Hello. If I haven't used my laptop for a couple of days it stops connecting to the wi-fi network. The wi-fi icon disappears and it doesn't highlight any available connections (either mine or anyone else in my block of flats). I have found a work around but it is still deeply frustrating. I either have to re-set the network settings entirely, which takes about 15 mins to do. And then I have to re-enter my wi-fi password. Or I have to do a hard re-set of the laptop. But then I lose all my web pages. Its like the laptop forgets to connect to wi-fi and instead defaults to an ethernet connection. Even though I do not have an ethernet connection. All my drivers are up to date and I have checked for viruses and malware already. Another thing is why is it almost impossible to get someone from Microsoft to phone me back with regards to this issue? Every time I request to contact a human being it asks me to sign in to my Microsoft account (even though I have already signed in).

The problem is specifically related to the latest Avastar Marvell driver released by Microsoft, version 15.68.17022.122 Microsoft needs to work with Marvell to fix the problem. Till they do, the only thing you can do is to try and install a previous driver. I was able to find a previous version of the driver 15.68.17021.121 that does seem to work, but I don't know what other issues 121 may cause. You can download a .cab of the previous drivers from the following Microsoft website. https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=marvell%20semiconductors%20 Choose the 121 driver, or other previous driver. Download the cab. Double click on the cab to open it, and move the files out of the cab into a folder on your computer. Open Device manager and choose to update the driver, with files on your disk. Then choose the folder where you placed these extracted files. NOTE: the driver IS signed by Microsoft, so you won't get any errors. This is an official previous release, from a Microsoft website. In addition to complaining to Microsoft, please go to the Marvell website and click, "Talk to us" and fill out the form to submit a complaint about driver 122 for the Marvell Avastar wifi card. https://www.marvell.com/support.html Perhaps someone will pay attention to this problem.

Thank you for all your answers, at least this makes sense now.

Surface does not connect to wi-fi

Answer accepted by question author

D S 95 Reputation points

2025-10-18T12:18:10.9133333+00:00

The problem is specifically related to the latest Avastar Marvell driver released by Microsoft, version 15.68.17022.122

Microsoft needs to work with Marvell to fix the problem. Till they do, the only thing you can do is to try and install a previous driver.

I was able to find a previous version of the driver 15.68.17021.121 that does seem to work, but I don't know what other issues 121 may cause.

You can download a .cab of the previous drivers from the following Microsoft website.

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=marvell%20semiconductors%20

Choose the 121 driver, or other previous driver. Download the cab. Double click on the cab to open it, and move the files out of the cab into a folder on your computer.

Open Device manager and choose to update the driver, with files on your disk. Then choose the folder where you placed these extracted files.

NOTE: the driver IS signed by Microsoft, so you won't get any errors. This is an official previous release, from a Microsoft website.

In addition to complaining to Microsoft, please go to the Marvell website and click, "Talk to us" and fill out the form to submit a complaint about driver 122 for the Marvell Avastar wifi card.

https://www.marvell.com/support.html

Perhaps someone will pay attention to this problem.
Please sign in to rate this answer.

1 person found this answer helpful.
Barb Bowman 80,430 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2025-10-18T15:09:44.5+00:00

@ D S The 122 Marvell driver was released in November 2021.

My opinion is that some Windows Update is interacting badly with the old Marvel driver. And since the last Surface devices with the Marvell WiFi reached end of driver and firmware servicing in 2023, it is most unlikely that any new Marvel driver will be released. And Windows 10 devices won't get anything but security updates UNLESS hey are enrolled in ESU. People with W11 devices need to file reports with the Feedback Hub and try to isolate when this issue started and try to pinpoint which Windows Update was involved. Bear in mind that SB2 and SP6 (which are most often mentioned in these threads) are devices from 2017/2018, which is pretty ancient in terms of computer years.

It certainly isn't a pretty situation.
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.

Share via

Surface does not connect to wi-fi

5 additional answers

Your answer