Question

Hello,

I am experiencing a persistent Wi-Fi issue on a Windows 10 desktop PC. After extensive troubleshooting, I would like to confirm whether this is a known hardware/firmware failure of the Intel Wireless-AC 9260 or if there is still any possible software-side solution.

---

System information

OS: Windows 10 x64 (fully updated)

Motherboard: MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC

Wi-Fi module: Intel Wireless-AC 9260NGW (M.2 Key-E)

Ethernet: Intel I211 Gigabit (works perfectly at all times)

Wi-Fi driver: Latest Intel driver (23.60.x, provider: Intel)

---

Problem description

After a cold boot or system restart:

Wi-Fi works normally

Wireless networks are visible

Internet connection is stable

Mobile hotspot works

After approximately 30–60 minutes of uptime:

All Wi-Fi networks disappear (0 networks visible)

netsh wlan show networks returns 0

Mobile hotspot cannot be enabled

Wi-Fi remains enabled (Radio ON, Software ON)

Ethernet continues to work without any issues

Once this state occurs:

Wi-Fi does not recover automatically

Disabling/enabling the adapter does not help

Restarting WLAN AutoConfig service does not help

Resetting the network stack does not help

Only a full system reboot temporarily restores Wi-Fi

---

Event Viewer logs

When the failure occurs, Event Viewer consistently reports Intel Wi-Fi driver (Netwtw08) errors in the following sequence:

Event ID 5002 – The network adapter has stopped responding, reset attempted

Event ID 5005 – Miniport reset failed

Event ID 5032 – The network adapter returned an invalid value to the driver (repeated)

Event ID 5010 – The network adapter entered a non-operational state

The final error message is typically:

“Intel(R) Wireless-AC 9260 160MHz: The network adapter has returned an invalid value to the driver.”

---

Troubleshooting already performed

Clean installation of the latest Intel Wi-Fi drivers (not Microsoft inbox drivers)

WLAN and network stack reset:

netsh winsock reset

  `netsh int ip reset`
  
     `netsh wlan delete profile *`
     
     Restarted WLAN AutoConfig service
     
     Disabled all power-saving options for the Wi-Fi adapter
     
     Verified adapter state using `netsh wlan show interfaces`
     
     Confirmed `netsh wlan show networks` returns 0 after failure
     
     Full power drain reset (PSU unplugged, capacitors discharged)
     
     Checked and reseated antennas
     
     Ethernet remains stable during the entire time
     

---

Important observation

The issue is clearly time-dependent:

Wi-Fi works after reboot

After some time (likely related to heat or firmware state), Wi-Fi scanning stops completely

Logs indicate firmware/PHY returning invalid values to the driver

---

Question

Based on:

Consistent Netwtw08 errors (5002 → 5005 → 5032 → 5010)

Complete loss of Wi-Fi scanning (0 networks visible)

Recovery only possible via system reboot

Is this a known hardware or firmware failure mode of the Intel Wireless-AC 9260, and is replacing the M.2 Wi-Fi module (e.g. Intel AX200) the only reliable solution?

Is there any confirmed Windows-side workaround that can recover the adapter without rebooting, or does this behavior conclusively indicate a failing Wi-Fi module?

Thank you for any confirmation or additional insight.

Question

Hello,

I am experiencing a persistent Wi-Fi issue on a Windows 10 desktop PC. After extensive troubleshooting, I would like to confirm whether this is a known hardware/firmware failure of the Intel Wireless-AC 9260 or if there is still any possible software-side solution.

---

System information

OS: Windows 10 x64 (fully updated)

Motherboard: MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC

Wi-Fi module: Intel Wireless-AC 9260NGW (M.2 Key-E)

Ethernet: Intel I211 Gigabit (works perfectly at all times)

Wi-Fi driver: Latest Intel driver (23.60.x, provider: Intel)

---

Problem description

After a cold boot or system restart:

Wi-Fi works normally

Wireless networks are visible

Internet connection is stable

Mobile hotspot works

After approximately 30–60 minutes of uptime:

All Wi-Fi networks disappear (0 networks visible)

netsh wlan show networks returns 0

Mobile hotspot cannot be enabled

Wi-Fi remains enabled (Radio ON, Software ON)

Ethernet continues to work without any issues

Once this state occurs:

Wi-Fi does not recover automatically

Disabling/enabling the adapter does not help

Restarting WLAN AutoConfig service does not help

Resetting the network stack does not help

Only a full system reboot temporarily restores Wi-Fi

---

Event Viewer logs

When the failure occurs, Event Viewer consistently reports Intel Wi-Fi driver (Netwtw08) errors in the following sequence:

Event ID 5002 – The network adapter has stopped responding, reset attempted

Event ID 5005 – Miniport reset failed

Event ID 5032 – The network adapter returned an invalid value to the driver (repeated)

Event ID 5010 – The network adapter entered a non-operational state

The final error message is typically:

“Intel(R) Wireless-AC 9260 160MHz: The network adapter has returned an invalid value to the driver.”

---

Troubleshooting already performed

Clean installation of the latest Intel Wi-Fi drivers (not Microsoft inbox drivers)

WLAN and network stack reset:

netsh winsock reset

  `netsh int ip reset`
  
     `netsh wlan delete profile *`
     
     Restarted WLAN AutoConfig service
     
     Disabled all power-saving options for the Wi-Fi adapter
     
     Verified adapter state using `netsh wlan show interfaces`
     
     Confirmed `netsh wlan show networks` returns 0 after failure
     
     Full power drain reset (PSU unplugged, capacitors discharged)
     
     Checked and reseated antennas
     
     Ethernet remains stable during the entire time
     

---

Important observation

The issue is clearly time-dependent:

Wi-Fi works after reboot

After some time (likely related to heat or firmware state), Wi-Fi scanning stops completely

Logs indicate firmware/PHY returning invalid values to the driver

---

Question

Based on:

Consistent Netwtw08 errors (5002 → 5005 → 5032 → 5010)

Complete loss of Wi-Fi scanning (0 networks visible)

Recovery only possible via system reboot

Is this a known hardware or firmware failure mode of the Intel Wireless-AC 9260, and is replacing the M.2 Wi-Fi module (e.g. Intel AX200) the only reliable solution?

Is there any confirmed Windows-side workaround that can recover the adapter without rebooting, or does this behavior conclusively indicate a failing Wi-Fi module?

Thank you for any confirmation or additional insight.