Surface Pro 3 firmware, driver updates reportedly to blame for iffy Wi-Fi

By Konrad Krawczyk June 30, 2014

Microsoft SURFACE Pro 3 start screen — Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to multiple reports, a firmware and driver update that was released for the Surface Pro 3 on June 19 is causing issues with Wi-Fi connections.

The problem reportedly occurs once the Surface Pro 3 resumes from Instant Go while running on its battery, with the speeds of 802.11ac and 802.11n connections slowing to a crawl after the Surface Pro 3 wakes. A ZDnet report tested this issue using multiple routers from a variety of firms, including Linksys, Belkin, and Asus, and concluded that the problem wasn’t rooted in external networking hardware. A commenter on this Microsoft forum thread reported that manually disconnecting from, and reconnecting to their Wi-Fi connection fixed the problem for them.

However, that’s not the only issue between the Surface Pro 3 and the new software. Other users are reporting a variety of problems, including blue screens of death, and more.

One possible solution requires you to manually reinstall the driver for the Marvell Avastar Wireless-AC Network Controller from the original set of drivers and firmware. However, this isn’t guaranteed to work for every Surface Pro 3 user, so don’t expect this to be a fool-proof fix.

Microsoft has reportedly been mum about these issues to this point. However, when past firmware-related problems have cropped up with the Surface line, Microsoft eventually released new firmware designed to correct those problems.

The Core i5 version of the Surface Pro 3 hit the market on June 20 – the day after this problematic set of drivers and firmware were released. The Core i3 and Core i7 variants are available for pre-order now, and will begin to ship starting August 1.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Konrad Krawczyk

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Konrad covers desktops, laptops, tablets, sports tech and subjects in between for Digital Trends. Prior to joining DT, he…

Computing

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 vs. Microsoft Surface Book 3

Surface Pro 8 front view showing display and keyboard.

When it was introduced, Microsoft's Surface Book 3 was a genuinely innovative machine, being the third generation of Microsoft's tear-off display convertible 2-in-1. It's getting a bit long in the tooth, though, and there's uncertainty about whether it will be updated. The Surface Pro 8 is the latest in the company's line of detachable tablets, and it makes some meaningful changes by way of a larger display, smaller display bezels, and (finally!) the inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 support. It's made our list of best laptops.

Both are great at what they do, but if you're choosing between them, there are some things to consider. Which is the better machine, the Surface Pro 8 or the Surface Book 3?
Specs

Computing

TP-Link’s Wi-Fi 6E router comes with motorized antennas for better reception

The TP-Link Archer AXE200 Omni with its antennas in motion.

To deliver better Wi-Fi reception and coverage, especially in larger homes, TP-Link is bringing new innovation to the router space. The company's latest Wi-Fi 6E router, the TP-Link Archer AXE200 Omni comes with four antennas that are motorized, allowing them to pivot and swivel towards your devices as you move around the house.

Essentially, by tailing your connected devices, the TP-Link Archer AXE200 Omni will help to send out the strongest signals to your devices.

Computing

4 things you can do right now to prep your Wi-Fi network for holiday houseguests

Netgear's Nighthawk RAXE500 tri-band router.

Every year, damn near everyone in my family drives out to rural Oregon and piles into my mom's house for the holidays. It's ridiculous. Suddenly, the number of occupants in the house balloons from just two people to well over a dozen -- and every year, mom's Wi-Fi just can't handle all the extra network traffic.

Or at least it couldn't. Things are different this year. I got tired of dealing with glitchy video calls, dial-up-speed page loads, and Netflix movies that would pause to buffer every 15 seconds -- so I made some small adjustments to her network setup. Thanks to those little tweaks, I'm proud to report that my mom's snail-like rural broadband connection can now comfortably handle a house full of web users -- and yours can, too.