Wifi adapter (Intel AC 3165) does not work after automatic windows update

TotalmenteDesesperado · ‎11-10-2023

I have been having this recurring problem for over 2 years: every 2-3 months and sometimes within days, after an automatic Windows update, my bluetooth and wifi connections stop working. I somehow manage to fix it after 2-3 days of trying different solutions but none of them seems to be THE ONE, as most of the times it just miraculously starts working as I turn the computer on. I have found the following post that perfectly describes what is happening to me, but none of the solutions are working for me: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000031150/wireless/wireless-software.html

My portable computer is a Dell Inspiron 5570. The error I detect in the Device Manager is that the network adapter "Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 #2" appears hidden from me. When I look at properties, it says that the hardware device is not connected to the computer (error Code 45). Whenever I search for the most updated driver, it says that I am already using the latest.

Please, I need serious help as I have been forced to reset my computer to factory settings several times, losing many valuable information. I would like to receive 2 kind of solutions: one to make my wifi adapter work correctly again and another to prevent this from happening in the future.

Thank you very much for your help

AlHill · ‎11-10-2023

Roll back the bad driver in the device manager.

Reboot.

Then, run the Microsoft wuShowHide tool (attached) and block/hide the offending Microsoft update.

Doc (not an Intel employee or contractor)
[Maybe Windows 12 will be better]

TotalmenteDesesperado · ‎11-10-2023

Thank you, but the option of rolling back the driver in the device manager cannot be pressed as it is kind of greyish and not available

n_scott_pearson · ‎11-10-2023

Actually, you need to do a clean install in order to get back to the proper version. Here is my process for doing so:

If you haven't already, download to your PC - but do not install just yet - the Bluetooth and Wireless driver packages for your adapter. Here are the current links for downloading these drivers: Wireless: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/19351 and Bluetooth: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/18649.
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.
From the Apps & Features applet, check for instances of Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and Intel Wireless Bluetooth. If none, skip to Step 6.
Uninstall each instance of Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and/or Intel Wireless Bluetooth that is present. When prompted, choose "Discard Settings".
Manually reboot your computer, keeping Internet access disabled throughout.
From the Device Manager applet, check the Network Adapters section for an entry for Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 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 10.
Right click on the entry for Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 and uninstall it, choosing (checkmark) Delete the driver software for this device.
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.
Go back to Step 5.
Install the downloaded Bluetooth driver package (my rule: always install Bluetooth first).
Install the downloaded Wireless driver package.
Manually shutdown and reboot your computer.
Reenable Internet access. Restore Ethernet cable and/or reenable wireless.
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.

Ok, once this is complete and you are in a working state, you need to run the WUShowHide troubleshooter (Al provided link for this above) and block any subsequent releases from installing. I recommend that you NOT use Intel's Driver & Support Assistant (DSA); use Dell's instead.

Hope this helps,

...S

TotalmenteDesesperado · ‎11-13-2023

Hi n_scott_pearson,

Thanks for your support. Once again, I'm not sure how, but today my connections suddenly returned to normal. I didn't do anything special—just left the computer stored and unplugged for the weekend. When I turned it on this morning, both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth were back in action. Any suggestions on how to prevent this from happening again? If you recommend installing WUShowHide, could you please provide specific instructions? I'm not familiar with that software.

Thanks a lot.

n_scott_pearson · ‎11-13-2023

I never asked you whether this was Windows 10 or Windows 11. In Windows 10, you have a window between when a driver is promoted for installation and its actual installation. Within this window, you can use the WUShowHide tool to hide these driver installations. In Windows 11, on the other hand, the Window for catching drivers is a lot smaller - and this may have been why the WUShowHide tool is not being promoted by Microsoft any longer (even if it was written by them).

WUShowHide runs as a Windows troubleshooter and walks you through the process. It can scan for driver installations that are pending or optional and allows you to then choose which to hide.

Hope this helps,

...S

P.S. You can also download this tool from MS site: https://download.microsoft.com/download/f/2/2/f22d5fdb-59cd-4275-8c95-1be17bf70b21/wushowhide.diagcab.