Wifi adapter disappeared, Bluetooth working

[Dennis160]

Elitebook 850 G2. Windows 10 x64.

Intel Dual-Band Wireless AC-7265 Adapter

Have lost wifi connection and WiFi adapter has disappeared from Device Manager and only appears as a hidden item with a Code 31 message – "Windows cannot load drivers for this device".

Annoying thing is that the Bluetooth side of the adapter is working perfectly okay.

Things I’ve tried:

• Uninstalling adapter and restarting computer – no effect.
• Used lates drivers from HP site and Intel website– no effect.
• Running HP diagnostics and Windows Troubleshooters – no effect.
• Installed other OS (Windows 7, Windows 10 (x32) and Linux) onto different drive – no effect.
• Checked BIOS – no setting for WiFi adapter, though Bluetooth adapter has option to enable/disable.
• Tried another AC-7265 adapter – no effect.

I’d appreciate any suggestions as to the next thing to try.

[ub6424]

Hello @Dennis160 

(1) Visit INTEL's wireless driver site

- Download and install driver

(2) Restart Windows

(3) Please report your results

[Dennis160]

Thanks for responding.

I downloaded the driver suggested and installed it & rebooted- no change, the hidden adapter still says that windows cannot load the driver Code 31.

So I uninstalled the adapter and installed the driver again, rebooted - no change, except that now the ada[ter disappearsa altogether.

(NB : I'm using a USB dongle t upload this message.) I can get the AC-7265 back by installing the device as legacy hardware, but I still get the Code 31 message.

[Dennis160]

And if I try to update the drivers through Device Manager I get this:

[ub6424]

Hello @Dennis160 

(1) Download and install from Microsoft Apps Store

HP PC Hardware Diagnostics Windows

(2) Run <HP Diagnostics for Windows>

- Perform <all> tests

- Focus on Component tests <Wireless Adapter>

(3) Please report your results ( error messages, take pictures )

( if serial number, device id, UUID, System Board CT Number is displayed, please blur )

[Dennis160]

Thank ypu again. I ran the diagnostics as best I could.

Unfortunately it started to test the WiFi dongle I was using, so I removed that and them the software couldn't detec any WiFi adapter at all.

[ub6424]

Hello @Dennis160 

Do you valid HP warranty ?

[Dennis160]

No, this is an old laptop I use for work.

[ub6424]

Hello @Dennis160 

(1) Please replace wifi adapter

HP spare part number: 756748-001

Intel Dual Band Wireless-N 7265AN 802.11 a/b/g/n 2×2 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Adapter

Buy at HP Partsurfer:

https://partsurfer.hp.com/partsurfer?searchtext=756748-001&searchby=part

(2) Download

--->>> Maintenance and Service Guide

Kind regards

[Dennis160]

Thanks for the help. I have already tried a replacement adapter as mentioned in my first post. It exhibited the same issue - No WiFI adapter present but the Bluetooth working perfectly.

What are the possibilities of it being:

• A hardware failure on the motherboard?
• An issue between Windows 10 and the wifi driver?
• A missing BIOS key (I'm using M71 vs.1.28)?
• A secret, mystery keyboard combo which I hit by accident?? Okay, I'm getting desperate now....