Issue with updated Realtek network adapter driver

[RichardW23]

Since installing an updated Realtek network driver (RTL8723BE/RTL8188EE 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN driver, version 2023.48.1130.2016), I have experienced a very specific problem when trying to connect to the local library's public network.  I click "Connect" for the appropriate network, and then almost immediately I get a blue screen which tells me that the computer is collecting error information.  It then tells me that the STOPCODE was DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL; and WHAT FAILED was rtwlane.sys.  I'd like to roll back to the previous driver, but that option is not available in Device Manager - I presume because it is not a windows driver.  I really do need to get this sorted.  Help please!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Before going back, maybe you want to go forward.

Here is the latest W10 driver for the Realtek wifi card...

2023.58.704.2017 Rev.A  Windows 10 (64-bit)  Sep 11, 2017

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp81501-82000/sp81917.exe

Fix and enhancements:

- Fixes an issue where the wireless LAN driver causes a blue screen event to occur (system failure).

[RichardW23]

Thanks Paul.  It has solved the problem.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

There is now an even newer one that that...

This package contains the driver installation package for the Realtek RTL8723BE/RTL8188EE wireless LAN Controller in the supported models running a supported operating system.

Fix and enhancements:

- Fixes Security vulnerability in WPA-2 handshake mechanism
- Improves the Mircascat and Hotspot function errors.
- Improves Wi-Fi/BT coexist function.

2023.66.1104.2017 Rev.A   Nov 21, 2017

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp82501-83000/sp82801.exe

[ceb0004]

I just reinstalled Windows 10 after a hardware repair on my laptop (430 G2, with a Realtek 8723BE(.  The HP Polish repair center wiped my disk after leading me to believe that they wouldn't. 

They reinstalled Windows 7.  Wireless was working fine.  I upgraded to Windows 10 using my recovery USB stick prepared in 2016.  Wireless was still working fine.   I ran through all the Windows updates from Microsoft.  Wireless was still working fine.

The  fingerprint reader stopped working after the update to Windows 10  (though when I upgraded before it continued to work).  In an attempt to fix this, I installed the HP Support Assistant today (10.1.2018).  I accepted its advice regarding updates, one of which was for the Realex 8723BE.  This update installed sp79095, which is a prior version of sp82801.   This started the crash-on-connect behavior being discussed here.   I went online to the HP website, saw that HP Support Assistant was guiding me onto the knife of an old version of the software, downloaded sp82801 manually, and hand-carried it do the 430 G2 via USB, because my network was gone.  THE SAME CRASHING BEHAVIOR OCCURRED!

I then saw this forum thread, downloaded sp81917 by hand, did the sneakernet thing again, and installed it.  I noted it's not really intended for the 8723BE (the DE yes, the BE no), but I had nothing to lose, so I installed it anyway.   Now I can connect to my wireless network.   HP Support Assistant run after this installation does not perceive a need to update to, for example, sp82801.  

I'm sensing lots of failure to test issues in-house at HP.

None of this solved the missing fingerprint reader functionality, but it sure wasted a couple of hours, and killed my trust of the HP support assistant.

Thanks at least for one way forward.