Intel WiFi drivers may have Corrupted Win8.1 + BSOD

[RBeidl]

Hi Forum. Here is the situation:

My Router was recently misbehaving, so working with Tech Support at the Manufacturer we made numerous changes, rebooting the Router repeatedly. I had left my laptop on and connected to WiFi, so it no doubt was losing and regaining connection repeatedly. By the time we finished, I went downstairs to see a BSOD on the laptop, with a BAD_POOL_CALLER error. I have had ZERO problems and BSODs before, except with the Intel WiFi drivers when I upgraded to Win 8.1.

After reboot, I could not connect. I had the computer FORGET the network and retried to connect, but the Adapter found NO wireless networks to connect to, although the green light on the laptop was on.

I suspected the drivers got corrupted during the Router repair, so I tried to reinstall them, after rebooting many times to fix the problem failed to resolve it. I used the Intel version checker, downloaded the latest drivers, installed it, and it failed. No details, it just failed.

I rebooted and tried to Install both the Intel Drivers and then the PRO wireless software and drivers, only to now get the message "the installation is blocked due to a pending reboot. ...". It never finishes, and multiple reboots did not work, and 3 days later, it still says there is a pending reboot. I cannot uninstall, reinstall, downgrade, etc. I tried to disable and uninstall from Device Manager several times, but despite the light being lit, the wireless is non-functional. It does not even detect any wireless networks. There is NO Intel Troubleshooter loaded, and the Manual Diagnostics do not function. I probably need to remove all of the Intel Software and Drivers and reload, but cannot do so.

Intel asked me to run some diagnostic tool and send them the .bin file. Then they told me that Windows is corrupted, which is a pat answer for everything they can't resolve quickly and easily. I ran SFC /scannow and have attached the CBS.txt file in a zip. I still have the .bin file as well, but doubt anyone other than Intel can read it.

I can't find any PENDING REBOOT info in the Registry, or I would delete it.

I found suggestions about refreshing Windows, but I have a disk for 8 and 8.1 installed, so I'd have to go back to 8, which might be dangerous, or buy a brand new 8.1 disk (according to M$). Any thoughts? Help? Advice?

I have a Sony Vaio VPCF236FM
Intel Centrino Wireless N + WiMAX 6150
Windows 8.1 PRO

Richard
View attachment CBS.zip

 

[bassfisher6522]

Dude...I ran into the exact same problem you have...mine started off as intermittent wifi drops, then it became more frequent. I did all the same stuff you did minus the call for tech support. Under windows 8 I had no issue...but the upgrade to 8.1 started this mess. What I did and has worked for me so far, is I'm using the windows 7 wifi drivers from intel (driver version - 7.5.1007.26 - Intel Centrino WiMax 6250) for my Samsung RV511 laptop. See if you can find a version close to that for your 6150 WiMax.

Here you go...2nd one in the list....after selecting windows 7 64 bit as the OS.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Se...duct=Intel®+Centrino®+Wireless-N+++WiMAX+6150

 

[RBeidl]

Great suggestion. I tried that, but it did not work. Same result "the installation is blocked due to a pending reboot. ...". But that gave me an idea to download the drivers from Sony directly, which probably have their own Sony Vaio installer routine built in. Indeed, they installed, or at least appeared to, but had no effect at all. The Device Manager still shows the 15.5 drivers, and it still cannot find any network to which to connect. Baffling.

Anyone know how to find and eliminate that PENDING REBOOT in the Registry?

 

[bassfisher6522]

Try this...uninstall all wifi adapters from the device manager...then reboot and let windows install it's generic ones. Then manually check MS for updates and see if that helps.

 

[RBeidl]

Thanks for the suggestion. I already tried that numerous times. Windows keeps reinstalling, or at least listing, the same driver version, which does not work. I have uninstalled the device, and uninstalled the device AND drivers, but neither works. Same issues persist. Windows just re-installs the same version.

 

[bassfisher6522]

There's a lot on the net about 8.1 and wifi not working correctly...what I've seen it's mainly with laptops and those of a few years and older. As a work around, you could get a usb wifi N dongle (one that get's 300mbps or better) and check it that way.

I have this one...
Newegg.com - NETGEAR WNA3100-100ENS Wireless Adapter IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Up to 300Mbps Wireless Data Rates WPA2

Here's a mini one..

Newegg.com - NETGEAR WNA3100M-100ENS N300 Wireless Mini Adapter IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Up to 300Mbps Wireless Data Rates

 

[jcgriff2]

I honestly do not see nor understand how a router could corrupt a system's wifi drivers.

I have an HP dv7 (2008) that came with Vista SP1, has an Intel 5100 wifi and it works perfectly with Windows 8.1 -- so there is no reason that yours should not.

It sounds like you installed the Intel wifi manager software + driver. Windows 8.1 needs no help to manage wifi networks.

Please try these steps:

1. Download the 2nd one & SAVE it - Wireless_16.7.0_De64.exe - https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=23492&lang=eng
2. Turn off wifi switch on laptop
3. Go to Control Panel & uninstall any apps related to Intel wifi or Intel Networking (I assume that your Ethernet is NOT Intel...?)
4. Re-boot (keep wifi OFF)
5. Go to Device Manager & uninstall Intel wifi drivers
6. Install #1

The other wild card here is firewall/anti-virus.

Did your system come with Norton? If so, did you use the Norton Removal Tool to get rid of it?

If not, run it - http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN146

Even if you say NO to the Norton trial (or the trial runs out), Norton kernel mode drivers still load into RAM. At worst, you end up with a corrupted Norton installation; at best - well, in my book, there is none for Norton (just my opinion!).

I'd like to see the dump from the BSOD(s).

Please run - https://www.sysnative.com/forums/bs...g-instructions-windows-8-7-windows-vista.html

Attach the zipped file(s) to your next post.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

 

[bassfisher6522]

I have an HP dv7 (2008) that came with Vista SP1, has an Intel 5100 wifi and it works perfectly with Windows 8.1 -- so there is no reason that yours should not.

One would think so...but me like many others are in fact are having this issue with 8.1 and only 8.1. Under 8.0 mine worked perfectly fine....but when upgraded to 8.1 the wifi problems ensue. Now the only contributing factor I can see but not entirely sure of, is all the PC's with the wifi issues might be related solely to the upgrade of 8.0 to 8.1. I have no actual data to back this theory up...but it's perplexing none the less.

For my issue...reverting back to the 7.5 driver, that windows found, is what solved my wifi intermittent drop issues.

I to, am interested in seeing what the dmp file shows........

 

[Digerati]

I honestly do not see nor understand how a router could corrupt a system's wifi drivers.

It can't. All a router does is pass data back and forth. It does not modify files.

A Restart from a Previous Installation is Pending

Do other computers on your network have connection problems?

Have you tried connecting by Ethernet? Scanned for malware?

The Device Manager still shows the 15.5 drivers

According to Sony, the latest wifi drivers are 14.1.1.3.