The Broadcom 802.11n network adapter does not work

The Broadcom 802.11n network adapter $ 0027 it is well known for causing various problems when you try to use it to connect to the internet. These problems usually arise when the driver software is out of date, the drivers are corrupted for whatever reason or there is a problem with the registry, etc.

The conditions under which this phenomenon occurs vary, since the configuration of each computer is different and this problem does not need to occur only under some predefined conditions. After extensive research and experimentation, we have found a number of different solutions. Start with the first solution and work in order.

Solution 1: troubleshoot the working network adapter

Network adapter troubleshooter is worth a try. Windows has a built-in collection of troubleshooters aimed at solving problems in various categories. We can try to run this troubleshooter and check if it detects any problems and fixes it. Generally there are problems present in the configuration of the different adapters. Most of the time, Windows successfully restarts the adapter and the problem is resolved.

1. Press Windows + R, type »control panel» in the dialog box and press Enter.

2. Type »troubleshooting» in the control panel search bar at the top right of the window.

1. Select the heading »Troubleshooting» from the list of returned results.

1. Once in the troubleshooting menu, click on »See all» present in the navigation panel on the left of the window. Now Windows will complete all the troubleshooters available on your computer.

1. Browse through the options until you find »Network adapter«. click on it.

1. Check the two options »Run as administrator» and »Apply repairs automatically«. These options will ensure that you find as many problems as possible and that repairs are carried out quickly as well..

1. Follow the instructions on the screen and wait for the troubleshooting to complete.

Solution 2: revert to the default drivers or update them

The possibility that you have the wrong drivers installed is almost ignored when this error occurs. Windows automatically updates all driver updates using Windows Update. The current driver installed on your computer may not be supported or suitable for Broadcom hardware. We can try to roll back the drivers and see if this solves the problem.

1. Press Windows + R, type »devmgmt. msc »and hit Enter.

2. Once in Device Manager, expand network adapters and locate adapter hardware. Right click on it and select »Uninstall«.

1. Windows may display a UAC confirming your actions. Press Yes and continue. After uninstalling the driver, right-click on any empty space and select »Scan for hardware changes«. Now Windows will automatically detect your hardware and install the default drivers. Restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed.

If the rollback drivers don't work, we can try to install the latest drivers. You should go to the manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers in an accessible location. Make sure to download the drivers according to your system specifications.

1. Open device manager, right-click on your Ethernet hardware and select »Update Driver Software«.

2. Select the second options »Search my computer for driver software«. Locate the driver you downloaded and install it accordingly. Restart your computer and check if the adapter works as expected.

Solution 3: check registry settings

Another reason this error could be occurring is that the registry settings may not be configured according to the required settings. We can try changing the registry settings by deleting an entry and see if this solves the problem in question.

1. Press Windows + R, scribe “regedit” in the dialog box and press Enter.

2. Once in the registry editor, navigate to the following address:

< HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE_SYSTEM_CurrentControlSetClassN4D36E978-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318

1. Check if that folder contains the key »UpperFilters» and »LowerFilters». If you find it, remove the keywords and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

1. After reboot, check if the problem is fixed.

Note: Registry Editor is a powerful tool. Editing unfamiliar keys can hamper your computer and even render it unusable. It is recommended to back up your registry before implementing any changes to ensure that you can always restore if something goes wrong.

Solution 4: restore from last restore point / perform a clean install

If all the above methods don't work, We have no choice but to restore Windows to the last restore point. If you don't have the latest restore point, you can install a clean version of Windows. You can use the utility “Belarc” to save all your licenses, back up your data to external storage and then do a clean install.

This is the method on how to restore Windows from the last restore point.

1. Press Windows + S to launch the start menu search bar. Type »restore» in the dialog box and select the first program that appears in the result.

1. Once in the restore settings, click System Restore at the top of the window under the System Protection tab.

1. Now a wizard will open that will guide you through all the steps to restore your system. Press Next and continue with all other instructions.

1. Now select the restore point from the list of available options. If you have more than one system restore point, will be listed here.

1. Now Windows will confirm your actions one last time before starting the system restore process. Save all your work and backup important files just in case and continue with the process.

1. Once it has been successfully reset, enter the system and check if the error in question has been fixed.

If you don't have restore points, you can do a clean install of Windows using a bootable media. See our article on how to create bootable media. There are two ways: using a Microsoft media creation tool or using Rufus.