Atheros Bluetooth Wi-fi Missing / Won't Install. Help Please

Discussion in 'Software' started by Skinno, Jan 24, 2016.

  1. Skinno

    Skinno Private E-2

    Dear Geeks,
    A while ago I started a thread on here regarding my Atheros Qualcomm wifi adapter suddenly disappearing overnight from my PC. I eventually managed to reinstall it after a lengthy process (which I forgot how I did it).
    Now the same thing happened again a few nights ago. When I woke in the morning it had vanished AGAIN.
    I ended up downloading and installing Advanced Cleaner then downloaded new drivers for my PC. Big mistake. My PC practically stopped working altogether and I had to refresh my entire Windows 10 system. Not a clean install but a refresh which deleted all third party programs but kept my folders.
    After a refresh my PC still didn't have a wifi connection ability. I attempted to download Qualcast Atheros and in my CCleaner it says it's installed but it's not showing in Network Connections (see image #1) or in Device Manager (see uploaded image #2a) . When I try to uninstall it, modify or repair it (from CCleaner / Control Panel) it doesn't complete. A pop up says: "the driver files you wish to remove will not be removed as the coresponding card is not inserted". (see uploaded image #3).
    What can this mean? I have never had a card to insert.
    There is still no sign of wi-fi on my PC.
    My PC is an Intel Core i-5-44600 3.20GHz OEM 64bit x54 Processor and my OS is Win10 Home
    This is driving me insane. I have spent 4 days trying to figure out why this happened in the first instance let alone after a clean refresh of Windows 10. I'm totally stuck.
    Any help whatsoever to get me out of this rut will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.
     

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  2. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Perhaps you are looking at a hardware failure. The fact that it kept disappearing might have been because of an intermittent hardware failure.

    My advice, get a dongle for wifi and if you want bluetooth, another for that. Unfortunately that will tie up 2 of your USB ports.

    Or, you could open the case (I'm not brave enough to open much on laptops) and see if everything is secure on the atheros. If it looks secure, then perhaps replace it.
     
    Skinno likes this.
  3. Skinno

    Skinno Private E-2

    Hi plodr,
    Many thanks for the reply. To be honest, I wouldn't know where to start re: checking for hardware failure. I wouldn't even know what I would be looking for.
    I have thought about a dongle (as a very last resort) but I'd really like to get to the crux of the issue and what is actually causing it. It's driving me mad.
    My PC is a desktop, I have only had it 12 months (brand new, store-bought) so I hope it's not a hardware issue. Everything else seems to be running very smoothly.
    The problems only started since upgrading from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 so I'm guessing (and hoping) that maybe there is some kind of bug-issue or perhaps a conflict of sorts.
    Having googled the issue countless times, it would seem a lot of people have had Atheros Wifi issues but I have found no solution at all and thought I might stumble upon someone on here who may have had a similar problem.
    Once again thanks for the info, much appreciated.
     
  4. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Then I'd say chalk it up to an upgrade of Win 8.1 to Win 10.
    I still consider Win 10 a beta OS so there might be lots of bugs in it. They can't possibly test every motherbord and cpu combination.

    For now, you'll have to stick to a wired connection and keep testing after every update to see if Win 10 fixed the issue of the missing Atheros device.
     
  5. Eldon

    Eldon Major Geek Extraordinaire

    What is the make and model number of your PC?
     
  6. Skinno

    Skinno Private E-2

    Hi there plodr and Eldon. Thanks for the replies.
    I should clarify something. What I meant was, I never had (wi-fi) issues while using Windows 8.1 and when I initially upgraded to Windows 10, my wi-fi was also fine - until recently.
    However, I did notice that the Atheros stopped working the morning (after the evening) that Windows installed updates last week. And I'm suspecting there might be a glitch in Windows 10's recent updates?
    I hear what you're saying plodr and I think I'm inclined to agree with you there.

    @ Eldon: My computer is a Packard Bell i-media S2885 desktop. I bought it new one year ago.
     
  7. Eldon

    Eldon Major Geek Extraordinaire

  8. Skinno

    Skinno Private E-2

    Hi Eldon, many thanks for the info. I went to the webpage and downloaded the Qualcomm Atheros AR5BWB222 Wireless Network Adapter'.
    When I try to install it, I get a pop-up which states: "The device may not be present or could have been ejected / unplugged from the system. Aborting the install. Please insert the card and try the installer again". See enclosed screenshot 'a'.
    I have no idea why this is happening or what it means - excuse my ignorance here. I've never had to insert a card or anythng on this PC it came as an OEM and i've basically never had to insert any cards or discs in it
    Any ideas?
     

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  9. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    The Atheros is a chip on your motherboard. You might have a hardware problem. The chip could have died. It happens.

    To test my theory, you'd need to roll back to 8.1. If the chip is seen, then it is not dead and is a Win 10 problem. If you still get the message that the "card" is not inserted then you know it is dead.

    If you absolutely have to have wireless on a desktop computer and do not wish to use 8.1 then a) install a card or b) get a USB wireless dongle.
     
    Skinno likes this.
  10. Skinno

    Skinno Private E-2

    Hi plodr,
    Thanks once again for the info, much appreciated. I have just rolled back my PC to Windows 8.1 and there is still no wi-fi option. Damn it! I guess you're right in thinking that the chip has died.
    I went to the PC store this afternoon where I bought it from and I was amazed that they said I still have two weeks warranty left on it and they can fix / replace it for free.
    I think that this is the best option to take now as I have no idea how to resolve this ongoing situation. The downside is, i'll be without a PC for seven days when I take it to be repaired / replaced.
    In the meanwhle, I might return to Windows 10 until I decide to take it in.
    I might also look to buying a tablet to enable me to browse the internet until I get my PC back.
    Now the fun starts deciding on which tablet to purchase, considering I'm kinda clueless and have never used one.
    Once again, thanks for the help here.
     
  11. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Good deal on the warranty!

    Ah tablets. I purchased one, after doing my homework in 2014. I wanted a way to take pictures, in case of an accident and not have to pay a monthly cellphone charge for service we never use.

    I'd advise looking at Android rather than Windows tablets. Or if you don't mind the high cost, an iPad. (I didn't consider Apple because no slot for extra storage).

    I also wanted one with a slot for extra storage. I have a 32GB micro sdhc card in the slot and I have 21 movies on it to watch while waiting at the doctor's office or traveling and no internet access. There's still room on the card for more movies.

    Get one with at least 16GB internal storage. You don't want to be cramped for space.
    You might see it comes with KitKat, Lollipop, or Marshmallow. Those are the version of Android. They are alphabetical.
    Don't buy another before KitKat. It just tells you it is old and hasn't been updated by the manufacturer.

    If you have question, post in the Android section
    http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php?forums/smartphones-and-tablets-hardware.68/
    and I or someone else will attempt to answer.
     
    Skinno likes this.
  12. Skinno

    Skinno Private E-2

    Thanks a lot plodr, I will submit a thread in the smartphone section.
    Regarding my computer problems, here's an update:
    After my last post, I did a clean reinstall Windows 10. The wi-fi was still nowhere to be seen. I downloaded all the Windows updates and reinstalled a few essential programs that I use before eventually retiring to bed around 5.30 am.
    When I switched the PC this morning the Atheros AR5BWB222 Wireless Network Adaptor is showing in Device Manager and my wi-fi was working again, perfectly fine and still is.
    The strange thing is, when I open CCleaner it's not there. No mention of it whatsoever. How odd?
    I'm considered keeping it, in hope that all is now well but I'm thinking that it would make more sense to take it in for a repair / exchange while the warranty is still valid.
     
  13. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    I'm not clear why you expect CCleaner to show hardware.

    Where in CCleaner did you expect to see it?
     
  14. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    netbook_wifi.jpg netbook_bluetooth.jpg
    I have the same chip in a netbook. In CCleaner startup, it shows 2 registry entries for bluetooth. That's it.
     
  15. Skinno

    Skinno Private E-2

    Hi plodr,
    Going on recent instances when my problems started, my CCleaner used to show Bluetooth Suite and Atheros in the 'Tools' > 'Uninstall' section. Now neither of them are there.
    They don't show in 'Tools' > 'Startup' either like your Bluetooth does.
     

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  16. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Well since your first shot shows select a Program that you want to remove. I don't expect to see it there. (And I don't on my computer).
    There is no program; it is a driver that runs your wifi and bluetooth.
    So I wouldn't worry about that.

    As far as the 2nd screen, look at your bluetooth settings in Device Manager or elsewhere and see if it is set to run on startup. If you don't use it, you don't need to have it run at startup. So having not showing isn't cause for alarm.
     

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