Win 8.1 disconnects from network during mediashare

For Christmas we purchased an all in one Dell Inspiron, along with a new Toshiba LED TV. I just recently figured out how to use the TV's mediashare function, playing video/audio files from my Dell's hard drive.

Prior to the update to Windows 8.1, there didn't seem to be any issues. However, since that update, we'll be watching a video file (several, it doesn't seem to matter what the file is) and the file will stop playing, and a message saying connection was lost will pop up. When I then check the computer, it shows it has "limited connection" to the home network, and I'll have to disconnect and reconnect before we can start watching again.

From what I can tell, it ONLY happens during mediashare use, and never during normal computer usage.

Any clue what might be going on?

You have to go back in and fix the power settings, when you upgrade to Windows 8.1. You would probably be best to use a Network drive that has a media share interface like Twonky Beam on it, then just the computer as a Network share.

Which power settings should I change? And my "network" is really just sharing files wifi over the dsl modem provided by Frontier. I used to be very tech savvy...building my own computers and such...but since having kids, I've fallen behind. So, anything you can do to make it understandable by someone who is now far more versed in micro brews than software and hardware, would be greatly appreciated, LOL.

In Control Panel, check the settings in Power Options, then click on "Balanced" "Change Plan Settings". In there, go to "Change Advanced Power Settings". Look at what "Sleep" settings state.

You may also have Hibernate still configured, so open a Command Window as administrator (Press Window Key & the X key at the same time, then click on "Command Prompt (Admin)". In the command window, enter without quotes "powercfg /hibernate off".

That will shut off Hibernate. In your case, if the power profile is causing it, these couple of changes, along with checking the advanced properties for the adapter, that it is not set to turn the computer off, in the Properties for the adapter.

You would just need to again check in Network & Sharing Center, Left click on the adapter, then click on "Properties", then "Configure", then Left click on the "Power Management" tab.

8.1 is not supposed to change settings, when upgrading from 8. But of course, in Microsoft's infinite wisdom, this is not the only area that they have messed up. I have come across quite a few machines, that I have had to work on, that the driver that Microsoft/Windows Update installed, has caused a lot of headaches.

Uninstalled the updated driver, then gone in and installed the correct driver from the computer, motherboard manufacturer's, or adapter manufacturer website, things went back to normal.

Well, I've tried everything you listed, but I'm still having the problem. Still, in the middle of watching a file, the TV will suddenly lose access to the file stored on my computer HD. When I check, connection on the computer is listed as "limited" and I must disconnect, and reconnect before I can go back to the TV and continue watching the file. This is getting extremely frustrating...getting up several times during a movie to reconnect the computer to the network. Any more help you might suggest will really be appreciated!