Wireless Driver not functioning properly after several fix attempts

JadHajjar · 15 Sep 2016

Hello, I've finally come here because I've became clueless in the matter: (TL;DR and info below)

In order for everyone to understand; here goes:
It all started with a random wireless problem on Windows 10 (AU) after a restart, before that there was nothing installed or configured with drivers or programs, just playing games and downloading videos but after the restart the wireless adapter stopped working, even though the driver looked normal with no errors the adapter didn't work at all, my only hope was the Ethernet cable.

I tried a lot of fixes suggested from other people's posts and the best place it got me was to a working adapter (kinda) but whenever I joined a router it just disconnected instantly (to my eyes) and forgets the password, after other attempts I gave up and restore to an older build of Windows 10, but in the process windows went wrong and had the spinning dots problem on every boot up

I then backed up everything and clean installed Windows 10 again (5 days ago), earlier today I had problems with the audio drivers, one of the fixes I tried was using the Driver Verifier command which didn't work for that one problem, after that I changed drivers (downloaded drivers from Lenovo) and the audio worked again

But after a restart my wireless started ****ing up again, it was awkwardly working 1 out of every 3 restarts, I then tried uninstalling the driver and scanning for hardware changes, what it did though is get me back to where I was, the adapter is working but whenever I try to connect to any network, even known ones, it asks for the password and when it should connect it instantly disconnects (acting like it forgets)

TL;DR
Wireless driver is ****ed up, connecting to a network fails every time, list of things I tried:

Uninstalling and installing the driver again
Uninstalling and scanning for hardware changes
Safe boots
troobleshooters
Disabling the driver or adapter and enabling again
thounsands of restarts

I have an Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 on a Lenovo Y700
So if anyone has anything to suggest, even something not to do to prevent this from happening, in case I clean install again, please do
Picture example when trying to connect

Solved: Solution by Winuser

Bob338 · 16 Sep 2016

I'm having the identical problem on a ASUS laptop with an Intel Centrino card. From my research it's obvious my card, and maybe other Intel cards, don't play nice with Windows 10. I did well with no problems after the initial upgrade but with the Anniversary upgrade things went to pot. You might try what I've already tried without success, which is to try different drivers available from Intel. I've gone through three already. For the price and to avoid further issues I'm just going to change the card to something else that will work with Windows 10. The research on the cards is why I'm here today. I'm tired of hassle and getting other drivers that "might" work.

JadHajjar · 16 Sep 2016

What triggers me is that my Laptop came with Windows 10 installed..
Though the problems never happened but on the Anniversary Update
Also, might as well ask, can you usually change the network card in a laptop?

Adalwar · 16 Sep 2016

I have a Intel AC 7260 and best is not use the Install from Intel.
Proceed like:
Go to Device Manager , Network Device, click on Wifi Card Driver, RIght Click and choice Uninstall. If there is a Box "Delete Driver" check it.
If the card is a combo and has also BT, delete also BT as well.
Go to Programs and Features and Uninstall the Software for Wifi and BT.
Reboot.
Go to Device Manger and Windows should have installed STD Drivers for Wifi. It take some time until Drivers are installed.
After you see Drivers, click on it and choice Update Driver. Windows will look online for new Drivers.
Proceed like this for BT.
Like this my WiFI and BT are working very nice.

EDIT: Do not Install Intel Software for this Drivers, seems there problems and Wifi and BT are not working in W10 AU

JadHajjar · 16 Sep 2016

Thanks for the insight
I'll reply as soon as I get the chance to try it

JadHajjar · 17 Sep 2016

Adalwar said:

I have a Intel AC 7260 and best is not use the Install from Intel.
Proceed like:
Go to Device Manager , Network Device, click on Wifi Card Driver, RIght Click and choice Uninstall. If there is a Box "Delete Driver" check it.
If the card is a combo and has also BT, delete also BT as well.
Go to Programs and Features and Uninstall the Software for Wifi and BT.
Reboot.
Go to Device Manger and Windows should have installed STD Drivers for Wifi. It take some time until Drivers are installed.
After you see Drivers, click on it and choice Update Driver. Windows will look online for new Drivers.
Proceed like this for BT.
Like this my WiFI and BT are working very nice.

EDIT: Do not Install Intel Software for this Drivers, seems there problems and Wifi and BT are not working in W10 AU

I tried doing what you said but I came up with this error:

Wireless Driver not functioning properly after several fix attempts-cmegxt3.png

Adalwar · 17 Sep 2016

Hi,
Try to repeat the Uninstall , checking Box to Delete Driver, from Device Manager.
Make sure under Programs and Features there are no Software Installed for WiFi / BT,
Reboot
See if you get Driver installed automatically

JadHajjar · 17 Sep 2016

I did, I checked the box, checked Programs and Features for anything even remotely related to the wireless
After the Reboot there was the ! on the driver, it did find a driver online but failed to install it

I then went and uninstalled the USB drivers to fix Code 10, it made the error disappear but the problem was still there, every time I try to connect to a router (any router) it shows connecting for a microsecond and stops

May I ask if it's possible to go back to pre-AU Windows 10 if I clean installed on the AU already? Maybe it's just the AU doing all this since the driver shows nothing wrong, I can even see the available connections

Adalwar · 17 Sep 2016

Well, if windows did find a Driver online and could not Install it, there some problem in your system, it should be able to install it straightaway.
It is time consuming, but I would try to fix before I would roll-back. In my W10.1607.187 it is working OK, at beginn I had problems, few seconds after a FIle Transfer it went to 0Kb/s and stayed there. Removing Intel Install and proceeding as I told you, I got working.
I propose you this:
1) Reset you Network (Settings>Network & Internet>Reset Network. Windows will make you wait 5 long Minutes before it Restart

)
2) Give a Try to TroubleShooter (Control Panel> Troubleshooter and Choice "View All". Options : "Hardware and Devices", "Network Adapter", "Internet Connections" or "Incoming Connections".
You may want first try the Troubleshooter.

Bob338 · 17 Sep 2016

I have also tried this fix. Did it twice. I get a connection for a few minutes, it works fine then I get the error, same as previously. It continues to work fine with ethernet cable attached, as now.