Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 not working. Maybe driver related?

[ESuel]

I am having serious problems with my Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260.

I have many connectivity issues at my network: wifi shuts, unable to connect, slow speeds (less than 10Mb), hyper slow (less than 1Mb). That wifi router works fine with many other devices. So it is not the router device.

What I tryed:

Get in touch with the manufacturer and install the latest recommended drivers for my ASUS ZenBook Flip S UX370UA

(UX370UAF bios and W10 64 system):

https://www.asus.com/es/2-in-1-PCs/ASUS-ZenBook-Flip-S-UX370UA/HelpDesk_Download/

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/nb/DriversForWin10/WLAN/WLAN_Intel_Win10_64_VER201022.zip

Then I followed the steps:

• download driver
• uninstall proset and old driver if still remains
• reinstall manufacturer recommended driver

The problem is still there. But manufacter driver says 20.10.2.2 but device manager still says 20.50.0.5!!!!

It seems that I am not able fully uninstall "newer driver"

I have read somewhere these file may still be there and prevent the right installation.

c:\windows\system32\drivers\netwfw06.dat

c:\windows\system32\drivers\netwtw06.sys

c:\windows\system32\drivers\vwifibus.sys

c:\windows\system32\IntelWifilhv06.dll

I am scared to uninstall them and to "brick" my computer

Any ideas?

Thanks and best regards

[ESuel]

I have found someone with a similar problem: (sorry its in spanish)

https://answers.microsoft.com/es-es/windows/forum/all/windows-10-problemas-de-lentitud-en-la-red-debido/632dca14-e0f4-4a2b-be09-725d4c460a3a

https://answers.microsoft.com/es-es/windows/forum/windows_10-hardware/evitar-que-windows-update-instale-o-actualice/13aae84c-4221-4ede-a3bd-5e13a91121b2

And also a procedure to prevent W10 to intall the driver by itself.

Have I to manage oem48.inf file?

Any Ideas? Thanks

[AlHill]

To stop windows 10 installing drivers, go to control panel, large icons, devices and printers, right click on your computer, device installation settings, NO.

Doc

[ESuel]

I have tried it once. No luck

I will try again.

That would make other devices not updatable. wouldn't it?

[ESuel]

Al.Hill

No Luck

Even with that option on, it reinstalls by itself to version 20.50.0.5

[AlHill]

I have that option on, and no drivers are being installed.

Doc

[n_scott_pearson]

To uninstall fully, do the following:

1. Download the latest Wireless and Bluetooth packages from the Intel Download Center..
2. Disconnect the laptop from the Internet (unplug Ethernet and disable Wireless).
3. From the Apps & Features applet, uninstall the existing Intel Wireless and Bluetooth packages.
4. Reboot, keeping laptop disconnected from Internet.
5. Open the Device Manager applet and expand the Networking Adapters section.
6. If there is no entry for the wireless card, go to step 9.
7. Right-click on this entry and select Uninstall Device.
8. Go back to step 4.
9. Install the Bluetooth package you downloaded earlier.
10. Install the Wireless package you downloaded earlier.
11. Reboot.
12. Reconnect Internet.
13. Test.

Hope this helps,

...S

[n_scott_pearson]

I forgot to add, you can substitute earlier packages in place of the latest, but remember that, in this case, Windows Update could upgrade the drivers automatically, so you need to disable it.

...S

[AlHill]

The OP says that even with it turned off, the update gets installed.

@ESuel​  Do you have some ASUS support assistant running?

Doc

[ESuel]

I will try both things.

Maybe ASUS updater is doing some harm updating things

I will let you know in a couple of days

[AlHill]

"Maybe ASUS updater is doing some harm updating things"

If you have blocked windows driver updates like I said, and you are not installing with IDSA, then I would say Asus updater is your problem.

Doc

[ESuel]

Many many thanks Al.Hill (aka Doc) and n.scott.pearson for your help

I had some mild COVID19 symptoms and was not physically in shape until now to try your solutions

Windows kept updating BUT.... (half) GOOD NEWS

A newer driver was installed by Windows Update (or was it me updating in device manager? My mind is still fuzzy):

Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260

20.70.13.2

It is a huge improvement from null/ shitty to poor performance (not a joke)

Before:

Many times random wifi shut downs. Some times continuously

When not shut down, most of the times less than 1Mb/s

Some times something between 5 and 10Mb/s. Hopefully I could download the updates!!!

(Issues above happened at home wifi network. It worked fine in some wifi networks)

Now:

Now wifi does not shut down randomly almost all the time. Just less than 5 of times in 2 hours.

And it gets about 20Mb/s (this is new) or 10Mb/s or 5Mb/s or 0.5Mb/s (sigh, but not many times)

(I hope it still works in the office after the version upgrade. I will know after confinement)

There is still something funny in the driver.

I wish the next update comes with a solution for all the problems and doesn't mess around and returns to the inability to use some wifi networks.

And the tree parties don't blame on each other (MS, Intel and OEM in my case ASUS)

Do you know if there is a way to send Intel developers these issues? (so they can check the driver)

My expectations in this are low

Ed

[n_scott_pearson]

You may also be seeing lower numbers because of the Internet saturation that is occurring because everyone is isolating themselves over COVID-19.

...S

[ESuel]

Other devices are running between 25Mb/s and 60Mb/s

Definitely it is some problem in device / system / driver (some or all of them)

All the posts published about this wifi adapter make me think something funny happens with it.

Cheers. And stay at home as much as possible

[ESuel]

Hi I have been playing around with adapter advanced options (under W10 device manager)

When I change some settings the wifi thourghoutput speed boosts.

The settings I am fiddling with are: 802.11 modes, power, bandwidth, roaming.

But after a while things corrupt from 25Mb/s speeds (Comparable to other devices at home) to 1Mb/s-5Mb/s (or worse)

No luck

[Leonardo_C_Intel]

Hello ESuel

Thank you for posting in the Intel Community.

1.    Are you using the same tool to evaluate the network speed on all the devices?

2.    Have you tried restating the systems on the environment (laptops, router)?

3.    can you try the Advanced Intel® Wireless Adapter Settings to manipulate setting like:

a.    802.11n/ac/ax Wireless Mode or HT Mode

b.    Channel width or 802.11n channel width (band 2.4/5GHz)

4.    You can also try Clean Installation of Wireless Drivers with both OEM and intel drivers.

Regards,

Leonardo C.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[ESuel]

Thanks Leonardo

Answers

1.    Are you using the same tool to evaluate the network speed on all the devices?

I am using Google and ISP speed-o-meters

Difference is too high

Some devices take 30-40Mb/s

Computer with troublesome adapter takes some times 20-25Mb/s (not many times), 3-10Mb/s (quite often) and below 1Mb/s or continuous cuts (very often)

As I write, I get 0.27Mb/s (sigh)

2.    Have you tried restating the systems on the environment (laptops, router)?

Yes. Too many times

3.    can you try the Advanced Intel® Wireless Adapter Settings to manipulate setting like:

a.    802.11n/ac/ax Wireless Mode or HT Mode

b.    Channel width or 802.11n channel width (band 2.4/5GHz)

Yes. I have changed things like:

-Mode 802.11 a/b/g

-Mode 802.11 n/ac

-Bandwidth for 2.4GHz

-Roaming

-Power

After the setting change, some combinations had speed over 25Mb/s or even up to 35Mb/s

But after some time (hours) performance started to go down: then about 10Mb/s, then about 0.5Mb/s and continuos cuts

And fiddling with settings doesn't help anymore

It is like something in the driver or the device erodes over time degrading performance as time goes by.

4.    You can also try Clean Installation of Wireless Drivers with both OEM and intel drivers.

Yes I tried with OEM and Intel's

Right now I have latest available driver from Intel

I suspect when I uninstall, some files are not being erased (and maybe others aren't as well)

Such as:

c:\windows\system32\drivers\netwfw06.dat

c:\windows\system32\drivers\netwtw06.sys

When I look at my router log some times I can see 10 or 50 disconnections and reconnection cycles (one example)

63 Apr 23 20:55:32 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

64 Apr 23 20:55:32 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

65 Apr 23 20:55:38 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:000000000000,WPA2-PSK)

66 Apr 23 20:55:43 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

67 Apr 23 20:55:43 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

68 Apr 23 20:55:43 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

69 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

70 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

71 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

72 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

73 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

74 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

75 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

76 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

77 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

78 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

79 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

80 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

81 Apr 23 20:55:44 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

82 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

83 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

84 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

85 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

86 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

87 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

88 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

89 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

90 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

91 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

92 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

93 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

94 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

95 Apr 23 20:55:45 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

96 Apr 23 20:55:46 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

97 Apr 23 20:55:46 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

98 Apr 23 20:55:46 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

99 Apr 23 20:55:46 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

100 Apr 23 20:55:46 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

101 Apr 23 20:55:46 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

102 Apr 23 20:55:46 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

103 Apr 23 20:55:46 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

104 Apr 23 20:55:47 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

105 Apr 23 20:55:47 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

106 Apr 23 20:55:47 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

107 Apr 23 20:55:48 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

108 Apr 23 20:55:48 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

109 Apr 23 20:55:48 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

110 Apr 23 20:55:48 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

111 Apr 23 20:55:48 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

112 Apr 23 20:55:48 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

113 Apr 23 20:55:48 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

114 Apr 23 20:55:48 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

115 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

116 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

117 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

118 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

119 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

120 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

121 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

122 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

123 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

124 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

125 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

126 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

127 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

128 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

129 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

130 Apr 23 20:55:49 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

131 Apr 23 20:55:50 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

132 Apr 23 20:55:50 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

133 Apr 23 20:55:50 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

134 Apr 23 20:55:50 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

135 Apr 23 20:55:50 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

136 Apr 23 20:55:50 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

137 Apr 23 20:55:50 INFO WLAN:Client disassociate (MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

138 Apr 23 20:55:50 INFO WLAN:Client associate to SSID1(MAC:aced5c49b9ac,WPA2-PSK)

Best regards

[Leonardo_C_Intel]

Hello ESuel

Thank you for the details, please provide me the following details:

1- when did the issue start?

2- It's a brand-new system?

3- It was working fine previously?

4- Can you try a wired connection just for testing?

5- Is this the wireless that came preinstalled on the system or did you change it?

Regards,

Leonardo C.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Leonardo_C_Intel]

Hello ESuel

Have you been able to collect the information requested?

Regards,

Leonardo C.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Leonardo_C_Intel]

Hello ESuel

we were looking for this information because we think that this behavior seems to be related to a hardware problem and our best recommendation is to reach you the system manufacturer.

Regards,

Leonardo C.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[ESuel]

Here is the info

Cable OK

5GHz OK

2.4GHz KO (it starts fast and then degrades)

1- when did the issue start? From the beggining. But I was not aware about the reason of the problem. First I thought it was the router

2- It's a brand-new system? It was a band new system when the problem started

3- It was working fine previously? It only worked fine the first moments after factory reset or driver upgrade. it took short time for speed and connectivity (2.4GHz) to degrade

4- Can you try a wired connection just for testing? Yes. It goes full throttle 600Mb/s

5- Is this the wireless that came preinstalled on the system or did you change it? It is not the preinsalled.

I tried the driver from ASUS, but it doesn't work.

Now it is the latest version at Intel's site. version 20.70.16.4 for Intel(R) dual band wireless AC-8260

I haven't tried an older driver from ASUS yet

I am afraid when uninstalling there maybe are some unerased files or configs.

How can I prevent any interference of those uninstalled files / configs? If they exist

HW

Last year, I took the laptop to the manufacturer: they did a fresh install, they say that they did some tests and they say it was ok

I don't know if they tested the 2.4GHz band

Many many thanks