Network Adaptor Settings

Greetings. I have a desktop with a router (adaptor 1 on a capped connection) connected via ethernet. I also have a USB wifi dongle on the same machine which connects to a different router (adaptor 2 on an uncapped connection with FUP) when required. When I disable router 1 usings Windows settings, or Control Panel, or Device Manager to enable me to use adaptor 2, it works for a while and whenever Windows feels like it, it defaults back to adaptor 1, where the data may have run out - therefore "I get no Internet connection". Why is Windows defaulting back to the ethernet connection, especially between reboots? How do I make the connection to wifi persistent? The only real solution I have found is to disconnect the ethernet cable. How can I avoid having to do this but rather with a Windows software setting?

An example, one of my Notebooks can't do 5G Wireless with the 802.11n internal adapter [2G only] so I used Device Manager to disable it then added a USB Dongle that gives me 802.11ax with 5G. It should be possible to disable the Ethernet the same way to assure the Wireless stays on, would save having to work with the cables. Not wanting to run another cable to a second Desktop setup I disabled the Ethernet as it also has a Wireless adapter.

Kwagga said:

When I disable router 1 usings Windows settings, or Control Panel, or Device Manager

Click to expand...

Exactly what do you do?
Do you really mean router or do you mean your ethernet network adapter?


Denis

Apologies for my delayed response.
(More correctly), I disable the ethernet adapter in Windows settings which then causes the wifi connection to take over automatically. This action does not remain persistent while I am using the PC. Windows decides on its own and at any time to reinstate the ethernet connection. This is frustrating, especially if router 1 has reached its cap. I trust this provides more clarity.

Try3 said:

Exactly what do you do?
Do you really mean router or do you mean your ethernet network adapter?


Denis

Click to expand...

HI, sorry, still trying to get the hang of the forum functionality.
Apologies for my delayed response.
(More correctly), I disable the ethernet adapter in Windows settings which then causes the wifi connection to take over automatically. This action does not remain persistent while I am using the PC. Windows decides on its own and at any time to reinstate the ethernet connection. This is frustrating, especially if router 1 has reached its cap. I trust this provides more clarity.

I wonder if your WiFi network is disappearing sometimes and that's why it changes to the Ethernet one.
I suggest you check using, for example, NirSoft WiFiInfoView so that, the next few times the unwanted switchover happens, you can whether your received WiFi signal has disappeared or drastically reduced in power.

If it's not the network signal itself, I wonder if the WiFi adapter or its USB connection is causing the interruption.

Best of luck,
Denis