Alrighty, now I've got a new problem with my network

What you have described is textbook hardware conflict. By this, I mean that either a driver is corrupt or wrong. . . or hardware is loose. Loose hardware will also sit for a while and when bumped cause a hardwae fault and BSOD or lockup your computer. I still suggest openning the puter and making sure everything inside is well seated and for the aircard, that includes the antenna wires.

windows 8 tends to be unstable. recommend moving down to windows 7..

how are you connecting to the phone?
recommend a complete scan of system using updated anti-virus software...if you are not using one you can get AVANT for free and works very well.

Thank you, Ourhome :).

I did that (it was in the previous thread) and it didn't help.

The constant crashing fixed itself after about the 12th crash. Is a frustrating thing about modern operating systems... they fix themselves and then you never know what was wrong.

I assume I still have the other problem. I have not connected to any other wifi, so do not know for sure.

So you are already ahead of the game you found out that the Windows trouble shooter is useless.

This problem and your old problem may be from the same cause.
I am not sure if this is your problem but it raises all kinds of havoc when you switch between connections.

Try this: open your Network Sharing center
Along the left side you will see change adapter settings when you click on it you will see all of your adapters. Right click on the adapter you are trying to use and open the properties dialog. If you see Internet Protocol Version 6 and Version 4 are both selected unselect version 6 and click OK to exit.

Repeat this for any other adapters you use. When Windows seven installed the drivers for your adapters it installed both protocols but it can only run one at time.

You did not specify phones you were using. Iphones require iTunes on your computer in order for the drivers to load for the hotspot.

New data:

I booted the computer with the phone's tethering turned off. Spent a few minutes tidying my hard drive... no crash. Turned on phone tether and connected...no crash. Started browser and typed this... no crash so far.

Puter used to do slightly better if phone was turned on first. Maybe now it needs the opposite.

Or it's just a fluke.

Hoo boy. Turns out it's not the network adapter. Either that or I have a new, worse problem.

As of this morning, computer is crashing every two minutes. This occurs whether or not I have started the browser, so it's not that. After 9 crashes (6 with BSOD, 3 just froze) I am posting from my phone.

All windows updates run last night (maybe that is my problem). Antivirus up to date. Hard drive had as much free space as it did before the updates -- not a lot, but enough that I don't think it's the problem.

How do you connect to your phone.. PDAnet free version works like that.78

DW's Dell laptop's internal wifi gradually died and while dying, it showed many of the symptoms you described. Added a $15 micro USB dongle and it's been fine since.

BTW, you don't have to take the battery out - hold down the power button for 5 seconds.

If its corrupt drivers, delete it in Device Manager and let Windows discover the adapter hardware and prompt to reinstall the driver. But since your desktop is freezing, sounds more like a hardware issue. Possibly the adapter. However, could also a memory issue if you had to remove the battery to be able to boot.

BillyW has it right. A spare usb adapter is really handy for troubleshooting and they are inexpensive. Your internal adapter seems to be crapping out or has drivers corrupted. A system restore to a "working" date could fix your problem.