Notebook Wireless and Networking

My new Spectre 13t-aw100 CTO (custom build with OLED screen) has slow wifi: my other devices get 10Mbs on my home network, but the Spectre gets only 1Mbs.

I think the issue may be related to Intel's wifi driver. The driver generates the error message "Windows cannot initialize the device driver for this hardware. (Code 37) The request is not supported" when booted in Safe Mode with Networking. Detailed instructions are below. I don't know if the error message is normal, or if it is indicative of a hardware or software failure, but I suspect it is a software failure in the driver.

If your machine does not already have the latest 10/6/2019 version 21.50.1.1 of the Intel driver, there are instructions for installing it on the "Spectre X360 AX201" thread. That thread also has several solutions for slow wifi problems that have worked for other users. However, the solutions did not work for my machine so I have posted this information on this new thread.

I worked around the problem by using an external USB Wifi adapter (TPLINK, under $20 at Office Depot). Hopefully, an Intel driver update will fix the problem.

More detailed instructions for reproducing the error message:

1) Make sure that you are displaying your desktop on "PC Screen Only".
2) Shut down.
3) Disconnect all external devices and cables.
4) Press the Power button.
5) Immediately start tapping the ESC key until you see "ESC...Pause Startup" in the lower left corner of the screen.
6) Press F11 for "System Recovery".
7) Select "Troubleshoot" (use the TAB and ENTER keys, or the touchpad).
😎 Select "Advanced Options".
9) Select "Start Settings" (not "Startup Repair").
10) Select "Restart".
11) Your screen will go blank for a few seconds.
12) Select "Enable Safe Mode with Networking" using F5 or 5.
13) Your computer will reboot into "Safe Mode with Networking".
14) Press WINDOWS+S (the Windows icon key and the S key).
15) The search menu should appear.
16) Type "device manager" and hit the ENTER key.
17) The Device Manager dialog box should appear.
18) Expand the "Network Adapters" category, if it is not already expanded.
19) Open the properties box for the "Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6 AX201 160MHz" (double click or click and press ENTER).
20) On the "General" tab under "Device Status" my machine displays the error message:
"Windows cannot initialize the device driver for this hardware. (Code 37) The request is not supported".
21) On the "Driver" tab, it lists the build date as 10/6/2019, and the version as 21.50.1.1.
22) Shut down.
23) Reconnect any external devices or cables.
24) Press the Power button to power back up normally.