Win8 wifi cut-outs

Helen2k8

New laptop, Windows 8, freely admit I've no idea how to use it but that's what the insurance company replaced my old brick with....

The wi-fi is cutting out for about a minute at least every half hour if not every 10 minutes, driving me mad, only thing I can guess is that the antivirus programme is interfering? Have run updates and switched everything off/on.

On Vista I ditched the built-in antivirus and downloaded MS security essentials, worked fine, but I haven't yet found where add/remove programmes is on this one?!

Any help/advice/idiots' guide welcome

-TangleFoot-

Helen2k8 wrote: »

On Vista I ditched the built-in antivirus and downloaded MS security essentials, worked fine, but I haven't yet found where add/remove programmes is on this one?!

Windows 8 supposedly has MSE baked-in, though for some unfathomable reason they've taken to calling it Defender again.

What's the laptop connecting to?

Helen2k8

A wireless router Thomson TG585, currently sat on the same desk, so not an issue of distance. It's the correct network as it's password protected etc.

At least it's McAfee rather than Norton that's come with it I suppose...

Do you know where I can find info on what programmes are installed/running?

-TangleFoot-

Does this help?

Helen2k8

Helpful in general, thank you, but nothing obvious wrong with any settings/connections etc.
Getting annoyed that it wants me to sign in with xbox account for half the "apps"...

Figment

Check which channel number(s) the wifi is set to on laptop and router.

Use inSSIDer (direct link to installer file) to check for conflicts with neighbours networks.

Helen2k8

Figment wrote: »

Check which channel number(s) the wifi is set to on laptop and router. .

Thanks, how would I find that?

-TangleFoot-

Helen2k8 wrote: »

how would I find that?

192.168.1.254 at a guess...

Try following the instructions here - clicking on the little cameras will show a screenshot of the interface at each stage of the process.

Helen2k8

Password protected (nothing I have ever meddled with, the default they say isn't it)

Lum

Helen2k8 wrote: »

At least it's McAfee rather than Norton that's come with it I suppose...

McAfee is far far worse than Norton.

Both will slow your system down but McCrappy doesn't even do a decent job at catching viruses. The built in AV in Windows 8 will do a better job.

Ditch McAfee using the instructions and tool here, then re-enable Windows 8 Defender (which is basically a renamed Security Essentials) using the instructions here or install a different AV of your choice.

It might not fix your wireless problems, but it's worth doing anyway just to be rid of McAfee.

Helen2k8

McAfee gone, so far so good, thank you all