a hardware problem but it might be a Windows 10 problem.

My trusty i7 Toshiba laptop is 6 years old and it has always performed very well. Just recently it has started loosing it's wireless connection after 10-15 minutes running. If I right click the wireless symbol (now a globe symbol) I can run the Windows Troubleshoot problems thing. This then tells me it's resetting the wireless adapter and fixes the problem. It returns the message Problems Found, The default gateway is not available - fixed. 10-15 minutes later the same happens only this time the Troubleshooter is unable to fix the problem and reports that the Ethernet cable is unplugged.

Anyone know of a fix or is it time for a new laptop?

Thanks

Regards

Graeme

[StuartR]

This may be a problem with your WiFi access point, or your router, rather than with your laptop.
Do you have other devices connected to the same network? Do they work reliably?

[Graeme]

Hello Stuart.

The problem seems to be only affecting my laptop. The bandwidth drops to 5-10Mb/s at times but there are two other PCs in the house, Netflix on the TV and my Android tablet, none have the same disconnection problem.

[HansV]

How old is your router?

Until recently, I had an old router, and while my laptop and smartphone didn't have problems connecting to it over WiFi, my desktop started losing the connection more and more frequently. A couple of months ago, my ISP informed me that my router was outdated and sent me a new one. The problems disappeared instantly, and haven't returned...

[Graeme]

Hello Hans

We have had the router exactly 18 months because BT are nagging us to renew the contract! I can only assume it was new at the time.

Perhaps I'll set my phone as a hot spot and see what happens to rule out the router.

Thanks

Regards

Graeme

[HansV]

18 months isn't old. I think mine was at least 10 year old...

[StuartR]

Here's something you could try to see how it affects those symptoms next time. Run these commands in a command window, you will need to have admin privileges so start the command window by right-clicking a shortcut and choosing Run as Administrator...

After you run these commands please copy the output and paste it into a post here. You can put the output between [code] and [/code] tags to make it more manageable.

IPCONFIG
IPCONFIG /RELEASE
IPCONFIG /RENEW

[Graeme]

There you go Stuart.

Hope it means more to you than it does to me!

This was whilst I had functioning wireless.

Code: Select all

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.836]
(c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG

Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 4:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 5:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : home
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:b517:8b1e:1a76:b04d
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:b517:8b1e:1a76:b04d
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::d5aa:d639:8e41:aee%13
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.145
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::eaad:a6ff:fecb:8b69%13
                                       192.168.1.254

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG /RELEASE

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Ethernet while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 4 while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 5 while it has its media disconnected.

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 4:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 5:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : home
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:b517:8b1e:1a76:b04d
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:b517:8b1e:1a76:b04d
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::d5aa:d639:8e41:aee%13
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::eaad:a6ff:fecb:8b69%13

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG /RENEW

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Ethernet while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 4 while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 5 while it has its media disconnected.

[StuartR]

Has the output been truncated? I was expecting to see that the WiFi connection had been re-established - but we only see the output for the first three Local Area connections.

[Graeme]

My copy and pasting skills appear to have let me down!

Attempt#2:

Code: Select all

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.836]
(c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG /RENEW

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Ethernet while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 4 while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 5 while it has its media disconnected.

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 4:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 5:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : home
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:687e:cbf6:7a8b:e19
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:687e:cbf6:7a8b:e19
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::d5aa:d639:8e41:aee%13
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.145
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::eaad:a6ff:fecb:8b69%13
                                       192.168.1.254

C:\Users\Graeme>

[StuartR]

Attempt#2 shows that your computer can talk to your router, which is also your default gateway, at IP address 192.168.1.254

I assume that everything was working properly when you issued this command.

Try it again next time you have a problem

[Graeme]

Stuart

Understood.

Thanks

Regards

Graeme

[Graeme]

This is the result I got running all three commands after the wireless dropped out.

Code: Select all

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG

Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 4:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 5:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : home
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:9832:50ad:9e70:8adb
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:9832:50ad:9e70:8adb
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::d5aa:d639:8e41:aee%13
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.145
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG /RELEASE

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Ethernet while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 4 while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 5 while it has its media disconnected.

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 4:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 5:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : home
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:9832:50ad:9e70:8adb
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:9832:50ad:9e70:8adb
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::d5aa:d639:8e41:aee%13
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG /RENEW

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Ethernet while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 4 while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 5 while it has its media disconnected.

This is the message returned after reset:

[StuartR]

Did you accidentally truncate the output from IPCONFIG /RENEW again? Or was there really no output from the Wireless adapter? If this is the case then it is definitely a hardware fault on the laptop.

[Graeme]

Did you accidentally truncate the output from IPCONFIG /RENEW again?

Well, I would like to think not! But I wouldn't put it past me. I did notice that the text ended as before.

My wireless connection dropped out half way through that last sentence. So I have run all 3 commands again and I can confirm there was no more. This time though it times out right at the end.

Code: Select all

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG

Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 4:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 5:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : home
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:75c7:ce26:9a38:956
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:75c7:ce26:9a38:956
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::d5aa:d639:8e41:aee%13
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.145
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG /RELEASE

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Ethernet while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 4 while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 5 while it has its media disconnected.

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 4:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 5:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : home
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:d5aa:d639:8e41:aee
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2a00:23c7:d92:a800:75c7:ce26:9a38:956
   Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : fdaa:bbcc:ddee:0:75c7:ce26:9a38:956
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::d5aa:d639:8e41:aee%13
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG /RENEW

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Ethernet while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 4 while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 5 while it has its media disconnected.
An error occurred while renewing interface WiFi : unable to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out.

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG /RENEW

IPCONFIG /RENEW

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.836]
(c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Graeme>IPCONFIG/RENEW

Windows IP Configuration

No operation can be performed on Ethernet while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 4 while it has its media disconnected.
No operation can be performed on Local Area Connection* 5 while it has its media disconnected.
An error occurred while renewing interface WiFi : unable to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out.

C:\Users\Graeme>

When I ran the trouble shooter this time it fixed the problem and reconnected but returned a different error message.

IP Config04.PNG

[StuartR]

Code: Select all

An error occurred while renewing interface WiFi : unable to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out.

This is significant. The PC can see the WiFi interface and talk to it, but the WiFi can't connect to the router. This would indeed cause the error message "WiFi" does not have a valid IP configuration.

I suspect that the problem may be with your router rather than with the PC

[Graeme]

Thanks for looking at this Stuart.

It's annoying and it's intermittent but I can live with it!

Regards

Graeme

[Graeme]

Well the problem became permanent eventually. So I brought a 6m Ethernet cable home from work that reaches from the Router in the hall to the laptop on my lap on the settee. You'll be pleased to know that I now have an internet connection!

To be fair, the laptop is coming up to six years old so it is reasonable to expect bits to be falling off I suppose.

Regards

Graeme