Windows 10: My wifi adapter disappeared from "Network Connections" after update, but not "Device Manager"

After a recent update, I lost my wi-fi connection. The adapter is not even visible in the "Network Connections" screen. It is visible on the Device Manager, which says it is working and has all the current drivers.


I am using: Windows 10 home 32 bit (running on a 64 processor) v. 1803 os build 17134.137. This is on an Intel Compute Stick. It has a WAN Miniport, driver 10.0.16299.15


What I have tried until now:

• Uninstalling the driver in the device manager and restarting. This had no effect.
• Restoring to an earlier version of windows. v.1709 OS build 16299.431 No effect
• Updated the driver. This had no effect. I used this website, which had an .exe that was supposed to help:
• Used the Troubleshoot function. This had no effect, but I checked and it only looked at the Bluetooth connection.
• The compute stick has no battery, but I did confirm that it is set to "Maximum Performance - No Power Savings". In Device Manager it says the current power state is D0, or fully on.
• command prompt "netcfg -d" and a restart. The command generated a bunch of errors. I restarted anyway. There was no change.
• Reinstalled Windows. Even this did not help!

:)

 

Network adapters show up in device manager but not network connections

Hi Benxas,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

1) Are you connect to Wired/Wireless network?

If you are connected to wireless network the I suggest you to refer to the Microsoft article and check if it helps.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3084164

If you are Connected to wired connection, then I suggest you to follow the below steps and check if it helps.

• Right-click the Start icon and select Device Manager.
• Expand Network adapters, right-click your Broadcom adapter, and select
  Properties.
• In the Driver tab, click Driver Details.
• Under Driver files, if the path listed ends with either k57nd60a.sys or k57nd60x.sys, or a variant of this file name, then please continue with the solution provided below.
  If it does not match these file names, the proposed workaround is not likely to resolve your issue.
  Please post the make and model of your PC, along with the driver file name, and the Driver Date and Driver Version listed in the Driver tab, along with an explanation of the symptom you are experiencing.
  
  If the name of your Broadcom driver matches k57nd60a.sys or k57nd60x.sys, to resolve your problem:
• Return to the Device Manager.
  
• Expand Network adapters, right-click your Broadcom adapter, and select
  Properties.
• In the Advanced tab, look for and select the property, “Receive Side Scaling”.
  Set it to Disabled, and click OK.
  
• You may need to reboot your computer.

Please reply to us with the status of the issue.

Thanks.

 

WiFi Has Disappeared from Network Adapter in Device Manager-No WiFi


Hello,
Thank you in advancefor any help. I am senior who helps other seniors in this small townkeep their pc ‘s operating as best I can.
I have an HP laptopthat was reworked by a shop sometime ago. I updated this pc to WinAnniveresary Issue and then this past Spring to version 1703.
Last week my seniorcalled and said they could no longer get wifi on this pc.
Well I have it hereat home now and they are right. The pc states that no wifi isavailable. And in the Settings-Wireless Devices-”We couldn’t findWindows Devices on this PC.”
And too in “Network
Internet-Network Connections” there is only one icon, and it is forEthernet.
There is no icon for“Wifi.”
Under Device ManagerI find the drive for Ethernet and then 8 WAN Miniport Adapters(IKEV2, IP, IPv6, LZTP, Network Monitor, PPPQE, PPIP, SSTP). Whatthese are and what they all mean I don’t know but they all areworking.
I can plug my USBnetwork adapter into a USB port and can connect-see the wifi with noproblem.
I am trying to saveour senior $ by not having to buy another USB network adapter and getthis pc going on the pc’s wifi.
The F-12 Key has thewifi symbol on it and it is amber I have tried pressing fn + F-12,plus other key combos from Google to turn the wifi icon key blue, butno go so far. Pressing F-12 turns the Airplane mode on and off only.
Do I need to installa win 10 adapter driver for the HP 2000 laptop? I have looked for drivers
but having trouble finding one for win 10 64 bit...get a lot of spam driver sites.
Can you give me sometips or links to try to repair this no wifi icon-no wifi connectionavailable please?

 

Wifi Network Adaptor disappearing - HW or SW? How to fix?


Hi

I'm having wifi problems with my lappy, but I can't figure-out whether it is hardware or software. There is evidence to suggest that recent versions of Windows 10 have been causing wifi problems. If the problem _is_ with Windows and they are going to fix it, then I can stop worrying about trying to fix the hardware (I am travelling abroad and it is near-impossible to find expertise/parts/tools).


Gory Details:

System: Levono Yoga2 Pro laptop. Intel Core i7-4500U. 8GB RAM. Windows 10 64 bit.
I have been using Windows 10 since it came out without any problems. I have been keeping it updated.

Precursor to this problem: On 4th November 2016, mid-session, apropos of nothing, my wifi stopped seeing the wifi network it was connected to; or any other wifi networks. (My phone could see plenty). This was evidenced in the Taskbar, Action centre, Settings dialogs of the PC. The Windows version was upto date at the time, but downloading the next week's Microsoft Patch Tuesday updates (9th Nov) fixed the problem. System working AOK. Yay.
(MS update: KB3200970 "Addressed issue with the system tray showing no Wi-Fi connection even when Wi-Fi is present")

System fixed - I made a system-restore point.

The "fix" held for 24 hours, then a new, more severe problem started occurring (='the current problem').

Current problem: After 3 to 5 hours of normal, troublefree operation, the PC stops seeing the wifi entirely. Any menu options associated with wifi networking disappear entirely. The Device Manager can no longer see the Network Adapter (Intel Wireless-N 7260) or its driver software. (That statement is somewhat summmarised - see Note 1 at the bottom of this post for more details).

None of the Events in Event Viewer explain the disappearing Network Adapter.

If I do a (whole) system restore back to my restore point, then everything is fine-and-dandy for a few hours, then the Network Adapter disappears again, along with any chance of seeing any wifi controls.

System Restore consistently fixes it for a few hours. Then the Network (adapter) consistently disappears again.

- - -

So, is that hardware or software?

One might think it is temperture/overheating related, but the problem also once occurred overnight when the PC was switched off (it was fine when I went to bed and switched it off, but was 'broken' when I switched it on again in the morning).

One might think it is Virus related, but everything shows-up clean in MBAM and Avast.

If it is a hardware problem, why would a system restore (to a point a few days ago) fix it?

I'm thinking/hoping that the problem is caused by recent versions of Windows 10 (f,g below). But I can't find examples of other people suffering.

If it _is_ caused by the OS, how does one inform Microsoft about it? (I don't want to join the 'Insiders Community')


Any ideas?

TIA


-----------------------------------------
p.s. I have done as much diagnostics as possible - gory details here:

Note: the text "Result: FAIL" means that after a few hours of normal operation, AOK, the Intel Wireless-N 7260 Network Adapter can suddenly not be detected and any wifi activity/option becomes unavailable. Restart doesn't help. Restoring the system to a previous state fixes the problem (for a few hours).

Scenarios a-e all have the wifi switched on and connected to a wifi network.
a) System status up-to-date at 10 Nov. Result: FAIL

b) System status reverted to a Restore Point made in OCTOBER 2016: Result: FAIL

c) System status up-to-date at 10 Nov. Updated Network Adapter DRIVER to a newer version found by Device Manager (but not listed in the manufacturer's website's list of drivers). Result: FAIL

d) System status reverted to a Restore Point made in AUGUST. Retained old NA driver. Downloaded and applied November 9th MS Updates and updated Browser (Firefox) Version and Virus definitions: Result: FAIL

e) System status reverted to a Restore Point made in August. Retained old NA driver. Update Browser (Firefox) Version and Virus definitions, but DID NOT download/apply November 9th MS Update: Result: RUNS FINE FOR THE 4 HOURS UNTIL MS FORCES THE LATEST MS OS UPDATES TO BE APPLIED, then runs OK for a few hours then FAILs.

.

Scenarios f-g have the wifi switched OFF; or switched on but not connected to a wifi network; so that Automatic Updates can't be forced onto the computer.

f) System status reverted to a Restore Point made in August. Wifi switched OFF. Result: RUNS FINE FOR THE 14 hours I tested it. (i.e. the Network Adapter appears to be fine, as reported by the Device Manager)

...

g) (follows on from (f))... Wifi now switched ON but options set to "forget" known wifi networks, (so wifi is ON and polling nearby networks, but is not connected to any of them). Result: RUNS FINE FOR THE 6 hours I have (so far) tested it. (i.e. the Network Adapter appears to be fine as reported by the Device Manager)


Conclusion: f and g seem to suggest that the problem arises from later (current) versions of Windows 10. But this is inconclusive, because in scenario (f), the wifi card is not being used and and (g) it isn't being used for sending/receiving internet traffic

(N.B. I am abroad and using my hotel's wifi network(s) to try and use the internet. I have no control over the network itself).

----------------------

Note 1:

When I say "The device manager can no longer see the Network Adapter" - this is a _summary_ of what happens - infact, it seems to go through 4 separate stages:

1) normal operation - everything AOK.
2) The PC reports it is still seeing the wifi connnection that it is/was connected to, but is seeing no other wifi networks. The wifi network it connected to can no longer send/receive any data
3) The Device Manager shows a yellow warning triangle on Network adapters> Intel Wireless-N 7260, and 'Properties' shows "No drivers are installed for this device."
4a) The Device Manager shows a yellow warning triangle on Network adapters> Intel Wireless-N 7260 and Properties shows "This device cannot start. (Code 10). This device does not exist."
or
4b) Device Manager, Network adapters> doesn't show Intel Wireless-N 7260 at all.

A few minutes pass between each step through the stages occurring. Other apps running on the PC (e.g. mp3 player) freeze up for a couple of seconds when each stage changes to the next.