How to fix a bluescreen when using PC hotspot.

steven okoth 0 Reputation points
2026-10-09T14:08:53.0133333+00:00

Hi there,

Over the past few days, I've witnessed my PC crushing whenever I enable the hotspot and connect my phone. Once I've connected to the hotspot, it takes about 5 minutes and my pC crashes.

here are the dump files: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H8HgenyC43Dy8DqVvXVJ8auwsw6rTlPT/view?usp=sharing

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Internet and connectivity
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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-09T14:09:12.1033333+00:00

    This pattern is commonly caused by the Wi-Fi/network driver used by the hotspot feature, not by the phone itself. The most relevant fixes from similar cases are to reinstall or roll back the Wi-Fi driver, reset network settings, and remove conflicting third-party software.

    Recommended troubleshooting order:

    1. Reinstall the Wi-Fi driver from the PC manufacturer
      • Open Device Manager.
      • Expand Network adapters.
      • Identify the Wi-Fi adapter.
      • Download the Wi-Fi/WLAN driver from the PC manufacturer’s support page.
      • Reinstall it rather than only updating it.
      • Restart the PC.
    2. If the problem started recently, try driver rollback
      • In Device Manager > Network adapters > Wi-Fi adapter > Properties > Driver tab.
      • Select Roll Back Driver if available.
      • Restart and test the hotspot again.
    3. Reset network settings
      • Open Windows search and search for Network Reset.
      • Open it and select Reset.
      • Restart the PC.
    4. Temporarily remove third-party software that can conflict with networking
      • VPN software, third-party antivirus, banking protection tools, and virtualization software can contribute to network-driver crashes.
      • If third-party antivirus or antispyware is installed, uninstall it from Start > Settings > Apps > select the app > Uninstall.
      • Caution: removing security software leaves the PC less protected until Microsoft Defender Antivirus and Windows Firewall are active.
    5. Use a clean boot to check for software conflicts
      • Press Win + R, type msconfig, and open System Configuration.
      • On Services, check Hide all Microsoft services.
      • Select Disable All.
      • Restart and test the hotspot.
      • If the crash stops, re-enable third-party services gradually to identify the conflict.
      • This is a test step, not a permanent fix.
    6. Collect and inspect dump files if the issue continues
      • Make sure Windows is configured to generate a memory dump.
      • After the next crash, copy memory.dmp or files from C:\Windows\Minidump to another PC if needed.
      • Install Debugging Tools for Windows from the Windows SDK.
      • In WinDbg, set the symbol path to https://msdl.microsoft.com/download/symbols if internet access is available.
      • Open the dump file and analyze it.
    7. If hotspot crashes continue after driver reinstall and clean boot
      • The remaining likely causes are corrupted Windows networking components or a faulty Wi-Fi adapter.
      • A useful test is to disable the built-in Wi-Fi adapter temporarily and verify whether the system remains stable with another network device.

    The strongest signal from similar cases is Wi-Fi driver failure during network activity, including hotspot use. Prioritize the manufacturer Wi-Fi driver reinstall first.

    References:

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  2. David-M 127.7K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-09T14:57:04.9666667+00:00

    Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

    The minidumps point to the driver Netwbw02.sys as the primary cause of the crashes. This driver belongs to your computer's Intel Wi-Fi adapter and was directly involved in the error. While third-party network software (such as antivirus filters or VPNs) or power management conflicts can sometimes trigger this, Netwbw02.sys is the main module failing.

    The best initial step is to perform a clean installation of the Wi-Fi adapter driver. In most cases, this resolves the crashes and clears out any corrupted settings or conflicting configurations.

    I searched the HP website for the Intel Wi-Fi drivers, but I couldn't find them for your PC model. Did you ever replace your PC's Wi-Fi adapter?

    Also, please share a screenshot of the network adapters in Device Manager.

    1. Open "Device Manager" (Windows + X and select Device Manager);
    2. Expand "Network adapters" and take a screenshot.

    Use the shortcut "Windows + Shift + S" to use the screenshot tool.

    Looking forward to your reply.

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