Don’t update your Windows 10 with KB3201845 fix, it will kill your Wi-Fi connections

Microsoft engineers bungle again, cumulative update KB3201845 for Windows 10 kills Internet connections for most users

We all know that Microsoft issues patch after patch and fix after fix with errors which tend to do more damage then fix Windows 10 issues. Ditto for Microsoft’s new cumulative update KB3201845 for Windows 10. The KB3201845 update was released by Microsoft to fix some mobile issues and errors in Windows 10 anniversary update but the patch is causing Windows 10 run PCs and laptops to drop internet connection while working. Some Windows 10 users have reported that the KB3201845 kills Wi-Fi connections altogether leaving them without the Internet.

The Windows 10 update called KB3201845 was released by Microsoft yesterday and is designed to fix various issues with the new operating system. Before releasing it publicly to all Windows 10 users worldwide, Microsoft first tested the KB3201845 Windows 10 update with beta testers by issuing it to Windows Insiders in November. Surprisingly, none of the Windows Insider members flagged the issue then.

Another surprise is that the newly released KB3201845 Windows 10 doesn’t even mention anything related to internet connectivity/networking. The update is primarily for the following according to the update information :

  • Improved the reliability of mobile device management (MDM) dis-enrollment, Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM), Peripheral Component Interface and PowerShell.
  • Addressed issue that causes excessive battery drain if you have a Chinese Input Method Editor installed and use Windows Hello to log in.
  • Addressed issue with OLE drag and drop that prevents users from downloading a SharePoint document library as a file.
  • Addressed issue with Super Floppy-formatted fixed media devices that are not recognized by Windows 10 Anniversary Update or accessible in Windows Explorer.
  • Addressed issue that causes the System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) client to fail installation when a device is re-imaged using the SCCM task sequence.
  • Addressed issue that causes the loss of optional component (OC) state information, including all Hyper-V virtual machines, after upgrade.
  • Addressed issue that causes Windows Explorer to display information that’s inconsistent with what’s stored on the Floppy disk.
  • Addressed issue that, after connecting a shared CD/DVD-hosted drive with no media inserted, causes some of the commands, like DIR and NET USE, to hang.
  • Addressed issue where customers cannot use directory cache sizes greater than 64 KB.
  • Addressed issue where Windows Explorer sometimes does not prompt for credentials when a user logs on using a Microsoft account.
  • Addressed additional issues with application compatibility and Internet Explorer

Microsoft has acknowledged the Wi-Fi disconnection problem with KB3201845 Windows on the Microsoft Forum where Forum Moderator Lonnie_L states:

We are looking into reports that some customers are experiencing difficulty connecting to the Internet.  We recommend customers restart their PCs, and if needed, visit https://support.microsoft.com/help/10741/windows-10-fix-network-connection-issues.  To restart, select the Start button from the taskbar, click the Power button and choose Restart (not Shut down).

The  only way to escape the networking/Wi-Fi is to avoid the KB3201845 Windows 10 update until Microsoft fixes it. Till such time you can block the update from Windows 10 update settings. If you have already installed the fix, you may be able to solve the issue by uninstalling the update or changing the local IPv4 IP address for your network adapter.

You can also try hard reboot to fix the issue. To hard reset your Windows 10 PC/laptop, hold down Shift and simultaneously press Start and click the Power Button in the Start Menu. While still holding the Shift button select Shut Down. Continue holding the Shift button down until the PC has fully powered down, then reboot.

4 COMMENTS

  1. I received (KB3201845) on 11-29-16 as a Release Preview Insider. No difficulty downloading or installing the update. A restart was required with no subsequent connectivity issues. I have a wired connection.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Read More

Suggested Post