desktop keeps losing wi-fi connection


  1. scooter60624
    Posts : 49
    Windows 10
       New #1

    desktop keeps losing wi-fi connection


    My desktop computer has recently started having issues keeping a wi-fi connection. About every 10 minutes it drops the wi-fi connection. I am able to connect again after one or two tries, but then 5-15 minutes or so later it drops again. It has been doing this consistently lately. I am not having any wi-fi connectivity issues with my laptop or TVs in two different rooms, and my desktop is in the same room as my router - just a few feet away - so I assume it can't be a signal strength issue. Also, this is a new issue - in the past it has always held the wi-fi connection with no issues. My desktop did recently undergo an automated Windows 10 update, but maybe that is just coincidence.

    Anyway, I have no clue whether this is a software or a hardware issue. Is there anything I can check on the software/system side of things? Or is this probably a hardware issue and I should bring the old girl in to the shop? If it's a hardware issue, am I better off just buying a new desktop (this one is 4 years old)? Thank you for any guidance!

    I am running Windows Version 2004 (OS Build 19401.450)
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  3. Samuria
    Posts : 8,103
    windows 10
       New #2

    First make sure you have installed the latest updates as tey solve known problems with the update.. Open a cmd prompt type
    ipconfig /all

    post results

    You can get free from MS store wifi analezer ger rhar and see what the signal is like no new routers in the area on the same channel
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  4. scooter60624
    Posts : 49
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    I downloaded WiFi Analyzer from the MS store and ran it. It was difficult and I had to try it several times because my wi-fi connection kept dropping out in the middle of the scan, but I finally got a scan. It confirmed that there are not other routers in my area that are using the same channel as mine. Also, the signal is -37 dBm (if I am understanding it correctly?) Also, I have confirmed again the issue is specific to this computer. None of my several other devices are having any wifi connectivity problems.
    Samuria said:
    First make sure you have installed the latest updates as tey solve known problems with the update.. Open a cmd prompt type ipconfig /all post results You can get free from MS store wifi analezer ger rhar and see what the signal is like no new routers in the area on the same channel
    - - - Updated - - -

    Samuria said:
    First make sure you have installed the latest updates as tey solve known problems with the update.. Open a cmd prompt type
    ipconfig /all

    post results

    You can get free from MS store wifi analezer ger rhar and see what the signal is like no new routers in the area on the same channel
    And one further addendum - the problem seems to have gotten worse just in the past couple hours. The desktop really struggles to maintain a wifi connection for more than a few minutes. Does this suggest it is a hardware issue? If so, is this something that can be readily repaired on a 4 year old computer, or would it make more sense to buy a new desktop? Thanks!
    Last edited by scooter60624; 22 Aug 2020 at 22:14.
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  6. Ztruker
    Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       New #4

    Sorry but that is totally unreadable. Follow the instructions here to see if you can get that output formatted so people can read it:

    Batch files for use in BSOD debugging

    Start with Step 2, Num 4
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  7. scooter60624
    Posts : 49
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Ztruker said:
    Sorry but that is totally unreadable. Follow the instructions here to see if you can get that output formatted so people can read it:

    Sorry about that and thanks for the guidance. Let me try it again:

    Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19041.450]
    (c) 2020 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

    C:\Users\Owner>ipconfig/all

    Windows IP Configuration

    Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DESKTOP-Q7302LQ
    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 . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
    Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D0-17-C2-AE-57-E8
    DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
    Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

    Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 3:

    Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
    Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
    Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
    Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 76-C6-3B-0A-86-1F
    DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
    Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

    Wireless LAN adapter Local Area Connection* 4:

    Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
    Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
    Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #3
    Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 74-C6-3B-0A-86-1F
    DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
    Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

    Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi:

    Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
    Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek 8821AE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
    Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 74-C6-3B-0A-86-1F
    DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
    Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
    Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::c4cc:94bd:e680:1114%19(Preferred)
    IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.4(Preferred)
    Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
    Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, August 22, 2020 8:13:04 PM
    Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, August 23, 2020 9:14:44 PM
    Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
    DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
    DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 158647867
    DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-1F-31-94-7E-D0-17-C2-AE-57-E8
    DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
    NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

    Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection 2:

    Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
    Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
    Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network) #2
    Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 74-C6-3B-0A-86-1E
    DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
    Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes


    Batch files for use in BSOD debugging

    Start with Step 2, Num 4
    ...
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  8. ClippyBeer
    Posts : 149
    Windows 10 Pro Ghost Spectre 21H1 (2009) 19043.1021 x64 SUPERLITE
       New #6

    I had a similar issue with an old Dell Inspiron desktop. The WIFI would just randomly disconnect after installing Windows 10 1903. I had no issues with Windows 7 (Dell WLAN 1397 Minicard). Dell's website only had drivers for Windows 7 because it's an old PC they don't support anymore. 1 week of searching for a solution and nothing. I ended up buying a USB WIFI dongle that came with its own Windows 10 drivers. Problem solved.
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  9. scooter60624
    Posts : 49
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Awesome - I will give that a try. Thank you!

    ClippyBeer said:
    I had a similar issue with an old Dell Inspiron desktop. The WIFI would just randomly disconnect after installing Windows 10 1903. I had no issues with Windows 7 (Dell WLAN 1397 Minicard). Dell's website only had drivers for Windows 7 because it's an old PC they don't support anymore. 1 week of searching for a solution and nothing. I ended up buying a USB WIFI dongle that came with its own Windows 10 drivers. Problem solved.
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  10. Samuria
    Posts : 8,103
    windows 10
       New #8

    Try setting dns to 1.1.1.1 & 1.0.0.1. What is make and model of router your wireless card is new AC if the router is an old type that can give problems.

    How do you know its dropped connection ie error message. when it drops again from a cmd prompt type

    Tracert 194.119.131.66

    post results
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  12. W10 Tweaker
    Posts : 1,807
    Windows 10 Pro 21H1 19043.1348
       New #9

    ClippyBeer said:
    Dell's website only had drivers for Windows 7 because it's an old PC they don't support anymore.


    FYI, I did a clean install using Windows 10 on an old Dell Studio 1747 circa 2008. The laptop came with Windows 7 and all drivers available were ancient and for Windows 7 only.

    I had most of the Windows 7 drivers saved and was able to install all of them on Windows 10 using compatibility mode.

    Success of installing old drivers with compatibility mode is varied and might have some dependency on the version of Windows 10. That clean install on the above listed Dell 1747 was using 1809 and I haven't updated yet since I'm happy with 1809 and use that version on several laptops to date.
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  13. W10 Tweaker
    Posts : 1,807
    Windows 10 Pro 21H1 19043.1348
       New #10

    scooter60624 said:
    My desktop computer has recently started having issues keeping a wi-fi connection. About every 10 minutes it drops the wi-fi connection. I am able to connect again after one or two tries, but then 5-15 minutes or so later it drops again. It has been doing this consistently lately. I am not having any wi-fi connectivity issues with my laptop or TVs in two different rooms, and my desktop is in the same room as my router - just a few feet away - so I assume it can't be a signal strength issue. Also, this is a new issue - in the past it has always held the wi-fi connection with no issues. My desktop did recently undergo an automated Windows 10 update, but maybe that is just coincidence.

    Anyway, I have no clue whether this is a software or a hardware issue. Is there anything I can check on the software/system side of things? Or is this probably a hardware issue and I should bring the old girl in to the shop? If it's a hardware issue, am I better off just buying a new desktop (this one is 4 years old)? Thank you for any guidance!

    I am running Windows Version 2004 (OS Build 19401.450)

    Hi scooter60624,

    try verifying the installed driver for the WLAN card. Realtek lists the latest driver for RTL8821AE dated 06/2017. Is this the driver you see in the device manager now?

    RTL8821AE Software - REALTEK

    When the PC was upgraded to 2004, WUP may have changed the driver. You may have been using something different than what is presently listed.


    Open the device manager, expand network adapters, right-click and select properties on Realtek 8821AE Wireless adapter. Select the driver tab.


    desktop keeps losing wi-fi connection-0823-wlan-properties.jpg desktop keeps losing wi-fi connection-0823-wlan-driver.jpg


    Also on the Power Management tab, confirm the box "Allow the computer to turn off this device..." is not checked.


    desktop keeps losing wi-fi connection-0823-power-man-tab.jpg


    To confirm receive level, 802.11 signal type and channel number, open an Administrative Command Prompt and type (or copy & paste) the following followed by enter.

    Code:
    netsh wlan show interfaces

    desktop keeps losing wi-fi connection-0512-netsh-interfaces.jpg


    As was mentioned earlier, what is the make and model of your wifi router? It would be helpful if you upload screenshots of the WLAN driver and netsh results. Thanks
    Last edited by W10 Tweaker; 23 Aug 2020 at 12:20.
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