Issues with Intel (R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160

[ZicVan]

Hi everyone! 

Sorry to bother you, I have been browsing this community forum for quite some time, and I was not able to find a solution for my wi-fi issue.

I have a Lenovo Z51-70 with an Intel Dual Band wireless-AC 3160 and a Technicolor Modem. The wi-fi keeps disconnecting, or rather, cannot be detected at all after few hours of work. I found some sort of "turn-around solution", that is to say uninstalling the drivers of the network adapter and restart my PC.

It works for a some time , but then it suddenly stops detecting the wi-fi and so I have to go through the uninstall-restart process again which is quite frustrating... 

I've tried everything, even changing the settings of the adapter (clean driver installation from intel download centre, 2,4 GHz instead of 5; Disabling Bluetooth, changing power settings, Disabling U-APDS, Set other wireless and HT modes, and so on...) but NOTHING seems to work...

What should I do?

Thank you for your time and concern!

P.S. The connection works fine on my Smartphone and on the other laptop I have, a Lenovo (Yoga) but with a different network adapter...so I suppose that the problem IS the AC-3160...

[n_scott_pearson]

Check to ensure that the final driver is actually installed. The PDF file that accompanies the installation EXE file details the correct version number. To save you time (and including the information for all of the adapters),

• For the 7265-C/7260/3160 cards, the version number is 18.33.17.1.
• For the 7265-D/3165/3168 cards, the version number is 19.51.21.1.

If the correct driver is installed and the problem continues, the only thing you can try is doing a clean reinstall of this final driver package. My process for doing this clean reinstall is provided within my 11-07-23 post above.

If, after all that, the problem continues, I know of no recourse (well, other than upgrading the card). This is the final driver released for this card before its discontinuation and there will be no subsequent fixes released.

If you are thinking of upgrading, let me know and I will detail what adapters make the most sense...

Hope this helps,

...S

[Trog]

It DOES help. The driver said successful install, but it is not showing the correct version! Why did that happen? How do I ensure the correct one installs, other than to run the .exe again?

[n_scott_pearson]

Have you done the clean reinstall? Skipping no steps?

...S

[Trog]

I have now. And after over 6 months of ethernet cables and head scratching, IT WORKS. Thanks so much. I've read so much technical nonsense about this, from the internet, my ISP and others. You seem to be the only person with a reasonable grip on all this. Thanks again!

[n_scott_pearson]

You should do a clean install of the final Bluetooth and Wireless drivers for this adapter.

Here is my process for performing a clean Install: 

1. If you haven't already, download to your PC - but do not install just yet - the final Bluetooth and Wireless driver packages for the AC3160 adapter. Use this link: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtacZBU04mo-j-tQ34BdSDv6y1BFsg?e=7gn50T to access my driver archive. Subfolders provide final driver packages for most of the Discontinued Wireless adapters.
2. Most important! Disable Internet access. Unplug Ethernet cable and/or disable wireless. Keep disabled until told to re-enable. Note this Wireless disable *must* be of type that will persist (stay disabled) across reboots.
3. From the Apps & Features applet, check for instances of Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and Intel Wireless Bluetooth. If none, skip to Step 6.
4. Uninstall each instance of Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and/or Intel Wireless Bluetooth that is present. When prompted, choose "Discard Settings".
5. Manually reboot your computer, keeping Internet access disabled throughout.
6. From the Device Manager applet, check the Network Adapters section for an entry for Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 and check the Bluetooth section for an entry for Intel Wireless Bluetooth that has an intel driver associated with it. If neither is the case, go forward to Step 12.
7. Right click on the entry for Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 and uninstall it, choosing (checkmark) Delete the driver software for this device.
8. Repeat step 7 until the option to Delete the driver software for this device is greyed out.
9. Right click on the entry for Intel Wireless Bluetooth and open its properties. If it has an Intel driver associated with it, then uninstall it, choosing to (checkmark) Delete the driver software for this device.
10. Repeat step 9 until the option to Delete the driver software for this device is not offered (greyed out).
11. Go back to Step 5.
12. Install the downloaded Bluetooth driver package (my rule: always install Bluetooth first).
13. Install the downloaded Wireless driver package.
14. Manually shutdown and reboot your computer.
15. Reenable Internet access. Restore Ethernet cable and/or reenable wireless.
16. Test.

Note: It sometimes takes multiple uninstall (and reboot) cycles to clean out the old installations, so don't give up on the process. If you get to, say, 10 cycles, stop there and attempt the installation of the latest drivers.

Hope this helps,

...S