Network driver constantly uninstalls its self

Question

In device manager in network adapters my driver randomly uninstalls its self which leads to no internet at all(Can also happen for bluetooth but not as common). This has been a constant problem that I do not know how to solve. IT JUST HAPPENED AS TYPING THIS >:(

Things I have already tried:

-Restarting(brings back driver but will not entirely remove the problem)

-Scanning for hardware changes(once again, brings back driver but will not entirely remove the problem)

Also note that the driver sometimes just has a normal problem like "Operation unsuccessful" or like one time I got "This does not exist"

-Pls help :(

Answer 1

Hi Luca Ish,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help.

Based on the information you provided, it does not look like the driver is being uninstalled. If the driver were actually removed, you would need to reinstall it manually each time, which is not happening here.

It is more likely that your device is temporarily disconnecting for a short time. Since PCIe devices do not support hot plug, when this happens you need to either restart your laptop or use "Scan for hardware changes" in Device Manager to force Windows to detect the device again.

There may be a physical issue with the connection between the laptop motherboard and the network card. The card might be slightly loose, or part of the circuit on the network card could be damaged, which can cause intermittent disconnections.

On modern laptops, the Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth chips are usually on the same board. Because you use the network more frequently, it is easier to notice Wi‑Fi drops than Bluetooth issues. That is why the problem seems to affect Wi‑Fi more noticeably than Bluetooth, even though they are on the same module.

Please take bellow steps to troubleshoot:

1. Press and Hold the Power Button on your laptop for at least 10 seconds. Your laptop will re-initiate all devices and may fix the problem.
2. Open your laptop to check the physical connection of your network card.
3. If step 1 and step 2 cannot help, your network card may have been damaged. It's best that you can borrow another one to test if hardware replacement can fix the problem.

I hope that above information is helpful to you.

If you have further questions, please feel free to let me know.

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Answer 2

I recommend downloading and installing the latest chipset driver and BIOS update from the manufacturer's support page. Kindly let me know how it goes.

Answer 3

It sounds like you're experiencing issues with your network driver that may be related to its installation or conflicts with other software. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Reinstall the Driver: Since the driver keeps uninstalling itself, you might want to try uninstalling it completely and then reinstalling it. You can do this by:
   • Opening Device Manager.
   • Right-clicking on the network adapter and selecting Uninstall device.
   • After uninstalling, click on Action in the menu and then select Scan for hardware changes to reinstall the driver.
2. Check for Conflicts: Sometimes, other drivers or software can conflict with your network driver. Make sure there are no other network-related drivers that might be causing issues. You can check for problem codes in Device Manager to identify any conflicts.
3. Update the Driver: Ensure that you have the latest driver installed. You can do this by:
   • Right-clicking on the network adapter in Device Manager.
   • Selecting Update driver and following the prompts to search for updates.
4. Windows Update: Make sure your Windows is up to date, as updates can sometimes resolve driver issues.
5. Check for Third-Party Software: If you have any third-party software that manages network connections, it could be interfering with your driver. Try disabling or uninstalling such software to see if it resolves the issue.
6. System Restore: If the problem started recently, consider using System Restore to revert your system to a point before the issues began.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

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References:

• Troubleshooting Device and Driver Installations
• Code 18 - CM_PROB_REINSTALL

Answer 4

Hi, good day!

• When was the last time it worked properly?
• Have you made any changes to your computer recently?

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Please let me know if you have tried the methods below.

• Shutdown your computer

Unplug the power cable from the laptop for 30 minutes, then plug it in again and turn on.

• Please try to run SFC and DISM to check for any system errors and corrupted files.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-system-file-checker-in-windows-10-365e0031-36b1-6031-f804-8fd86e0ef4ca

• Open Device Manager

Expand Network adapters

Right click on the Wireless driver then select Properties

Click Power Management tab,

Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"

Restart your computer

• Please try to Turn off Fast Startup

Press Start then search Control panel

Under View by > select Small icons

Select Power Options

On the left side, click "Choose what power buttons do"

Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable"

Under Shutdown settings > Turn off fast startup

Power off the system then pull the power cable from the laptop, wait for 15 minutes.

Power back on

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If the issue persists, what is the exact make and model of your laptop?

Press Windows key+R to open Run then type: msinfo32

Press Enter

Please take a screenshot of the System Information window and post it in your next response. Note: Don't include any personal information or sensitive data as Microsoft Q&A is a public forum.

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I look forward to receiving your update and I'm willing to collaborate with you till we resolve the issue. Do keep me informed by clicking "Add comment" below.