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]

What driver version are you using?

...S

[ZicVan]

17.16.0.4 (23/03/2015) or 18.33.7.2 (05/04/2017). The first version is what I get once the PC is restarted. 

[IsaacQ_Intel]

Dear ZicVan,

We sincerely appreciate your engagement within the Intel® communities.

As this particular product has been discontinued, our Intel Customer Service team is no longer able to provide support for inquiries related to it. We are heartened to see that fellow community members have stepped up to offer their knowledge and assistance. Additionally, you may find the Discontinued Products website to be a valuable resource for addressing your request.

For product specifications and confirmation of its discontinued status, please visit the Intel® Product Specifications website and navigate to the "Product Status" section, where you can find information under "Discontinued."

Please note that Intel will no longer actively monitor this thread. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Best regards,

Isaac Q.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[n_scott_pearson · Accepted solution]

The last package release that supported this adapter was 21.10.1. The driver version in the Wireless package is 18.33.17.1. The (corresponding) driver version in the Bluetooth package is 20.100.5.1.

Intel is no longer hosting drivers for any of the discontinued Wireless adapters. Luckily, I archived the driver packages that last supported each of the discontinued adapters. You can download them from my Legacy Wireless Drivers share. Start here: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtacZBU04mo-j-tQ34BdSDv6y1BFsg.

Hope this helps,

...S

[ZicVan]

Thank you Scott!

It now works flawlessly with the latest drivers. I'll keep you posted if any issues arise. 

[Deo887]

Hello im having this same problem. I downloaded the files on the link buy wasn't sure which ones to use. I Downloaded the one that says ac3160 since that's what I have but dunno which file to choose next. I tried the windows10 32 and 64 but they wouldn't work. Can you possibly walk me thru the process to keep my wifi from going out or disappearing all together. Thx!

[Hend]

Thank you so much, you saved my day 

[IMSanjay]

Thank a million Scott! You are really kind to share these drivers. I was having exactly the same problem as ZicVan after performing a factory reset on my Dell Inspiron 5548 which has the same wireless adapter, viz. Intel Dual Band wireless-AC 31600. The laptop simply refused to see my Orbi RBR750 router although all newer laptops and handheld devices could easily connect to it. I was at my wits end, searching for a solution on the net until I came across this thread. After installing the WiFi_21.10.1_64_Win10 update, the connection is working perfectly. Once, thanks a lot.

Rgds,

Sanjay

[idiotabroad]

I subscribed to thank you Scott your solution worked perfectly for me too.

A foresighted genius, you should get some sort of award!

[Trog]

Thanks Scott. I thought this was finally my answer, but I am still having problems. My Lenovo laptop with an intel AC 3160 stopped recognising my router when it was replaced with a WiFi6 device. I've loaded your WiFi driver, confirmed Intel's recommended settings, reset the IP configuration, forgotten access points, restarted router and laptop. But the laptop still can't see the router, although it can see other routers. It works fine on ethernet. Other devices work fine on the WiFi 6 router.

Any ideas?

[db48]

Thanks for this - been having internet problems similar to ZicVan on my Dell Inspiron 5000 (5547) on and off for a year or so. Your AC-3160 driver update from the 1833.14.3 version I was running seems to have fixed the constant dropouts, no internet, etc. problems I've had for many months. Installation was a breeze, clicked first on the blue tooth .exc file and installed it, and then the WiFi .exe file. The WiFi took a while to install but when complete I followed the instruction to reboot and once it restarted everything running fine and both the household WiFi signals available, acknowledged and working!!

[n_scott_pearson]

You should be in the Wireless-N 7260 and Wireless-AC 7260, 3160 subfolder. Within this folder, you want to download and run WiFi_21.10.1_64_Win10.exe and BT_21.10.1_64_Win10.exe.

Now, if this is what you ran - and they failed, you likely need to use the clean install process to get around the installer blockages. Here is the process:

1. If you haven't already, download to your PC - but do not install just yet - the Bluetooth and Wireless driver packages.
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 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 that it sometimes takes multiple uninstalls (and reboots) to clean out the old installations, so don't give up on the process until you hit, say, 10 reboots. 

Hope this helps,

...S

Edit: Updated with enhanced algorithm that reduces the reboots necessary.

[n_scott_pearson]

No problem. What I'm here for (since Intel isn't).

...S

[gunthersaysthanks]

i signed up just to say thank you, this also worked for me.

I recently got an EERO router with WeLink fiber wifi ISP and my laptop could not connect to the router.

I am being descriptive for googlers in the future. Intel AC3160 that shipped inside of msi ge62/65/70 apache gaming laptops years ago.

The latest available driver immediately found the wifi6 compatible network so i did not have to force my router into legacy mode.

Thanks for your files

[n_scott_pearson]

You are welcome. It's too bad that Intel has taken this 'what have you bought from us lately' attitude towards customer support. They blame it on legal repercussions (if it's old, it must have security issues), but I don't buy that at all.

...S

[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!