qualcomm atheros wlan driver running high cpu

Addressing High CPU Usage with the Qualcomm Atheros WLAN Driver

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The Qualcomm Atheros WLAN driver is a crucial component responsible for managing wireless connectivity on laptops equipped with Intel chipsets, including those from brands like Acer Aspire E5 series. However, some users have reported encountering high CPU usage issues related to this driver.

Causes of High CPU Usage by the Qualcomm Atheros WLAN Driver

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Before diving into potential solutions, it's essential to understand what might be causing such behavior:

1. Outdated or Corrupted Drivers: Using outdated drivers can lead to compatibility problems and excessive resource consumption.

2. Interference from Other Programs: Conflicting applications running in the background may interfere with the driver's functioning.

Troubleshooting Steps

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### Step 1: Update Your Driver

First, ensure that you're running the latest version of your Qualcomm Atheros WLAN controller drivers. Here are some steps to follow:

1. Open Device Manager by pressing `Win + X` and selecting Device Manager.

2. In the device tree on the left-hand side, expand Network adapters, right-click on your wireless adapter (which should be listed under 'Qualcomm Adaptec AR9000 Series'), and select Update driver`.

3. Follow the prompts to search for updates online or choose a different location if you have downloaded an updated version manually.

4. Once the update process completes, restart your computer.

### Step 2: Disable Wake-on-LAN

Wake-up features like Wi-Fi can cause unnecessary CPU usage even when not in use. To disable this:

1. Press `Win + I` to open Settings

2. Click on Power & sleep

3. Scroll down and toggle off the switch next to 'Allow wake up from Magic Packet' under both When connected and On battery

### Step 3: Uninstall/Reinstall Qualcomm Atheros WLAN Driver

Sometimes, a complete driver removal followed by an installation can resolve compatibility issues:

1. Press `Win + X` again

2. Select Device Manager

3. In the device tree on the left-hand side, expand Network adapters, right-click on your wireless adapter (which should be listed under 'Qualcomm Adaptec AR9000 Series')), and select Uninstall device.

4. Confirm that you want to proceed with the uninstallation process

5. After the driver has been completely removed, restart your computer

### Step 4: Update BIOS/UEFI Firmware

Outdated or corrupted firmware can also contribute to high CPU usage:

1. Enter into UEFI (BIOS) settings by pressing a key during boot (usually `F2`, `F12` or `Del`)

2. Look for 'System Configuration' or similar option and navigate there

3. Click on 'Chipset', then look for your network controller manufacturer (in this case, it should be Intel Corporation)

4. Check if any BIOS/UEFI updates are available; follow the prompts to download and install them

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High CPU usage caused by the Qualcomm Atheros WLAN driver can often be attributed to outdated or corrupted drivers, interference from other programs running in the background, or even wake-up features not properly configured. By following these steps – updating your driver to its latest version, disabling Wake-on-LAN if unnecessary, and uninstalling/reinstalling the driver if issues persist – you should be able to resolve this issue.

Remember that before making any changes to your system configuration, it's always a good idea to create a full backup of all important data so that in case anything goes wrong during these processes, you can easily restore everything back to its previous state.

Qualcomm atheros wlan driver running high cpu