After turning on my desktop, Wi‑Fi stopped working. In Windows Device Manager, the Intel Dual Band Wireless‑AC 8260 is listed with the message "This device cannot start (Code 10)." The adapter is a card plugged into the motherboard. I've already shut down and restarted the computer, but the problem remains. Could this indicate a failed card, or are there other troubleshooting steps I should try first?
3 Answers
If reinstalling the driver doesn’t help, power off the desktop and try the card in another compatible motherboard slot. If it still shows Code 10 there, the adapter itself may be failing. A basic USB Wi‑Fi adapter is also an inexpensive replacement or temporary workaround.
Open Device Manager, uninstall the wireless adapter, and choose the option to remove its driver if Windows offers it. Then restart the computer and install the latest driver for the AC 8260 using the installer as administrator. Restart once more afterward. Corrupted drivers can commonly cause Code 10 errors.
You can also remove the adapter entry in Device Manager and then use the hardware-scan option to detect it again. Windows may reinstall a built-in driver automatically. This fixed the issue for at least one person in the discussion.
Deleting the device and letting Windows add it again fixed the problem. Thanks!