Wireless AC 7260 Driver

[Jim10]

I have an ASUS G751JT laptop which is still going strong.  I just replaced my wireless router with an ASUS ZenWiFi Pro XT12 router.  Now my laptop with an Intel wireless AC 7260 does not see any of the three bands;  2.4, 5-1 and 5-2.  I would like to get the latest driver for the AC 7260. Any help would be appreciated. 

Thank you.

[n_scott_pearson]

@dean_b,

For the link, check your Private Message inbox. Click on your avatar picture in the top right corner of the page (in the Communities blue banner) and select Messages from the resulting menu.

Having Bluetooth switched off does not imply that the drivers are outdated - though it could mean that you do not have the Intel drivers installed (i.e., Microsoft's generic driver is attempting to run the hardware, which is problematic). What it does potentially imply, however, is that you need to do a clean installation of the drivers. Here is my process:

1. If you haven't already, download - but do not install just yet - the Bluetooth and Wireless driver packages for your adapter from my share.
2. 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 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 to "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 7260 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 to Step 10.
7. Right click on the entry for Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 and uninstall it, choosing to (checkmark) Delete the driver software for this device.
8. 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.
9. Go to Step 5.
10. (Optional but recommended) Clean out all temporary files using the Windows Clean Disk tool. Ensure you have enabled cleaning of System Files. I recommend that you then checkmark all categories offered, even if no files currently in this category (so it leaves it set up for next invocation).
11. (Optional but recommended) Clear each of your browsers' cache.
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.

Hope this helps,

...S

P.S. You are the 205th WLAN Driver requestor since Jan. 6th.

[dean_b]

Gave it a go, but it did not work for me. I could have missed something in the procedure....even erasing drivers from a HD on install on BT it detects newer version and refuses install. 

/Dean

[dean_b]

I made it work. Actually, where the old drivers are stored extra is in "Apps&Features" removed it from there and installed your drivers without any issues. All works well.

Thank you Scott!!!

[n_scott_pearson]

If you look at my instruction above (‎04-11-2023), you will see that I have you remove the packages from Apps and Features before deleting the active drivers.

Just saying      ;^)

...S

[n_scott_pearson]

@ANTPro,

For the link, check your Private Message inbox. Click on your avatar picture in the top right corner of the page (in the Communities blue banner) and select Messages from the resulting menu.

...S

P.S. You are the 211th WLAN Driver requestor since Jan. 6th.

[GGreen]

Wonder if I am number 212. I just bought the AC 7260 minicard for in my ASUS N56VZ s4022v laptop, but did not check driver availability. I hope you can help me out with a link or so to download the driver for Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit. Thank you in advance.

Regards,

George

[dean_b]

Hi Skott, I do not have anything in my Inbox....???

[dean_b]

Hi Scott, found it and downloaded it. Must say that emails where disappearing. Anyway tried to install it and it did not work.

[n_scott_pearson]

@dean_b,

This error box is telling you that you need to do a clean install. Here is the process, follow it exactly:

1. Ensure that the Wireless and Bluetooth driver packages are on your PC.
2. 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 stay disabled across reboots.
3. From the Apps & Features applet, check for instances of Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and Intel Wireless Bluetooth. If neither of these exist, skip to Step 6.
4. Uninstall each instance of Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and/or Intel Wireless Bluetooth that is present. When prompted, choose to "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 7260 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 to Step 10.
7. Right click on the entry for Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 and uninstall it, choosing to (checkmark) Delete the driver software for this device.
8. 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.
9. Go to Step 5.
10. (Optional but recommended) Clean out all temporary files using the Windows Clean Disk tool. Ensure you have enabled cleaning of System Files. I recommend that you then checkmark all categories offered, even if you have no files currently in this category (so it leaves it set up for subsequent invocations).
11. (Optional but recommended) Clear each of your browsers' cache.
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.

Hope this helps,

...S

[dean_b]

Hi Scott!

Thank you for your thorough explanation. It is a bit of a challenge I must say. 

Would you be so kind to explain the nature of this occurrence?  I am extremely angry that thing like these are happening.

To me this looks like Intel throughout Microsoft is imposing a purchase of new  HW/Laptop in this case by outdating drivers and removing them from PC used. There are few evidence of that. The version you gave me is older than the one I have installed. Unless deliberate in order to trick Win Update to not remove it again.

It all looks funky and nasty to me since there is no reason to stop it from working. Unless some severe Win updates to Sys32 that current drivers are not compatible with and Microsoft is removing them. Either way a vary bad way to impose on customers.

Is my analogy completely wrong?

Cheers Dean

[Daniil_Sh]

@n_scott_pearson , could you please send me the latest driver for AC 7260?

[n_scott_pearson]

@GGreen and @Daniil_Sh,

For the link, check your Communities Private Message inbox. Click on your avatar picture in the top right corner of the page (in the Communities blue banner) and select Messages from the resulting menu.

...S

P.S. You are the 213th and 214th WLAN Driver requestors since Jan. 6th.

[GGreen]

Thank you very much for the swift reply. Also for the above detailed installation instruction in mails to others. 

Kind regards,

George from The Netherlands

[n_scott_pearson]

The packages I have provided contain the final releases of the drivers for these cards/modules. I squirrelled away these packages when Intel announced the discontinuance. Subsequent packages either contain the same drivers or no drivers at all. Usually, the drives are removed from the packages right at their discontinuance.

Intel seems to have adopted a What-have-you-bought-from-us-lately? attitude that I am not at all happy with. I know that there is a cost to maintaining the downloads, but this is still a slap-to-the-face for all (previously) loyal customers. That said, however, I see no nefarious attempts by Intel to force folks to upgrade their silicon. While I have had no feedback from Intel (my contacts are perhaps too low on the food chain), they are probably happy that I am providing the download for the drivers. Still, I shouldn't have to.

This is the first time that I have seen an issue like yours occurring with these Wireless modules - but now that I think about it, this could also explain some of the other installation issues that people have had (and which were (also) resolved by a clean install).

Just a reminder: these driver packages are designed for Windows 10 and were released long before Windows 11 existed. There is thus no guarantee that they will work with Windows 11. This is perhaps why Intel doesn't want to be hosting the drivers; they do not want people having the wrong expectations regarding Windows 11 (considering that Microsoft seems to be forcing upgrades now)

I speculate...

...S

[dean_b]

Hi Scott! Many thanks for your professional and helpful treatment of us users.

I have 3 laptops. This one is my favorite. ASUS Zenbook UX303LN with 206 BIOS version. It was 2015 the most advanced notebook on the market. 

1. Intel® Core™ i7-4510U CPU @ 2.00GHz, 
2. NVIDIA GeForce 840M
3. 12G RAM

 Still works perfect. And I see no reason to change to anything newer and better. I could use some others newer but all my licensed programs are on this one...it is a hustle to move it over. As you said, what have you bought from us lately is not a fare treatment.

I will go through your steps and instructions, but will there be guaranty that they will not be removed again?

I guess that Intel/Microsoft could remove them completely with WiFi drivers. That would be far more efficient in forcing us to do a new purchase.   I guess it would be to much even for them. So they made our life less comfortable. 

Br Dean

[Valerio]

Hi Scott

Kindly ask you to share a copy of AC-7260 driver for Windows 10 64bit.

Apologize for bothering you but seems to me there is no other solution around.

Many thanks,

Valerio

[n_scott_pearson]

@Resit,

For the link, check your Communities Private Message inbox. Click on your avatar picture in the top right corner of the page (in the Communities blue banner) and select Messages from the resulting menu.

...S

P.S. You are the 222nd WLAN Driver requestor since Jan. 6th.

[n_scott_pearson]

*** NO! DO NOT FOLLOW @alirazamakki's INSTRUCTIONS! ***

These instructions will NOT get you a driver for the 7260. The search will garner links for the very latest releases of the Wireless driver package - which DO NOT contain drivers for the 7260 (or 3160 or 7265 Rev.C for that matter)! Worse, if you install them, they will block the installation of the packages that actually do contain applicable drivers (requiring manual clean install process).

Just saying,

...S

[Mehdi2]

@n_scott_pearson 

Hi Scott,

I've landed here after a long journey trying to solve a wireless card issue on the (old) DELL 3340 of my dad that suddenly stop to detect wifi.

I've noticed an error 28 on the USB bus controler and also on the network controler. According to dell support, i soukd try to reinstall the drivers for the wifi card: Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260. The Labtop runs uder Windows 7 32 bits.

Could you please send me the drivers in pm?

I don't know if it will solve the problem because I've also tried to use an external USB wifi key and which is detected but don't allow me acces to the network. The RJ45 port don't  works too (I have two led ligthing around the port (one steady orange and the other one is blinking). But USB ports seems to work since classical USB key aree detected and mounted.

I don't know excatly how but trying to repair the driver with PROSet/Wireless Software., I have accidentaly uninstall the drivers

I you have any advice, please don't hesitate to share.

Thank you very much for your help.

Best.

Mehdi from France

[n_scott_pearson]

@Mehdi2,

For the link, check your Communities Private Message inbox. Click on your avatar picture in the top right corner of the page (in the Communities blue banner) and select Messages from the resulting menu.

...S

P.S. You are the 239th WLAN Driver requestor since Jan. 6th.

[n_scott_pearson]

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