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None of the Intel Dual Band AC-3165 drivers work properly

VRea
Beginner
6,447 Views

Hi,

I bought an HP x360 13-s150sa last year. It runs Windows 10 and features an Intel Dual Band AC-3165 wireless adapter, which has never been working properly ever since I bought it. It's been a real nightmare!!

The internet is full of people having the same problem and who eventually ended up buying an external adapter. I don't want to do that, as Intel has to provide me with a fully working device.

The ethernet adapter is just fine (it is from Realtek), whereas the wifi has always been intermittent and never usable for more than 5 minutes.

I have followed every single step you have been recommending to the users on this forum.

 

Disabled uAPSD, unchecked the "allow this computer to turn off the device", set performance to maximum etc etc described here (http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/network-and-i-o/wireless-networking/000005544.html Recommended Settings for 802.11n Connectivity ). Disabled Bluetooth as well to avoid interference.

I uninstalled and reinstalled Intel PROSet/Wireless several times (also the IT admin version), uninstalled and deleted the network adapter drivers at least 1000 times.

I have also run netsh winsock reset. netsh int ip reset. netsh advfirewall reset at least a dozen times.

I have tested EVERY SINGLE DRIVER which has been out from 2015. They only work for the first few minutes, then the same problem occurs!

I also tried formatting and reinstalling Windows to see if a generic driver could be installed. Updated the BIOS, the Bluetooth drivers etc

None of the above procedures has ever worked!!!!!

The netsh wlan show wlanreport command shows that event IDs 11004 (Wireless security stopped) and 11010 (Wireless security started) occur at least 5 times every minute, leading to a totally unstable connection with frequent drops

Please don't post the same links to the recommended settings, as this is obviously driver related. As the wlanreport shows, 90 % of the errors are caused by the driver disconnecting the device

Almost forgot to say, I have downloaded every single driver from HP as well!

 

It's not router-related, as I am experiencing this issue with every single wifi network in the country and all of my other devices work properly!!
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8 Replies
idata
Employee
3,776 Views

Hello reavcn,

 

 

We understand you own an HP* laptop which uses the Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165, and have been having connectivity issues from day one.

 

 

While there are many "unresolved" issues online that result in switching to an USB wireless adapter, that type of issues are generally caused by people performing custom wireless adapter integrations, or installing an unauthorized adapter in their system. It's not common for an OEM installed adapter to be so problematic, our main recommendation in your case is to contact your computer manufacturer, as they will be your main source of support (especially considering you've been having issues all along). It's likely that this issue may be caused by a defective wireless adapter or laptop as a whole.

 

 

Please remember that wireless adapters are normally modified by each computer manufacturer in order to change features or adhere to certain regional regulations. Because of this, they customize our driver and publish their own version to take these changes into account. The drivers provided through our website are the generic versions not accounting for these changes.

 

 

As far as troubleshooting goes, it sounds like you have already performed the usual steps. At this point we could still suggest for you to try a clean "driver only" installation:

 

 

1- Download and save the latest IT Admin version of the http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/network-and-i-o/wireless-networking/000017246.html Intel® PROSet Wireless Drivers/Software.

 

2- Extract the downloaded .ZIP file to a known location.

 

3- Uninstall your Intel® PROSet Wireless Software from Programs and Features in the Control Panel.

 

4- Uninstall your current wireless driver from Device Manager (Control Panel > Device Manager > Network Adapters > Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 > Right click, uninstall and remove driver software)

 

5- Delete your temporary files (Windows* Key + R > Type "Cleanmgr.exe" > OK > Select your boot drive > Mark Temporary Files, unmark all else > OK)

 

6- Reboot.

 

7- Locate your wireless adapter in Device Manager again > Right click > Update Driver Software > Locaet and install driver software manually > Select the folder where you extracted the PROSet earlier.

 

 

If this does not resolve your issue, please download and run our https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25293/Intel-System-Support-Utility System Support Utility while connected to your wireless network. You may attach the report created by switching to the "advanced editor" while replying.

 

 

Best regards,

 

Carlos A.
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VRea
Beginner
3,776 Views

Hi Carlos,

 

thanks for your kind reply. The procedure you have described only worked for a few minutes. After one reboot, the connection has become intermittent again.

I've uploaded the wlan report generated typing netsh wlan show wlanreport via shell. I hope this can be useful for reporting purposes ( https://www.dropbox.com/s/d4wax8z3q1a6vt8/wlan-report-latest.html?dl=0 Dropbox - wlan-report-latest.html ) 

 

Here's the full report from the System Support Utility instead

<?xml version="1.0"?>

-

1.2.0.58

02/10/2017

00:00:06.0553476

-

-

-

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/search.html?keyword=Dual+Band+Wireless+AC+3165"/>

<Setting id=...

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idata
Employee
3,776 Views

Hello reavcn,

 

 

Thank you for the information provided. The Wlan Report was specially helpful.

 

 

To start, we would like to suggest making the following changes:

 

 

1. Open the Control Panel > Power Options > For your current power plan, select "Change plan settings" > Change advanced power settings > Wireless Adapter Settings > Power Saving Mode > Change both options to "Maximum Performance."

 

2. Open the Device Manager > Network Adapters > Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 > Properties > Advanced:

 

1. Roaming Aggressiveness > Set to "1. Lowest."

 

2. VHT Mode > HT Mode.

 

3. If you don't use Bluetooth*, you may also try disabling the Bluetooth* module of your adapter. This can be done directly from Device Manager, or through your https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-hardware/how-to-disable-bluetooth-option-on-windows-10/212a6448-3ceb-46fd-8783-e24c29eec960 OS settings.

 

 

Please let us know if this makes any difference.

 

 

Best regards,

 

Carlos A.
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idata
Employee
3,776 Views

Hello reavcn,

 

 

We're following up on your thread since we have not heard back from you in a while.

 

 

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

 

 

Best regards,

Carlos A.

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VRea
Beginner
3,776 Views

Hi,

thanks for getting back to me. I've been taking some time to test out the recommended settings you wrote in the previous post.

As a result, I'm getting a few more stable connections, probably due to the Roaming Aggressiveness being set to Lowest.

 

However, I'm still encountering many issues, especially when I'm trying to connect to other networks other than the one I have at my place.

 

All the other devices I've tried to connect managed to do it without any problem, whereas my laptop would give me lots of errors that haven't been solved by Windows Network Troubleshooting wizard.

 

The most common failures in my wlanreport are once again "Extendibility module stopped" and "Wireless security started/stopped"

Let me know if there's still something I can do to fix this

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idata
Employee
3,776 Views

Hello reavcn,

 

 

This type of issues are not generally caused by a defective adapter, nor by driver issues. With those sources out of mind, we have to look at the following as possible culprits:

 

 

1. Your OS. Is it up to date? Have you ran a virus scan to discard viruses/malware?

 

1. Many times a second opinion can be helpful, software such as https://www.hitmanpro.com/downloads.aspx HitmanPRO* or https://www.eset.com/us/home/online-scanner/ ESET's Online Scanner* may find things your antivirus missed.

 

2. Use the System File Checker and DISM tool to repair missing or corrupted system files. Microsoft Support: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929833/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system-files Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files | How-to-geek: https://www.howtogeek.com/222532/how-to-repair-corrupted-windows-system-files-with-the-sfc-and-dism-commands/ How to Repair Corrupted Windows System Files with the SFC and DISM Commands.

 

2. Your antivirus software itself. Windows® 10 handles networking differently than previous versions, it's important to make sure your antivirus is also up to date to avoid compatibility issues. After a Windows* build update, your antivirus software itself may need to be updated to match and avoid issues.

 

3. Do you use any software that may modify your wireless driver or how network connections behave? This could be a remote connection, screen streaming, or a VPN software.

 

 

NOTE: Any links provided for third party tools or sites are offered for your convenience and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Intel® of the content, products, or services offered there. We do not offer support for any third party tool mentioned here.

 

 

Please let us know if any of this helps.

 

 

Best regards,

 

Carlos A.
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VRea
Beginner
3,776 Views

Hi Carlos,

my OS is up to date. I am using Windows Defender, which comes preinstalled with every Windows installation. It doesn't seem like it's the cause of my network errors. I have no VPN, nor screen screen streaming software on.

My Intel AC-3165 didn't even perform well after a clean Windows installation + immediate http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/network-and-i-o/wireless-networking/000017246.html Intel® PROSet Wireless Drivers/Software (IT Admin vers.) setup, so I don't see how my antivirus, nor my OS can be the fault of this.

As a matter of fact, the WLAN Report I posted about one week ago says 9 disconnections out of 13 are caused by the driver.

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idata
Employee
3,776 Views

Hello reavcn,

 

 

That's good. If you'd like we can stay focused on your driver.

 

 

As we mentioned before, it would be ideal for your adapter to work using the driver package provided by your computer manufacturer, as this is the only version that will account for modifications made while integrating it and getting it certified together with your laptop.

 

 

We did just release a new PROSet version, at this point we could try something similar to what you have already done, only more drastic. We can suggest a clean "driver only" installation:

 

 

1. Download the latest Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software and Drivers for IT Admins for Windows® 10:- https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26601/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-for-IT-Admins?v=t Wireless_19.40.0_Driver64_Win10.zip2. Extract the provided ZIP file to a known location.

 

3. Uninstall your Intel® PROSet Wireless Software from Programs and Features. When prompted, make sure to "discard settings."

 

4. Uninstall your Wireless driver: Control Panel > Device Manager > Network Adapters > Right click on your Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 and choose to uninstall > "Delete the driver software for this device."

 

5. Remove your temporary files: Press the Windows* Key + R combo to open the Run box > Type Cleanmgr.exe and press OK > Select your main drive, normally C:\ > Make sure only "Temporary Files" is marked > Press OK.

 

6. Reboot your PC.

 

7. Open Device Manager again > Network Adapters > Right click on your adapter and "Update Driver Software" > "Browse my computer for driver software" > Select the location where you previously extracted the IT Admin PROSet, include subfolders > continue the wizard.

 

 

After this you will need to reapply your advanced wireless settings. You may follow our http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/network-and-i-o/wireless-networking/000005544.html recommended connectivity settings, except for the following:

 

 

- Channel Width for 2.4GHz: 20 MHz Only

 

- HT Mode: set to HT Mode

 

- Roaming Aggressiveness: 1. Lowest

 

 

Best regards,

 

Carlos A.
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