Wireless connectivity problems can be quite common and are easily one of the most frustrating PC issues you will come across. However, there can often be a simple solution to WiFi connectivity issues and it is always best to rule out the most obvious first. Below we discuss a few simple ways through which you can fix all your WiFi connectivity issues on a Windows 8.1 operating system:
I've recently updated my pc from Windows 8 to 8.1. However,I am now unable to connect to wireless networks. Instead, it says 'No Connections Available' in the networks charm. Under the wireless devices tab, it says 'We couldn't find wireless devices on this PC.' I updated to 8.1 last night and I had wireless after the update. This utility contains the only official version for Microsoft Hyper-V Network Adapter Driver for Windows XP/7/Vista/8/8.1/10 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
1. Check that WiFi is enabled
Before reading on it is always worth ensuring that you have WiFi enabled on your PC or Laptop. Particularly on a laptop, users can often inadvertently toggle the WiFi from on to off – depending on the model you are using, this can be done via one of the function keys or a slider button on the front or side of your laptop. More details on this are available in our article ‘Acer Wireless Networking not Working?’
2. Restart the Wireless Router
Like the previous step, this will just ensure that the problem is not a simple issue, in this case with the Wireless Router. Test your WiFi connection on restart.
3. Clear the DNS Cache
The DNS cache can become corrupted over time and the best way to address this is to clear the cache. To do so carry out the following steps:
- click on the Search icon on the Charms Bar (the name for the main Toolbar in Windows 8)
- type Command Prompt in the Search Box
- right click on the search result and select the Run as Administrator option
- Type the command IPCONFIG /FLUSHDNS and press Enter
- Type Exit and press Enter
- Restart your PC and see if your WiFi issues are resolved
4. TCP/ICP Stack Settings
One of the primary reasons for WiFi connectivity issues is TCP/IP settings misconfiguration. This issue can be resolved through Window’s Net Shell utility. Just follow the steps set out below:
- click on the Search icon on the Charms Bar
- type Command Prompt in the Search Box
- right click on the search result and select the Run as Administrator option
- Type the command NETSH INT IP RESET C:RESTLOG.TXT and press Enter
- Type the following commands (in order) to disable TCP/IP and then enable RSS:
- NETSH INT TCP SET HEURISTICS DISABLED (press Enter)→
- NETSH INT TCP SET GLOBAL AUTOTUNINGLEVEL=DISABLED (press Enter)
- NETSH INT TCP SET GLOBAL RSS=ENABLED (press Enter)
5. Disable WiFi Powersave feature
Depending on your system settings, your WiFi Adapter may be turned off when it is in an idle state for a given duration. You can troubleshoot this problem through the following steps:
- Press Windows Key + W together to launch the Start Search option
- Type Network and Sharing in the search box and press Enter to open the relevant option
- the WiFi Status screen will show when you select your WiFi Network
- Select the Properties button
- In WiFi Properties click on Configure
- On the Power Management Tab uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option and then click OK
This is not a malfunction but a feature. Your laptop runs on a battery and therefore tends to switch off all power draining tasks when the laptop is idle. Your PC may also do this to prevent the CPU from overheating. Disabling the save power option overrides this.
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6. Update Network Adapter Drivers
If you have recently installed, switched to, or upgraded to Windows 8.1, your Network Adapter Drivers may not have been updated. This would negatively impact the performance of your WiFi.
In this case, you can choose to either update the Drivers yourself, or use a driver update tool.
Revert to previous Network Drivers:
- On the Start Screen, type Device Manager and hit Enter
- In the list of Driver categories, enlarge the Network Adapters to view all the items
- Right click the Wireless Connection option and select the Update Driver Software option
- On the next screen, click on the option Browse My Computer for Driver Software
- Next, click on the “Let Me Pick From a List of Device Drivers on My Computer” option
- On the Select Network Adapter option that follows, you will find a number of Device Drivers listed for this particular hardware
- Select the Driver with the Manufacturer’s Name rather than Microsoft and click Next
- Once the installation finishes, Restart your computer for the changes to take effect
If you prefer to use a Driver Update Tool to automate WiFi and other Driver updates, use the link below to download DriverDownloader (monitored and certified by AppEsteem)
The table lists all retail boxed versions of Intel® Ethernet Adapters and the type of driver support they have for Windows 8.1*.
Intel® Ethernet Adapters with driver support for Windows 8.1*
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Description | In Box Support1 | Full Support2 |
10/100 Mbps Ethernet Adapters:
| Yes | No |
PCI and PCI-X* Gigabit (1000 Mbps) Adapters:
| Yes | No |
| No | No |
PCI-Express* Gigabit (1000 Mbps) Adapters:
| Yes | No |
| Yes | No |
| Yes | Yes |
| Yes | No |
| Yes | No |
PCI-X* 10GbE (10 Gbps Ethernet Adapters):
| No | No |
PCI-Express* 10/25/40 Gigabit Ethernet Adapters with Intel® 82598 10 Gigabit Ethernet Controller:
| Yes | No |
PCI-Express* Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapters with Intel® 82599 10 Gigabit Ethernet Controller:
| Yes | Yes |
| No | Yes |
PCI-Express* Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapters with Intel® Ethernet Controller X540:
| Yes | Yes |
PCI-Express* Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapters X550:
| Yes | Yes |
1 In-box support
- Driver and software updates are not planned for adapters with only in-box support. These adapters cannot be updated using automated or manual methods.
- Intel® PROSet for Windows* Device Manager and Advanced Network Services (ANS) driver for teaming and VLANS are not included with in-box support.
2 Full support
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- These adapters have updated drivers, Intel® PROSet for Windows Device Manager, and Advanced Network Services (teaming and VLAN) software available in Download Center.
- Use the Intel® Driver & Support Assistant for Wired Networking to detect and update drivers.
- Manually download the latest Intel® Ethernet Software and drivers.