OK, I'm joining the leagues of confused non-working users...
I have a new RAZR M. Stock Jelly Bean. I'm on Verizon's Unlimited Talk & Text plan, which includes hotspot/tethering coverage. Laptop has Windows 7.
I tried the tethering & hotspot once or twice before Christmas, but I tried to use it today without much luck.
* Hotspot: my laptop connects to the hotspot almost instantly. Sometimes data gets out, sometimes not. It'll work for a few seconds and then nothing. Still connected to the hotspot but no internet.
* Tethering: when I turn on the tethering, the Network & Sharing app locks up. Sometimes the pop-up "click on the icon in the systray to see available wifi" icon is also unresponsive. When it works, it shows an unknown network and "Identifying..." Network & Sharing is still hung while tethering is on. I think (as with the hotspot) I'll occasionally get a few seconds of data, even though nothing indicates I'm actually connected to the Internet, but most of the time, nothing.
What would cause it to work sometimes and not others? Why are Win7 network apps hanging? How do I get this to WORK!?
EDIT: I thought maybe the 4G signal was too flaky here, and that was why it would work for a few seconds and then die. So I thought I'd make sure to use a wifi connection for the phone -- instead of having the phone use 4G for its network connection -- and see if the laptop could successfully connect to the tethered phone that way. I found that enabling tethering TURNS OFF the wifi. Not only does it not use wifi while it's tethered, but the wifi stays off even after you turn off tethering! Is that intended??