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Question

How to stop Windows 8.1 from updating wireless driver

Dec 13, 2014 4:16AM PST

Hi there,

I have to resort to a forum because I am now lost.. I have a laptop with Windows 8.1 loaded on it and I have a Qualcomm Atheros AR956x Wireless Network Adapter. It works best on a driver dated 15/08/2013 on 10.0.0.263 yet it seems my laptop updates itself to driver version 10.0.0.270 dated 17/10/2013.

On this version my wireless internet is less stable and more unreliable. When I struggle to view or load pages I check my version and it has updated itself so I have to roll the driver back - again!!!

I have selected to not have Microsoft automatically update my drivers. On the Device Installation Settings I have selected "Never install driver software from Windows Update" and I have unchecked the "Automatically get the device application and information provided by your device manufacturer" but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

What other options can I deselect so that my wireless driver stays on the older version?

Thanks
Dan

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Is there software that came with this adaptor?
Dec 13, 2014 4:29AM PST

There's probably something that gets started when you boot up other than Windows Update that's doing it. If there's software that came with this adaptor, that's the first place I'd check. If that's not it, I'd run Msconfig and check the Startup tab. There you can uncheck anything other than your antivirus program.

Good luck.

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Answer
It may not be Microsoft doing it.
Dec 13, 2014 4:48AM PST

We had Intel/Atheros and the laptop maker's own tools that could do this. I can't find the machine make and model to see if I could divine what else is in play.
Bob

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Answer
Atheros AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter
Jan 8, 2015 4:19AM PST

May be just check with

Open Device Manager

Select 'Network adaptors' and then open Atheros AR956x Wireless 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 Atheros AR956x Wireless Network Adapter entry from the list

Have a look at this thread Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter really compatible with Windows 8.1 - http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-hardware/is-qualcomm-atheros-ar9485-wireless-network/8c2fda54-c318-4282-879a-a100c91a7cbc which may help you.