another update - 90% of previous disconnects and failed page loads in my experience have still been taken care of by removing the mcafee - but there is still occasional hiccups. While using this system, windows 8 in desktop mode - I am seeing the wireless network icon appear sometimes, and the wireless icon appears when there is a connection fail.
I am using a wired connection, and have never setup any wireless passwords, or attempted to connect via wireless.
I have searched for methods to turn off the wireless card, with no luck. The tutorial I found for windows 8 on another web site shows the wireless settings on the metro ui settings screen, but I do not see it with this machine. I also do not see the wireless device in the control panel -> devices (although there is a bluetooth device icon there).
Can anyone tell me how to disable the wireless and bluetooh on this machine?
(I think this may fix the remaining 10% of the connectivity problems here)