AC 3168 Will not detect 2.4 but other devices do

[Greg1320]

OK, computer idiot here so ask all the questions you need to and I will try to answer to the best of my ability.

My desktop stopped recognizing the 2.4 signal and now only finds the 5.0 signal. It has worked fine in the past but stopped working about a month ago. Other devices find both signals w/o issue.

I have rebooted everything multiple times, removed the card from the adapter list and reinstalled. Tried to check for driver updates but says I have the best option.

Running Windows 10 22H2 last updated on 7/11 & 7/27.

Thanks in advance

[Senkuchan]

Try the steps here: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000091473/wireless.html

[Greg1320]

Went through all of that, didnt help.

Other suggestions?

[n_scott_pearson]

Is Bluetooth working? This sounds suspiciously like there is a problem with the antenna or its connection. If Bluetooth is not working, this would prove it since Bluetooth and 2.4GHz Wireless share the same antenna.

Hope this helps,

...S

[Greg1320]

I dont ever use bluetooth but I just paired it up with my phone no issues.

[n_scott_pearson]

The only thing I can think of to try is a clean reinstall of the driver components. Here is a step-by-step process to perform this clean install:

1. If you haven't already, download - but do not install just yet - the final Bluetooth and Wireless driver packages for your adapter. Here are the links for downloading these drivers: Wireless: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/823059 and Bluetooth: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/823075.
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 (i.e. stay disabled) across reboots.
3. From the Windows Apps & Features applet, check for instances of Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and Intel Wireless Bluetooth. If none, skip forward 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 3168 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, skip forward to Step 12.
7. Right click on the entry for Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168 and select Uninstall Device. In the dialog then presented, choose to (checkmark) Delete the driver software for this device.
8. Repeat step 7 until the option to Delete the driver software for this device is not offered (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 Bluetooth driver package you downloaded earlier (my rule: always install Bluetooth first).
13. Install the Wireless driver package you downloaded earlier.
14. Manually shutdown and reboot your computer.
15. Reenable Internet access. Restore Ethernet cable and/or reenable wireless.
16. Test.

Note that 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

[Greg1320]

Problem fixed. Replaced the wifi card and so far everything is working as it should and speed is back to normal.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions.