Network Adapter problems  

System ParticularsHP Pavilion g7 1260US Notebook PCIntel Core i3-2330M CPU @2.20 GhzRam 4.00GB640 HDDOS Windows 10 Home 64Version 1909 Installed 02/25/2020OS Build 18363.657Network Adapters Ralink RT5390 802.11 b/g/n Wifi Adapter

My G7-1260us is over 8 years old. I have been having problems over the last several years but it is getting more problematic.
Over the last few weeks the Wi-Fi adapter will stop working and I lose internet. My computer at this point cannot find any other networks in the area. So I have been resetting the network adapter which then requires a restart of the computer. A Royal PIA. After a little research I found this work around. It does not take care of the root problem- Why is the device getting deleted? I tried to see if there is an updated version of the driver but Windows tells me that my version of the driver is the latest one.
Here is my work around. Device Manage> Right Click on the listing of the Ralink Network Adapter> Disable the device>Enable the device> jimmy crickets my wi-fi icon is back in the system tray.

After choosing properties I go to Events-When it listed the device was deleted this is what it reads

On 02/28/2020 at 13.38.04 Device DeletedMessageDevice PCI\\ VEN_1814&DEV_5309&SUBSYS_1636103C&REV_00\4&1753F8A8&0&00E0was deletedClass Guid: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc-1-08002be 1031B}

Any and all help will be appreciated. Otherwise I will just continue with my workaround!

So your solution is that the Wi-fi card has gone wonky. I was hoping it was software instead of a hardware problem. In about 3 weeks I am going to be getting a newer computer so I guess I will stick with the workaround. Btw I used a wifi dongle from a friend through the usb port and it quit working too. I guess it is time to put this old HP in a seaside burial.

1ThursdayJC said:

So your solution is that the Wi-fi card has gone wonky. I was hoping it was software instead of a hardware problem....

It may be a fixable hardware problem, try removing and reseating the WLAN card. That was the fix for an intermittently disappearing WiFi device on one old laptop of mine. Page 46 in the service manual: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03593672.pdf

Thank you, Bree. I had thought about doing that. But does it work itself out of position over time? I guess anything is possible. I worked for RadioShack for 29+ years and I do know that cold soldered joints can be a problem but they usually show up as a problem very early like maybe early 2012. I bought this machine Dec 2011 after I got out of the hospital from my last Heart Attack. I have no problems taking one apart that is all I did for about 8 years as a Computer Department Manager. BTW I have all the technical support manuals. I downloaded those a long time ago. It is easy to get to the wifi card connection so I will look into it.

1ThursdayJC said:

Thank you, Bree. I had thought about doing that. But does it work itself out of position over time? I guess anything is possible...

Mine may have been bumped loose before I bought it second hand, or maybe the contacts were dirty/oxidised. Either way, reseating was a full cure.

okay I marked as solved but In reality it was not resolved but I just wasn't completely satisfied with the answer because the other network card that a friend had would stop working too. If you have notice I have another post up about Microsoft Wifi Direct Virtual Adapter as being the culprit. Because numerous other people have the same problem and the same symptoms that I have encountered. If you google you will find that a whole host of people are having problems with there Wifi disconnecting recently. Some are pointing to a MS Windows 10 version upgrade either 1903 or 1909. In reality it is that blasted MWDVA. I may now have the problem resolved though none of the suggestions here so far have been the answer.

I will tell you what I did and so far over the last 18 hours I have not had a disconnect from the Internet.

You go to the Device Manager menu. At the Top of the DM page are Actions. Click on the View heading. On the sixth line down <show hidden devices>. Then go down to Network Adapters.
When I click on Network Adapters it shows my friends Lan Card (USB), Ralink RT5390 Wireless , and then it showed a Main Microsoft Wifi Direct Virtual Adapter plus listings for #13-#18 additional MWDVA's. So what I did was uninstall all the extra MWDVA's and kept the main one. I had a hunch that Microsoft would turn around and add additional MWDVA's once I rebooted. And sure enough I now have the main one and 2 more MWDVA #7 and # 8. So far so good.
Rebooted my computer last night about 2230 hrs and did not shut down till about 0730 this am. It did not disconnect . I started backup about 1610 it is now 1808 hrs and have not had a problem since. I should knock on Wood, Bree! I will probably keep my computer on til 0200 or 0300 hrs. I may check in and tell you if I got knocked off again. If I was a betting man I am going to say that one of those Virtual adapters were causing the problem.

Just as I detailed in my rail against the MWDVA that the only time I was able to see the Virtual Adapter listed under Network Adapters was when I got disconnected. Once I disabled the Ralink and then turned around an re-enabled the Ralink the listing for the Virtual Adapter disappeared. Even now when I go to device manager and check under Network Adapters the only one I see is the Ralink.

If you to
Device Manager>Network Adapters>click onto your Network Adapter>Right Click and choose properties>Power Management>uncheck the box -Allow this computer to turn this device off to save power.

Since I have done this my Network Adapter/Wifi Card is working.
Though on occasions Windows does play bad and rechecks the box.