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Windows 10 laptop causes WNDR4500v3 to crash/restart every couple of minutes
I've been using a WNDR4500v3 (current firmware is 1.0.0.32) for over a year with no issues. Our cellphones, Ipads, apple TV, a 2007 iMac, and two laptops running Windows 8.1 all work fine. I just bought a new laptop - MSI GS43VR Phantom Pro 006 running Windows 10. I was able to connect to the router by wifi and install system updates (The update history showed it was up to date as of March 2016, not sure what version of Windows 10 was available at that time, the laptop is now at version 1607). I also managed to download a few games from Steam before the router started to constantly restart whenever this laptop is connected to it (Completely shuts down to orange power light and starts up again, taking about 30 seconds to complete). I have not tried an ethernet connection yet. I know it's the laptop, because as soon as I shut off the wifi adaptor in the laptop the router stablizes again and won't shut down no matter what other device is using it. Once I try to connect the laptop (as I troubleshoot this) by wifi the following happens.
- If i try to engage the internet in any way, open a browser, connect to steam, the router will shut down within a couple seconds and restart. Everything will reconnect, and within a minute it will repeat the restart process.
- If I connect by wifi but don't engage the internet, the router will stay stable for up to 3-5 minutes, before it restarts. I assume some data is being passed back and forth despite me not opening a browser. The restart process will repeat every 3-5 minutes.
I have uninstalled my antivirus, disabled windows defender, turned off P2P, checked that there is no malware on the router, updated the laptop and router, reset the router to factory standards, tried connecting at 2.4gHz and 5gHz, done something under device manager under the broadband and wifi to make sure the laptop doesn't ever try to turn it off to save power.
I just got the laptop last night so I haven't had time to try everything...I know I need to still try a wired connection and see if the wifi adapter needs an updated driver, or try a reinstall of windows 10, or roll back the updates. But before I do all of that...can you tell me is it simply because my router does not work with windows 10? My router is not on this list - http://kb.netgear.com/29490/How-do-I-check-if-my-product-is-compatible-with-Windows-10?cid=wmt_netgear_organic. Is it as simple as getting a new router? I don't hate this suggestion...I just want everything to work.
For the benefit of others who are reading this, there's a beta fw that may resolve this issue.
Feel free to send me a PM should you have the same concern with WNDR4500v3 only.
40 Replies
Just wanted to add that the laptop wifi adaptor never shuts down - I can constantly see other wifi connections in my area. I can also access the netgear genie before the router restarts.I have not had the opportunity to try connecting to a different router to see what will happen.
Welcome to the community, SerratiaMarcens
What's the brand and model of the wireless adapter that's installed on the laptop?
Is it also using the latest driver?
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 driver version
I just updated it to 12.0.0.285 (qualcomm)
This managed to keep the router from resetting for about 30 minutes, but it still did. Although it's not a continuous every other minute the router resets. After another 15 minutes the router reset again.
- Elaine, Netgear support is telling me that the firmware found through my N900's admin portal as of 6/14/17 is the latest version. I've installed it but my killer wireless 1535 is still crashing the n900 router. Can you contact me at rboston@risrmarketing.com with the firmware you mention here? I'd greatly appreciate it.
Robjboston Kindly check your inbox here in the community.
- I am having the same issue on my Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro S.
jandel2510 Do you have the latest firmware installed on your router?
If you have not updated yet, go ahead and update and then factory reset the router.
Resetting the unit will restore the settings of the router so you will need to configure the settings once again.
When I logged in, it showed the router was running the latest firmware already (V1.0.0.32). I will try factory resetting the router and see if that solves the problem. So far I have been connected for a few hours without the router crashing. I changed the "roaming aggresiveness" setting on my Network Adapter to highest, and uninstalled Microsoft WiFi app. At this point, I'm not sure if doing one of those two things alleviated the problem.
HELP!!!--- Apparently it's the same issue many are having, eg, constantly rebooting itself (4500v3)--My desktop's ethernet connection works fine, but when trying to connect with my laptop (which has the Killer 1535 wifi adapter card) it drops the connection within minutes, if not seconds! I've got the latest firmware and drivers for both the router and even the 1535 card as of 19 August 2017--- and STILL it reboots constantly--- and especially during any uploading (which for some reason seems to make it worse)! I'm about to return this Netgear product and NEVER buy Netgear again unless it's fixed!!--HELP!
Issue same as OP. Been using the WNDR4500v3 (current firmware is 1.0.0.32 - which is the latest version according to Netgear) for at least a year with no issues, really pleased with the router. I have an Alienware 17 R4 with a Killer Wireless 1435 that has been dropping my router everytime it has to do any heavy lifting (gaming downloads, Office 2016 install, hitting multiple web pages in one go). I am using Windows 10 Pro.
Contacted Alienware help first - they updated BIOs and Killer driver to latest and greatest. Later in that day, no luck, wifi dropped. What is strange is that I can sometimes download large games (Steam) in half an hour but when I go to 3 websites at the same time, it gets dropped more or less randomly. Pretty frustrating to say the least. Alienware tells me it's an incompatibility between Router + Windows 10 (Anniversary Update) but online there are plenty of forum posts where users with different routers are having the same issue with Killer Wireless 1535/1435. Ethernet will absolutely work fine but that isn't the point of a laptop.
I have already tried different versions of the Killer driver, including completely uninstalling it for the base Windows driver. Nothing has consistently worked so far. PM'ed ElaineM for the Beta Firmware in hopes that will help.
COME ON NETGEAR!!---There's got to be a solution to this router constantly rebooting! I've tried everything in this discussion, and then some---but NOTHING works. It's obviously a conflict between the Killer 1535 card and this router's firmware---Is there nothing to do but replace with another product that is NOT a NetGear product?---Has anyone here found the solution? Did the proposed fix from Elaine work?
Has ANYONE had any luck with the beta firmware proposed as a possible fix for this issue of constant reboots on the 4500 router? This may be a dumb question but I downloaded the beta file and it's an .img file, and simply does nothing but state it's corrupted---no matter how many times I try downloading---so am I missing something here?
The firmware update didn't work for me. I actually had to return my new tablet. I got a Surface Pro 4 and haven't had any further issues with the router. Sorry I'm not much help.
Thank you for everyone for the update.
Have a great day!
Ok SO FAR SO GOOD!!!---I just downloaded and then uploaded manually the router firmware beta upgrade that is suppose to resolve this issue with the constant self-rebooting of this 4500 router. Elaine, here on Netgear, provided the link, so you may need to ask her for it if you don't have it. After I got the link, which was a zip file, I unzipped it and received a .txt file and .img file. Don't just click on it direct---doesn't work that way. Go to the GENIE router admin page, log in, and go to the FIRMWARE UPGRADE section. There, you will Browse for your .img file, then upload it---follow prompts.
The reason I say all is good so far is because I have 'tested' it a few times already and it didn't crash! I had been testing it using Speedtest.net prior to this and it would drop every single time during the Uploading of that test---and I mean EVERY TIME! But like I said---so far so good!----I've got my fingers and toes crossed!! The big test is later tonight when brother is playing online---Prior to this upgrade I was knocking him offline with my laptop EVERY SINGLE TIME I TRIED TO GET ONLINE (laptop has the Killer 1535 card, which I believe was the issue). So we'll see!---If you don't hear from me again on this ALL IS WELL WITH THE WORLD. [Thx Elaine--I hope:)
Alright, when you get the beta firmware link from ElaineM you download it and unzip as mentioned. Thanks to loufromfwb for explaining how to actually update the firmware. Firmware Upgrade is located, for me, on the Advanced Tab > Administration. But also, Elaine mentions that after you apply the firmware, you need to reset the router (which you hold the little reset button 5-10 seconds). You have to set up your SSID again but that's not a big deal. Right now, all the things that were causing the router to crash with the Killer 1435 are not causing the crash anymore. I went through Alienware support and they updated BIOs and Killer to latest driver but I doubt you would even need to do that - just apply beta firmware. The router firmware for me now reads: V1.0.0.32-TD135-Win10-20160518
loufromfwb wrote:Ok SO FAR SO GOOD!!!---I just downloaded and then uploaded manually the router firmware beta upgrade that is suppose to resolve this issue with the constant self-rebooting of this 4500 router. Elaine, here on Netgear, provided the link, so you may need to ask her for it if you don't have it. After I got the link, which was a zip file, I unzipped it and received a .txt file and .img file. Don't just click on it direct---doesn't work that way. Go to the GENIE router admin page, log in, and go to the FIRMWARE UPGRADE section. There, you will Browse for your .img file, then upload it---follow prompts.
I also hope this works permanently. Thank you ElaineM
I thought I would add another comment here---more of an FYI kind of thing---anyway, it's been another day, and family computers were used, both laptops and desktop, heavy gaming online, heavy browsing, etc---and STILL there has been NO issue of dropping internet/self-rebooting of router! It's obvious that whatever was done technically has worked. I'm going to assume the fix is permanent, for now.
One other minor thing: I'm not sure if Elaine suggested a reboot OR a reset of the router. SemperNinjai apparently reset his router, BUT I simply let the firmware upgrade reboot the system---which it did--and never reset, but as I've stated it all works fine now. But in the event it does return to its "old ways" then I'll do a reset of the router. It just doesn't seem necesary at this point. [And it does show the appropriate 'new' version.]---Lou
Factory reset the router and all of your issues should be solved. Press the little button in the back with a pen for about a minute with everything but the power cord plugged in to reset, lights should flash on front to signify the reset. Then connect the cord from the modem to the router. Next connect a cable from the router to computer. You have to reset your wireless settings from the netgear genie site after hardlining to computer. (i.e. change wireless broadcast names and the password to your router, as it is reset to admin/password) I had to do this because my internet speeds were being choked by the router. Now everything is fine. Should help with your issues.
Sorry 'VeryDispleased' but that didn't work. Actually it's already been resolved but your post is appreciated. Just check previous posts that fixed the issue. Glad it worked for you though---but I'm assuming it wasn't the same problem, though possibly related and actually may work for someone else. :) ---In my case (and others) it was probably related to a Killer wifi card (1545/ 1535,etc) and it took a link from Elaine (moderator) that included a beta fix.
Yeah, I have had the same issue. Every 3 days or so my internet gets dissconnected and I think it may be my laptop too. I have a Qualcomm Atheros card. I am hoping I could try the Beta FW
Xxracer2005xx Kindly check your inbox.