Microsoft Windows SYS athwn.sys

3 Steps to Download and Fix Athwn.sys Errors

Last Updated: 11/25/2023
[Average Read Time: 4.5 minutes]

athwn.sys, also known as a Qualcomm Atheros Extensible Wireless LAN device driver file, was created by Microsoft for the development of Driver for Qualcomm Atheros CB42/CB43/MB42/MB43 Network Adapter. SYS files fall under under the Win32 EXE (Driver) file type category.

The first version of athwn.sys for Windows 8.1 was introduced on 10/18/2013 in Windows 8.1. The latest file update released for Windows 10 was on 07/29/2015 [file version 3.0.2.202].

This article discusses complete file details, SYS file troubleshooting instructions for problems with athwn.sys, and a comprehensive set of free downloads for every file version that has been catalogued by our team.

File Analysis Provided by Jason Geater (Author)

File Overview

General Information ^✻
File Name:	athwn.sys
File Extension:	SYS file extension
Description:	Qualcomm Atheros Extensible Wireless LAN device driver
Object File Type:	Driver
File Operating System:	Windows NT 32-bit
MIME Type:	application/octet-stream
User Popularity Rating:

Developer and Software Information
Software Developer:	Qualcomm Atheros Communications, Inc.
Software Program:	Driver for Qualcomm Atheros CB42/CB43/MB42/MB43 Network Adapter
Legal Copyright:	Copyright (C) 2001-2010 Qualcomm Atheros Communications, Inc.

File Details
Character Set:	Unicode
Language Code:	English (U.S.)
File Flags:	Private build
File Flags Mask:	0x003f
Entry Point:	0x22a3e6
Code Size:	2592256

View Other athwn.sys Information

File Info	Description
File Size:	3.1 MB
File Modification Date/Time:	2017:03:18 18:18:14+00:00
File Inode Change Date/Time:	2017:11:05 07:07:54+00:00
File Type:	Win32 EXE
MIME Type:	application/octet-stream
Machine Type:	Intel 386 or later, and compatibles
Time Stamp:	2016:03:01 08:35:03+00:00
PE Type:	PE32
Linker Version:	12.0
Code Size:	2592256
Initialized Data Size:	736768
Uninitialized Data Size:	0
Entry Point:	0x22a3e6
OS Version:	6.3
Image Version:	6.3
Subsystem Version:	6.2
Subsystem:	Native
File Version Number:	3.0.2.202
Product Version Number:	3.0.2.202
File Flags Mask:	0x003f
File Flags:	Private build
File OS:	Windows NT 32-bit
Object File Type:	Driver
File Subtype:	6
Language Code:	English (U.S.)
Character Set:	Unicode
Company Name:	Qualcomm Atheros Communications, Inc.
File Description:	Qualcomm Atheros Extensible Wireless LAN device driver
File Version:	3.0.2.202
Internal Name:	ATHR.SYS
Legal Copyright:	Copyright (C) 2001-2010 Qualcomm Atheros Communications, Inc.
Original Filename:	ATHR.SYS
Product Name:	Driver for Qualcomm Atheros CB42/CB43/MB42/MB43 Network Adapter
Product Version:	3.0.2.202

^✻ Portions of file data provided by Exiftool (Phil Harvey) distributed under the Perl Artistic License.

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What are athwn.sys Error Messages?

athwn.sys Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Errors

There are a number of reasons why you could be encountering issues with athwn.sys. Most of the issues concerning sys files involve Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. These types of athwn.sys errors can be cause by hardware problems, outdated firmware, corrupt drivers, or other software-related (eg. Windows update) issues. Some of these errors include:

athwn.sys could not be found.
athwn.sys failed to load.
The file athwn.sys is missing or corrupt.
Windows failed to start - athwn.sys.

A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. The problem seems to be caused by the following file: athwn.sys.

:( Your PC ran into a problem that it couldn't handle, and now needs to restart. You can search for the error online: [BSOD] (athwn.sys).

STOP 0x0000007E: SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED (athwn.sys) STOP 0×0000007A: KERNEL DATA INPAGE (athwn.sys) STOP 0x0000001E: KMODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED (athwn.sys) STOP 0x0000003B: SYSTEM SERVICE EXCEPTION (athwn.sys) STOP 0x00000050: PAGE FAULT IN A NONPAGED AREA (athwn.sys) STOP 0x0000000A: IRQL NOT LESS EQUAL (athwn.sys)

It's Critical to Resolve Blue Screen of Death Errors

In the majority of cases, you will encounter athwn.sys BSOD errors after you've installed new hardware, software (Windows), or performed a failed Windows Update. In other cases, software corruption caused by a malware infection can lead to athwn.sys Blue Screen of Death errors. Therefore, it's critical to make sure your anti-virus is kept up-to-date and scanning regularly.

GEEK TIP : As a rule of thumb, it's always a good idea to create a Windows "Snapshot" backup / System Restore Point before making any hardware or software changes to your computer. That way, it's very easy to restore your system in the unfortunate event you encounter a athwn.sys Blue Screen of Death error after recent changes.

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How to Fix athwn.sys Errors in 3 Steps (Time to complete: ~5-15 minutes)

If you're encountering one of the error messages above, follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve your athwn.sys issue. These troubleshooting steps are listed in the recommended order of execution.

Step 1: Restore your PC back to the latest restore point, "snapshot", or backup image before error occurred.

To begin System Restore (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

Hit the Windows Start button
When you see the search box, type "System Restore" and press "ENTER".
In the search results, find and click System Restore.
Please enter the administrator password (if applicable / prompted).
Follow the steps in the System Restore Wizard to choose a relevant restore point.
Restore your computer to that backup image.

If the Step 1 fails to resolve the athwn.sys error, please proceed to the Step 2 below.

Step 2: Run SFC (System File Checker) to restore the corrupt or missing athwn.sys file.

System File Checker is a utility included with every Windows version that allows you scan and restore corrupted system files. Use the SFC tool to fix missing or corrupt athwn.sys files (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

Hit the Windows Start button
In the search box, type "cmd" but DO NOT PRESS "ENTER".
Press and hold "CTRL-Shift" on your keyboard while pressing "ENTER".
You'll be prompted with a permission dialog box.
In the box, click "YES".
You should have a black screen with a blinking cursor.
In that black screen, type "sfc /scannow" and hit "ENTER".
SFC will begin scanning for athwn.sys issues and any other system file problems.
Follow any on-screen commands to complete the process.

Please be aware that this scan might take a while, so please be patient while it is working.

If this Step 2 fails as well, please proceed to the Step 3 below.

sfc /scannow

Step 3: Perform a Windows Update.

When the first two steps haven't solved your issue, it might be a good idea to run Windows Update. Many athwn.sys error messages that are encountered can be contributed to an outdated Windows Operating System. To run Windows Update, please follow these easy steps:

Hit the Windows Start button
In the search box, type "Update" and press "ENTER".
In the Windows Update dialog box, click "Check for Updates" (or similar button depending on your Windows version)
If updates are available for download, click "Install Updates".
After the update is completed, restart your PC.

If Windows Update failed to resolve the athwn.sys error message, please proceed to next step. Please note that this final step is recommended for advanced PC users only.

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If Those Steps Fail: Download and Replace Your athwn.sys File (Caution: Advanced)

If none of the previous three troubleshooting steps have resolved your issue, you can try a more aggressive approach (Note: Not recommended for amateur PC users) by downloading and replacing your appropriate athwn.sys file version. We maintain a comprehensive database of 100% malware-free athwn.sys files for every applicable version of Windows. Please follow the steps below to download and properly replace you file:

Locate your Windows operating system version in the list of below "Download athwn.sys Files".
Click the appropriate "Download Now" button and download your Windows file version.
Copy the file into the appropriate directory for your Windows version:

Windows 8.1: C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\netathr.inf_x86_4e3a04b7419bfa0e\
Windows 10: C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\netathr.inf_x86_f0889aac6901c6d0\

Restart your computer.

If this final step has failed and you're still encountering the error, you're only remaining option is to do a clean installation of Windows 10.

GEEK TIP : We must emphasize that reinstalling Windows will be a very time-consuming and advanced task to resolve athwn.sys problems. To avoid data loss, you must be sure that you have backed-up all of your important documents, pictures, software installers, and other personal data before beginning the process. If you are not currently backing up your data, you need to do so immediately.

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Download athwn.sys Files (Malware-Tested 100% Clean)

CAUTION : We strongly advise against downloading and copying athwn.sys to your appropriate Windows system directory. Microsoft typically does not release Windows SYS files for download because they are bundled together inside of a software installer. The installer's task is to ensure that all correct verifications have been made before installing and placing athwn.sys and all other SYS files for Windows. An incorrectly installed SYS file may create system instability and could cause your program or operating system to stop functioning altogether. Proceed with caution.

Windows 10

File Name

Software Version

File Version

Architecture

athwn.sys

3.0.2.202

64-bit (x64)

Expand for Detailed File Information +

OS Version:	Windows 10
Software:	Driver for Qualcomm Atheros CB42/CB43/MB42/MB43 Network Adapter
Software Version:	3.0.2.202
File Version:	3.0.2.202
File Size:	3228672
File Date:	03/18/2017
MD5 Checksum:	d80b0bfbcf9722306f6b3339f2423794
SHA1 Checksum:	8dd8a0ef8241e7a2a7136b82a2b99e25d28894fa
SHA256 Checksum:	05ea991d881c92513618ad5eb08836777afa6dfc7710104e7df9e39121592803
CRC32:
File Directory Location:	C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository ...

File Version, System, and Machine Information
File Type:	Win32 EXE
Image Version:	6.3
Initialized Data Size:	736768
Linker Version:	12.0
Machine Type:	Intel 386 or later, and compatibles
PE Type:	PE32
Subsystem:	Native
Subsystem Version:	6.2
File Modification Date/Time:	03/18/2017

Windows 8.1

File Name

Software Version

File Version

Architecture

athwn.sys

3.0.1.145

64-bit (x64)

Expand for Detailed File Information +

OS Version:	Windows 8.1
Software:	Driver for Qualcomm Atheros CB42/CB43/MB42/MB43 Network Adapter
Software Version:	3.0.1.145
File Version:	3.0.1.145
File Size:	2795520
File Date:	06/18/2013
MD5 Checksum:	d49c81814dba6e1e01031a4ffc7637af
SHA1 Checksum:	b82b0be1cefb2f091631d6e59c931e98031c130f
SHA256 Checksum:	5f511bee6888f8c661aa706c2638363841675eef6240c85f5cafaec8d39249db
CRC32:
File Directory Location:	C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository ...

File Version, System, and Machine Information
File Type:	Win32 EXE
Image Version:	6.2
Initialized Data Size:	593920
Linker Version:	11.0
Machine Type:	Intel 386 or later, and compatibles
PE Type:	PE32
Subsystem:	Native
Subsystem Version:	6.2
File Modification Date/Time:	06/18/2013

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Files Related to athwn.sys

SYS Files Related to athwn.sys

File Name	Description	Software Program (Version)	File Size (bytes)	File Location
mouclass.sys	Mouse Class Driver	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (5.1.2600.5512)	23040	C:\Windows\Temp\
dxgkrnl.sys	DirectX Graphics Kernel	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (10.0.15063.0)	2023328	C:\Windows\Logs\DPX\
ksthunk.sys	Kernel Streaming WOW Thunk Service	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (6.1.7600.16385)	20992	C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Panther\
fdc.sys	Floppy Disk Controller Driver	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (6.3.9600.16384)	26112	C:\Windows\Fonts\
srv.sys	Server driver	Microsoft® Windows® Operating System (5.1.2600.5512)	334848	C:\Windows\Panther\UnattendGC\

Other Files Related to athwn.sys

File Name	Description	Software Program (Version)	File Size (bytes)	File Location
WWAN_profile_v1.xsd	XML Schema Definition	Windows 8	6201	C:\Windows\L2Schemas\
WLANAP_profile_v1.xsd	XML Schema Definition	Windows 7	7504	C:\Windows\L2Schemas\
WLANAP_profile_v1.xsd	XML Schema Definition	Windows 8	7504	C:\Windows\L2Schemas\
WLAN_policy_v1.xsd	XML Schema Definition	Windows 8.1	7627	C:\Windows\L2Schemas\
WLAN_policy_v1.xsd	XML Schema Definition	Windows 10	7627	C:\Windows\L2Schemas\

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