Microsoft has acknowledged another problem in Windows 10 version 1903 where user’s are reporting that their network adapters suddenly stop working after installing a cumulative update.
In the Windows 10 Health Dashboard, Microsoft has stated that some Intel and Broadcom Wi-Fi adapters are having a compatibility issues with NEC computers and will cause the adapter to no longer work.
“Microsoft and NEC have found incompatibility issues with Intel Centrino 6205/6235 and Broadcom 802.11ac Wi-Fi cards when running Windows 10, version 1903 on specific models of NEC devices. If these devices are updated to Windows 10, version 1903, they will no longer be able to use any Wi-Fi connections. The Wi-Fi driver may have a yellow exclamation point in device manager. The task tray icon for networking may show the icon for no internet and Network & Internet settings may not show any Wi-Fi networks.”
Microsoft has not indicated what cumulative update is causing this issue, but as found by WindowsLatest, users have reported [1. 2] that their WiFi adapters started showing that they were not connected after installing the Windows 10 KB4515384 cumulative update.
“KB4515384 broke my Intel NIC. It kept reporting ‘disconnected’. I downloaded the Intel 24.0.0.11 drivers, and did a fresh install, but no luck…still disabled. I uninstalled the kb, and I’m back in business. I’m running Intel driver 12.18.8.22 successfully pre-update, if that helps anyone. Now, I sit and wait and hope MS fixes!”
While Microsoft has stated that this issue is only affected NEC computers, from the user’s reports it is also affecting WiFi adapters on motherboards such as X470 AORUS GAMING 7, MSI Gaming Pro Carbon X370, Gigabyte GA-AX370-Gaming 7, MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC, and MSI Gaming X470 M7 AC.
Even more confusing is that some of the users are exhibiting these issues on their LAN adapters and not just wireless adapters.
For now, though, Microsoft has issued a compatibility hold on affected devices so that they will not be offered the Windows 10 version 1903 update.
Microsoft posts workaround
As a workaround, Microsoft has stated that you can simply right-click the wireless adapter and select Enable to get the adapter working again.
“If you are using an affected device and you have already installed Windows 10, version 1903, you can mitigate the issue disabling then re-enabling the Wi-Fi adapter in Device Manager. You should now be able to use Wi-Fi until your next reboot.”
Unfortunately, this fix only works for that session and it will be disabled on the next reboot.
For those who wish to use the workaround, you can follow these steps:
Open the Network Status page by searching for Network Status in the Start Menu and selecting its search result when it appears.
When the Network Status page opens, click on Change adapter options as shown below.
A page will open showing all of the computer’s network adapters. Find the adapter that is not working, right-click on it, and select Enable as shown below.
Your adapter should work again until the next reboot, which will require you to perform these steps again.
For a complete fix, affected Windows 10 v1903 users will need to wait for a fix to be released by Microsoft.