Windows 7 networking broken

[#1]

I have a Windows 7 laptop (64 bit) with integral Atheros WiFi network card.
I have a Netgear DG834Gv5 router - but the laptop may connect for a few seconds, a few hours or even several days.
After that the only way to get Windows to connect is to reboot the router.
It clames it can't connect to my WPA-TKIP access point.
Luckily, the PC is a dual boot Linux machine. 
Even when Windows networking is down, Ubuntu connects with ease - (using the same hardware).
A M$ site claims my router is acceptable.
My router has latest firmware on it.

[#2]

Quote from: A

It clames it can't connect to my WPA-TKIP access point.

It being Windows?  Is Windows controlling the wireless adaptor or does the wireless adaptor have its own software?

Quote from: A

A M$ site claims my router is acceptable. My router has latest firmware on it.

I have never seen a router that won't work with Windows 7 but I have seen wireless adaptors (well-known brands) that won't.  Since yours came with the computer you would expect it to work properly but I would have a look for updated drivers, maybe on the Atheros web site if Windows Update does not offer anything (it would be an optional Windows update). 

[#3]

I must admit to not accepting most Windows updates - Windows is controlling the adapter (zeroconf).
I have also tried a netsh ip reset (approximate command form! as Administrator). Didn't seem to do anything though.
I'll look tomorrow for any Atherps AR9285 drivers tomorrow...

[#4]

Just confirming RR's view, drivers would be first suspicion and ensuring they were up to date the first action.

[#5]

Quote from: A

I must admit to not accepting most Windows updates...

Windows Update often includes optional updates to your hardware drivers.  These driver updates are almost always optional, so possibly you never looked to see if anything is available.  But only a fraction of all driver updates are made available in this way.

[#6]

It's one of the aspects of Windows Update that is unsatisfactory, but I'm not sure if there's an obvious solution.
My own practice, on my own PC's and when working on others, is to do a manual/custom Windows Update and look at all the optional/recommended updates and apply all of them EXCEPT those that I am pretty sure aren't needed.
Hardware driver updates are almost always applied; after all if they cause a new problem it's easy to roll them back individually.  
Things like .Net I generally omit until something actually needs them.

[#7]

I asked Windows to make my drivers up to date - but it said they already were...
Anyway I downloaded a 23MB !! file from Atheros that claimed to be up to date, but didn't say what it fixed, if anything.
There is no security on these web sites - when I ran the program it claimed that it was Windows 7 registered.
For all I know, I've just loaded a major chunk of malware.
I've rebooted my router - which would have cured the old problem and I will wait and see...
I'm not optimistic.

[#8]

Quote from: A

There is no security on these web sites - when I ran the program it claimed that it was Windows 7 registered. For all I know, I've just loaded a major chunk of malware.

If you're worried about a file you have downloaded, get your security software to check it out before you run it.

[#9]

Why are these software sites not authenticated?

[#10]

Why? Ask the manufacturers if it's their sites you went to?
The drivers I download for Windows are "usually" WHQL certified. 

[#11]

What does WHQL certified mean?
BTW the PC with the new driver is still going strong, may it stay that way!

[#12]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHQL_Testing
"For device drivers passing the WHQL tests, Microsoft creates a digitally signed certification file that, when included in the driver installation package allows installation on 64 bit versions of Windows and prevents 32 bit versions of Vista, and all versions of Windows XP from displaying a warning message that the driver has not been certified by Microsoft "