I finally upgraded one of my laptops to Windows 8.1 and my first immediate problem was the wifi adapter was showing "limited" or "No Internet Access". I know my home wireless is functional cause it works on other devices so I go through the motions of solving it.
1. Troubleshoot Problems with the connection - works only temporally
2. Reset wireless adapter - didn't work
3. Update drivers - no dice
This blog summarizes the 'workaround' from around the forums and other blogs I've seen. http://everythingsurface.org/4-ways-to-solve-your-windows-8-1-surface-pro-wi-fi-issues However my issue wasn't solved after trying them out. I know my wireless settings on my router to accept only Wireless-N connections at 2.4Ghz (don't ask why), but I also noticed in Device Manager for the wireless adapter that it is set to 'Auto' for 802.11n Channel Width for band 2.4. I changed it to 'Auto', restarted and the problem went away. Hopefully this adds to the workarounds for whoever is having problems with wireless connectivity on Windows 8.1
Update: 10/21/2013
I wanted to highlight Kyle's comment that seems to be working for everyone. Comment is below:
Kyle Sat, Oct 19 2013 12:39 AM
Hi guys, i tried all the above methods but none of them worked for me. However i did find smt that worked, which is to revert your network adapter driver back to an older version instead of the one installed by windows 8.1.
You can do this by going to device manager, right click on your network adapter, go to update driver, then "browse my computer for driver software, then"let me pick from a list of...." , uncheck the "show compatible hardware" checkbox and finally select the older version of current driver (if you dont know which, just use trial and error).
Update 10/27/2013 Lenovo G780
Giving love to @WinGuy
Hey Kyle! You are the man :) Your method lead me to the solution. But to document for: Lenovo G780 with Broadcom wireless adapter. Follow steps of Kyle till let me pick. Now, don't uncheck "show compatible". You see 2 drivers for the same broadcom adapter. One by Broadcom, the other from Microsoft. Choose the Broadcom one. Install. Springs back to life. (turning off heuristics,rebooting router,manual ip assignment none work)
Update 10/27/2013 Lenovo G580
I have fixed mine! What a relief.
I have the Lenovo G580, which has the Broadcom 802.11n Network Adaptor.
By the time I was having problems (don't know about previously) Windows was configured to use the Microsoft driver for this device.
Same fix as others have mentioned but I will provide a bit more detail. Basically I located a Broadcom-supplied driver on my computer, and updated to use that. Immediately wi-fi connected, and all seems well.
Here's the instructions:
# Open Device Manager (search Windows Help if you don't know what this is)
# Select 'Network adaptors' and then open (double-click) Broadcom 802.11n Network Adaptor
# Go to the Driver tab and click the Update Driver... button
# Select 'Browse my computer for driver software'
# Select 'Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer'
# Select the "Broadcom 802.11n Network Adaptor (Broadcom)" entry from the list, and click Next
Well, it worked for me.
Good luck, Matt
--I'll clean it up once other solutions are found, but in the mean time I'll update as confirmation of it working--Hope this helps the rest who still have this problem. Cheers.
thanks Kyle, your solution worked for me, after a 2 hours search :-)
Kyle@ Thank you, after 2 days I solve this problem, downgrade driver helpfully, cheers, Libor
Thank you so much for posting this info. I upgraded to 8.1 from 8.0 this morning and had the same problem with my internet access/wifi following the upgrade. Your solution was perfect, and I'm now back in business.
Kyle, thx
Ur recommendation works like charms
lo solucione ingresando a administrador de equipos, seleccionado propiedades de la tarjeta inalambrica con el boton secundario, luego en actualizar instalador, de ahi elegir de una lista de controladores de dispositivos y ahora selecciono el que estuvo antes de la lista presentada y finalmente siguiente..y se activa el wifi.. Espero les sirva
Reverting the driver to the "before update" state resolved my internet access problems.
If you have this problem with a Lenevo laptop then you're on your own don't expect any help from Lenevo. Kyles solution is the only one that works.
Yeah, Kyle's way worked for me.
I updated from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 preview. Everything was fine, except i couldn't print anymore. so I decided to update to the official version of Win 8.1, everything works fine at home, but at the office, WiFi works, but connection is "limited" (which equals NOT working).
I have an ACER AO722 with Broadcom Wireless N.
The problem is that the Broadcom driver 6.30 isnt working for every router.
I disabled the netword adapter
Installed a previous driver version from disk
Driver: WLAN_Broadcom_5.100.235.19_W7x86x64 (you have to download this driver)
and now it works after working on it over 2 days!
My problem was solved after I disabe windows firewall and reset its settings to default.
@WinGuy thanks a lot! After cracking my head for 2 days 1 night, and even gone through Kyle's comment (but still don't know where to do the trial error thingy), your method works perfectly on my sister's Lenovo G480.
I have a new iMac with Broadcom 802.11ac adapter running under Bootcamp. I keep getting "Limited" on the WiFi. I've tried everything so far:
reinstall driver
reinstall Windows 8.1
enable/disable the adapter
nothing works. However in OS X it works just fine connecting up to my 802.11n router.
Roll bak to old version workd thanks much
Thank you Kyle.