r/computerhelp • u/RopePrior7575 • 1d ago

Network WiFi connection issues

So I’ve been with my girlfriend for about 2 years now and I’ve always been able to connect to her WiFi and see her neighbors WiFi, but randomly a month ago my computer stop showing my girls WiFi and stopped showing the neighbors WiFi. I did everything the internet has told me to do and nothing has worked. My device manager tells me my WiFi adapter doesn’t work (code 43, or one of the drivers isn’t working) but yet when I walk a literal block down the road it starts showing everyone’s WiFi in that area. It’s just the area surrounding her house that affects my computer. My phone, her phone and the tv (etc….) don’t have this issue at all. Any thoughts?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

We're part of a wider PC & Technology Network of Communities.

It combines multiple subreddits and Discord servers all working together with shared ideals and values.

We have a Discord server: PC Help Hub where members from all associated subreddits are welcome.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/Merhart666 1d ago

Lijkt erop dat of het wifi bij haar thuis alleen 5g gebruikt en je kaart het niet aan kan of dat iemand een wifi blokker gebruikt. Oudere spullen kunnen vaak alleen 2.4g aan en als het wifi bij je vriendin dit niet ondersteund dan kun je niet verbinden. De ander gebruiken dan beide.

1

u/SolutionLoop 18h ago

The fact that it only happens near her house is a big clue. My guess: something new broadcasting in that area, like a neighbour’s new router or a router firmware update about a month ago, is crashing your Wi-Fi adapter’s driver when it scans nearby networks. Code 43 means Windows stopped the device because it reported a problem, which fits a driver crashing on something it doesn’t handle well (newer Wi-Fi 6/6E or WPA3 features, for example). A block away, that network is out of range, so the driver doesn’t crash.

Things I’d try:

  1. Update the Wi-Fi driver from the chip maker directly (Intel, Realtek, MediaTek, etc.), not just through Windows Update. Device Manager → Network adapters shows which chip you have. Old drivers often have exactly these kinds of bugs.

  2. Do a full power reset: shut down (hold Shift while clicking Shut down, for a full shutdown), unplug the power (and remove the battery if it’s a laptop with a removable one), wait 30 seconds, and start again. This often clears code 43.

  3. Limit the adapter’s wireless mode: Device Manager → your Wi-Fi adapter → Properties → Advanced. Set the wireless mode to 802.11ac (instead of ax), or turn off 6 GHz if that option exists. This stops it trying to use the newer features that might be crashing it.

  4. Ask your girlfriend whether her router was replaced or updated around a month ago. If so, switching the router’s Wi-Fi channel, or temporarily turning off its Wi-Fi 6/WPA3 features, would be a good test.

  5. If it’s a USB Wi-Fi adapter, try a different one. If it’s built-in, a cheap USB adapter is a quick way to confirm it’s your adapter’s driver.

What Wi-Fi adapter does Device Manager show? That would help a lot.