Wifi Issues - Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230 Lenovo Laptop

[DKay]

Hello everyone. I would hate to bring back a thread that's been dead for two years that's provided me with no solution so I'm starting this in hopes of getting help.

My wifi has been unstable and inconsistent for about a year now. It's gone through three different Comcast Xfinity routers, 2 different Intel wifi cards and a USB Asus wifi stick. It's gone through Windows 8, 8.1 and now 10. I've tried different combinations of all of these variables and the problem always remains. My wifi randomly drops or becomes painfully slow for seemingly no reason. Usually when I disconnect and reconnect to the internet things will run smoothly for a matter of minutes. But then the problems start up again. If it matters, things usually run fine when I have 3-4 bars of signal strength. When it gets to the full 5 I know trouble is right around the corner. I should not be getting the full 5 bars.

I run a Lenovo Y500 laptop with an Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230 card. I'm in a different room from my Comcast Xfinity router. A different laptop as well as my iPhone perform flawlessly in the same room, but this Lenovo laptop just has problems. I've tried all of the usual tricks like changing router channels, doing just AES security, low roaming, resetting the router, updating drivers, and so on. Is there nothing I can do which will prevent me from smashing this expensive laptop in a fit of rage?

Thanks in advance.

[jbenavides]

Hello TheRoyalKetchup,

There are different factors that may cause connectivity issues.

First, we would like to mention that Intel does not support custom integration of wireless adapters:

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-011644.htm Intel® Wi-Fi Products — Regulatory Information Regarding Hardware Installation or Upgrade

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/sb/CS-006192.htm Wireless Networking — Installation Error when Installing or Swapping Intel Wireless Adapters

If the adapter was installed from factory, it is always advised to contact the http://www.intel.com/support/oems.htm Computer Manufacturer Support for drivers and support.

In our best effort, here are a few recommendations that can help in this type of situation:

- Apply the configuration from the advisory: http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/sb/CS-030709.htm?wapkw=wifi+recommended+settings Wireless Networking — What are the Recommended Settings for 802.11n Connectivity?

- Disable the Bluetooth* component of the wireless adapter, as it may interfere with Wi-Fi signals.

- Set your wireless power plan to Maximum Performance. This is done by going to the Windows* Power Options - Change plan settings - Advanced power settings, and set the Wireless adapter to Maximum Performance, when plugged in and on battery.

[DKay]

Thanks for the effort, but no luck. I've tried all of these solutions and I'm no better off.

[DKay]

This seems to have done the trick for me, taken from another thread while desperately seeking solutions. Many thanks to user Breen. I don't know if it's a permanent solution but I've gone more than a day with absolutely zero issues. I'll put it here just in case anyone else is searching for answers and stumbles across my post:

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/IdeaPad-Y-U-V-Z-and-P-series/Lenovo-Y510P-Wi-Fi-intel-n-2230-Problem-Solved-and-some/td-p/1549806 Lenovo Y510P - Wi-Fi (intel n-2230) Problem Solved (and some performance problems)

(i use Windows 8.1 64 Bit now, works also in Windows 8)

-First of all prevent Windows install new drivers automatically

(Here is a good guide http://www.microcentertech.com/tech_center/DB/read_article.php?faqid=./HowTos/HOW5006661B.htm http://www.microcentertech.com/tech_center/DB/read_article.php?faqid=./HowTos/HOW5006661B.htm)

-Right Click the windows icon Left Bottom Corner of the screen

-Click Device Manager

-Expand "System Devices"

-Right Click "Intel(R) Management Engine Interface"

-Click Uninstall (Also tick the "uninstall software for this device")

> Note: if you try to disable this, Intel will reactivate it - it's almost sinister how Intel will not allow it to be muzzled, it must be killed. Go ahead and try for yourself to just disable it first.

-On device manager buttons, press "scan for hardware changes"

-It finds but cannot install driver, marked the device with yellow mark

-Right click this device and disable it

Thats all. I think anyone having problem with wi-fi and smoothness of system, should try this.

BEFORE THIS PROCEDURE:

-Weak wi-fi signal

-Frequent connection drops

-Some performance issues

AFTER THIS PROCEDURE:

-Wi-fi signal is %100 (for same wi-fi configuration in my home)

-No connection drop

ALSO COMES MORE http://lnv.i.lithium.com/i/smilies/16x16_smiley-happy.gif

-Better boot-up and shut-down times

-When SLI enabled, game to desktop switch was slow (Alt+Tab) , now it is faster (still not fast as one GPU mode)

-Mouse was laggy a little, now it is ok

Note: the post on Lenovo site mentions using an older Inder Driver, I'm using a new one driver release 15.12.0.6.

Cheers,

Mike

Windows 8.1 with Lenovo P500 updated bios to V1.21