How to stop your device from killing your Windows WiFi network connection?

Niall · September 2015

In the first place, your computer should be directly connected to your router, preferably via an Ethernet cable.
If you cannot directly connect and have to use WiFi, here is how to make sure that plugging in your device does not instantly kill you WiFi connectivity.

Right click the network adapter in your task bar and select "Open network and sharing centre"
Click "Change adapter settings" on the left side of the Network and Sharing Centre
Right click your wireless adapter and go to "Properties"
In the networking tab, click "Configure"
Go to the Advanced tab and find "Disable upon wired connect" - make sure it is set to "disabled"

For the technically minded:-
Due to the USB/TCP bridge driver, the your device appears to the system as another Network Interface Card, it's the same (to the OS) as if you plugged the PC into a hardwired network.

momist · April 2016

Hi Niall. Does this apply to all Windows versions please? I use Linux on my main PC and keep a 17 year old Win XP laptop for jobs like TomTom which don't like Linux.

Niall · April 2016

@momist

If you can see each of the stages then it should work, it was tested on Win 7 & 8, Win 10 does does not seem to have the "Disable upon wired connect" operation but as I hand set it to be disabled, before I updated all seems to be OK

Johnh510 · April 2016

I thought I had read somewhere that TOMTOM have discontinued support XP, or are about to..

I got a windows 10 tablet for use with TOMTOM, which was problematic due to USB power saving.

The settings for USB power saving on battery powered Windows laptop/tablet/surface devices is hidden, and involves a registry tweak to reveal them, which TOMTOM won't publish for fear of a user breaking the Windows device with regedit.

However, your mileage may vary.

DMC314159 · May 2016

Thanks Niall,
Makes sense and will save me a lot of hair, as it means I will be able to use Win 10 as my fall back position on a Mac laptop while traveling now.
David

Niall · October 2016

For those that have installed the Windows 10 Anniversary update.

Please see this entry by YamFazMan https://en.discussions.tomtom.com/go-6100-6000-5100-5000-610-600-510-500-400-go-via-start-4x-5x-6x-mydrive-connect-176/mydrive-connect-tomtom-go-400-disables-my-wifi-1012259?postid=1122396

Navigator1964 · December 2016

Thanks for the response. I am using an ethernet cable and I have wi-fi turned off. I would appreciate your further assistance. This problem only occurred after updated MyDrive loaded recently. Previously no problems.

josefin1 · January 2018

Here is how to prevent your Wi-Fi from turning off in Windows 10
1:- Right click on “Start” icon positioned at the bottom left corner of your screen. Click on “Control Panel”.
2:- On selecting the “Category View”, click on “Network and Internet”.
3:- Now, click on “Network and Sharing Center”.
4:- In the left sub menus, click on “Change adapter settings”.
5:- Right click on your Wireless Network Connection (Wi-Fi) & click on “Properties”.
6:- In the “Wireless Connection Properties” window, click on “Configure”.
7:- Click on “Power Management” tab.
Source:- http://merabheja.com/prevent-your-wi-fi-from-turning-off-in-windows-10/

Petenotpeat · August 1

Having connected and updated my TomTom 510 subsequently it connects initially, then disconnnects after brief connection. (Remote NDIS Compatible Device - disabled).

Having just paid almost $200 for new maps and updates - I am unable to download them onto my device.
Can I download the maps onto my computer and load them onto the SD card directly?

YamFazMan · August 1

Hi
@Petenotpeat

Re "Download/installation interrupted".....
Are your USB ports set for power saving "USB Selective Suspend"

Win7 See... http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/147369-usb-selective-suspend-turn-off.html

Win10 See… https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/73187-turn-off-usb-selective-suspend-windows-10-a.html
Click on link and scroll down to "Turn Off USB Selective Suspend"

Also turn off any Screen savers any other Power savers or USB port monitoring software installed
________________________________

Random Disconnects on Surface Pro 3 & 4
Do you have or have access to a 'Surface Dock', if so plug your device into a USB port on that. Others have found that to work
On the Win10 tablets, Microsoft has hidden the "USB Selective Suspend" menu
You will need to edit the Registry for the USB Selective Suspend menu to show

Laptop users also see Note (1) & (2)
Note... (1) My Linx 10/10 Win10 Tablet is exactly the same... I had to edit the Registry to activate the advanced setting in the Power Menu
Note...(2) Recently a User with a Dell XPS 9360 Laptop also exactly the same problem ... he also had to edit the Registry to activate the advanced setting in the Power Menu

See... https://discussions.tomtom.com/en/discussion/comment/1234855/#Comment_1234855

ATB YFM