WiFi Broken After Updating Drivers

Hello AlienwareX51,

FYI, this is an all-volunteer website so usually it will take some time for a reply, though it is typically within 48 hours after posting.

Sometimes threads do slip through the cracks if there aren't enough helpers on or if the helpers that are on don't feel comfortable assisting with a particular problem.

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Is this an OEM computer? If so, please post the make and model of the computer.

If this is a custom built computer let me know and I will use the information you gave to find drivers.

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If a piece of hardware of mine is working, I usually leave it alone.

Having said that, driver updates are usually a good thing and typically help improve performance among other things.

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The BIOS is something you never want to update unless you have an absolute need to. Problems like this (or worse) occur if something goes wrong.

Updating your BIOS will add support for certain devices and add features, but it is something I have never personally done and don't believe I will ever have to.

Updating it has little to no impact on your computer's security.

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This is another potential source of your problems.

Registry "cleaners" are a good way to wreck havoc on the Windows operating system and cause random problems.

Please read and consider the following.

Registry Cleaner Response

Tech Support Guy DOES NOT recommend the use of registry cleaners/optimizers (Wise Registry Cleaner) or the registry cleaner component of software for several reasons:

• Registry cleaners are extremely powerful applications that can damage the registry by using aggressive cleaning routines and cause your computer to become unbootable.
  • TheWindows registryis a central repository (database) for storing configuration data, user settings and machine-dependent settings, and options for the operating system. It contains information and settings for all hardware, software, users, and preferences. Whenever a user makes changes to settings, file associations, system policies, or installed software, the changes are reflected and stored in this repository. The registry is a crucial component because it is where Windows "remembers" all this information, how it works together, how Windows boots the system and what files it uses when it does. The registry is also a vulnerable subsystem, in that relatively small changes done incorrectly can render the system inoperable. For a more detailed explanation, read Understanding The Registry.
• Not all registry cleaners are created equal. There are a number of them available but they do not all work entirely the same way. Each vendor uses different criteria as to what constitutes a "bad entry". One cleaner may find entries on your system that will not cause problems when removed, another may not find the same entries, and still another may want to remove entries required for a program to work.
• Not all registry cleaners create a backup of the registry before making changes. If the changes prevent the system from booting up, then there is no backup available to restore it in order to regain functionality. A backup of the registry is essential BEFORE making any changes to the registry.
• Improperly removing registry entries can hamper malware disinfectionand make the removal process more difficult if your computer becomes infected. For example, removing malware related registry entries before the infection is properly identified can contribute to system instability and even make the malware undetectable to removal tools.
• The usefulness of cleaning the registry is highly overrated and can be dangerous. In most cases, using a cleaner to remove obsolete, invalid, and erroneous entries does not affect system performance but it can result in "unpredictable results".
• Unless you have a particular problem that requires a registry edit to correct it, I would suggest you leave the registry alone. Using registry cleaning tools unnecessarily or incorrectly could lead to disastrous effects on your operating system such as preventing it from ever starting again. For routine use, the benefits to your computer are negligible while the potential risks are great.
  • Ed Bott's Webog: Why I dont use registry cleaners.
  • Do I need a Registry Cleaner?

If you persist in using a registry cleaner you should always backup the registry before doing so.

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The first thing I'm going to have you try is a System Restore to a point before the various "upgrades" were performed.

After that we can try getting the drivers to work properly and perform some repairs on the operating system if any files or registry components were corrupted.

Beyond that is flashing your BIOS (reverting to an older version) - a process I am familiar with only in theory so if it comes to that I would need to request some help from another regular helper.

In summary, be very careful what you do with your computer as there is a lot of misinformation out there. To put it simply, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

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System Restore

• Press and hold the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
• In the Run box, type rstrui.exe and hit Enter.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your computer to a date before the issue(s) started.