I have been experiencing the identical problem and tried the same solutions. It's become terribly frustrating to have to restart my computer as many as 5 times some days. If you find a solution, I hope you'll post it here.
Same exact problem on my U56E, and not a single solution has worked for me; starting to think this is a hardware issue.
I also have the same problem on my u56e-BBL6 with the Intel Centrino Wimax/Wirless-N 6150 device. I've tried all that you have mentioned in the past month and still the wireless craps out very quickly, either as if the driver is not installed or the hardware/device itself is malfunctioning. This problem has slowly crept on me in the past 6 months. I remember having to re-install the driver about 6 months ago and then all seemed fine but it progressively got worse until this past December the driver would only stick for about an hour at most not online gaming, just for checking email, web browsing. Online gaming and the wireless would go within 5 minutes. I've re-imaged my computer multiple times and the problem has persisted to the point I cant even web browse through a wireless connection. I am using my Ethernet cable. After mentioning all this info to a Micro Center tech guy, he thought it would most definitely be a hardware issue relating to the stack. Hopefully Asus or Intel will replace this piece of hardware for me. A wireless adapter should most certainly last you more than 6 months to a year.
I finally replaced my card with a Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 series card and corresponding drivers. No problems almost 2 weeks in and couldn't be happier that I'm no longer dealing with the unresponsive card!
Hexedene, How is the Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 working? Are you using this wireless adapter card with the ASUS U56E-BBL6? Thank you for your help!!
I am (and have been) having the same problem since Dec.29. The hours spent trying to figure it out have been enormous, as I thought it was a problem with internet, then wireless router, etc., etc. I was told by one tech. that when the wireless adapters quit working, they die a slow death. I am right now in the process of ordering a new one. If I go to the work of opening up the laptop (I have the SAME EXACT ONE you have - ASUS U56E) and it is loose or disconnected, great, but if not I want to have the right one to replace! Anyway - IF you haven't already figured this out - here is how you can get it to work TEMPORARILY until you replace it - REFER TO #7. ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support-
7. If wireless network adapter disappears from the device manager, please access BIOS by pressing < F2 > during boot up, press < F9 > to load the setup default, then press < F10 > save and restart.
This works for me, albiet sometimes I have to reboot a few times. There have also been new software/driver updates as of March 2013.
Hope this helps --
Oh! I forgot to mention (so did ASUS - ) but this is important! After accessing BIOS and loading the default setup F9/F10, go back to the device manager and select Network Adapters, then select 'Action' - 'Scan for Hardware Changes'. If the reboot worked, the adapter will show up. If not, do it again.
Thank you very much for posting.
It is not normal that the Intel® wireless adapter driver disappears completely, if that happens is most likely a hardware issue that you may want to solve with the computer manufacturer.
Edward, regarding your case, you may want to fully uninstall the driver from Programs and Features and Device Manager, restart, install the Intel® wireless driver and restart again. If this suggestion does not solve the issue then you may also try contacting the computer manufacturer as operating system corruption may be the cause.
Intel® PROSet/ Wireless Software Downloads
http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wtech/proset-ws/sb/CS-034041.htm
