Intel Wifi Adapter – Driver update question

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Need some help again!  I have a Dell Latitude E5470. I checked Dell’s driver updates and see two that I think I should install. One is the BIOS, which just came out on 4/28/21 and I will install that (after LENGTHY discussions on BIOS updates here on ASKWOODY, I’ve come to the conclusion that I can and should update my BIOS, it’s not as scary a process as it once was).

The other is this: Intel 8260/7265/3165 Wi-Fi Driver Version 22.30.0.11, A35 (Dell says Urgent, security vulnerability update).

Now, here’s the problem – I cannot match up the current driver I see in device manager, so I’m not sure I’m updating the one I think I am. I see Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 in Network Adapters with installed driver dated 9/15/20 Ver 20.70.19.1

But I do not see that date nor version in any of the previous drivers. And I’m concerned that if this messes up I could lose wireless connectivity.  I would just like to know I am updating the right thing – and I always match the date/version of installed driver to previous versions.

How can I tell which driver I am updating, for sure?  I don’t see any other 8260 WiFi adapters. And if it is the same, why wouldn’t the driver versions match?

 

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Do the BIOS first.

The latest wifi driver version from Dell is 22.30.0.11 dated 25Mar2021.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/latitude-e5470-laptop/drivers

Sort by newest, it’s near the top.  Download button on right, save it, then double click the download and follow the instructions.  It’s small, installs quickly.  Go to Device Manager after the install and the new one version will be there, old one gone to driver store as a backup.

Not sure where your confusion lies, if it’s due to going up a few versions at a time, don’t worry, that’s common.  If it’s a desire to update by clicking update in device manager, don’t do that unless you want windows update to pick one (I wouldn’t.)

Intel has the same one but you may be prevented from installing it until you uninstall the current one.  Use the Dell option above:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/211325/Intel-Wireless-AC-Products

BIOS updates are super simple.  Download, click on installer and do what it says.  Used to be cryptic but smooth now.

If you lose wifi and I don’t see that happening, go to device manager and roll back to the old driver, it’s still there in driver store.

Good luck.

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Thank you so much for the help! I will do the BIOS first.

Not sure where your confusion lies,

My confusion is that I don’t see my current driver in the list of older drivers – not the date or version (20.70.19.1 dated 9/15/20)

if it’s due to going up a few versions at a time, don’t worry, that’s common. If it’s a desire to update by clicking update in device manager, don’t do that unless you want windows update to pick one (I wouldn’t.)

Thanks Good to know, thanks.  I wondered about going up a few versions & clicking update driver in device mgr.

If you lose wifi and I don’t see that happening, go to device manager and roll back to the old driver, it’s still there in driver store.

Where is the driver store? I could download an older version from Dell, just in case.

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Actually I think I found the answer an Intel forum – this would explain why I have different version number on my driver than is on the Dell website:  When it comes to driver updates, we have two terms: driver package and actual driver and there may a difference in the version number you see. For the Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 the latest driver package version is 22.10.0; however, the actual driver version is 19.51.31.1.

The update package indicates the installation driver package and the driver version refers to the actual driver for each wireless adapter. You can see this in the driver download link under “Detailed Description > Purpose”.

Also, you may be receiving driver updates through the Windows® Update service, so you may see a different driver version than the one available on Intel® or DELL™ website.

Also, it is worth mentioning that when it comes to pre-built systems like laptops, it is highly recommended to use the customized drivers provided by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), in this case, Dell*.

System manufacturers regularly customize Intel generic drivers to meet the needs of their specific system design.

 

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I just updated the BIOS, no problems. I had tried once before, but it didn’t take! I was not watching the screen, so I don’t know what happened.  Anyhow, I shut down the computer after that, we went to visit family for a week (yeah vaccines!!) and I just had the chance to try again – it worked like a charm! : )

Now I have to update the Intel drivers & then that’s it no more driver/BIOS updates for me for now! Thanks for your help everyone!

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Have in mind that if you update the BIOS some things may not function as they are intended. specially if you have a cpu/laptop with a certain age.   so in my opinion If your drivers and your system is working with no issues, I recommend holding up the update

 

Just someone who don't want Windows to mess with its computer.

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dmt_3904

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The driver store is where windows stores drivers and backup drivers, in the driver store file repository.  The OEM configuration is backed up in the OEM partition on the boot drive.

C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository

It’s gibberish to the unfamiliar but there’s a great little portable utility called Driver Store Explorer, RAPR,  that makes sense of it, the Release link at the bottom of this page goes to the zip download:

https://github.com/lostindark/DriverStoreExplorer

Yeah, the version numbers are consistent except when they aren’t.  Driver packages can be bundles with maybe a driver and its GUI or whatever makes sense.   Dell’s dates seem to be revised whenever a change is done to a driver description.  They have plenty of recent ones that were released months ago, some over a year ago that haven’t changed in function just description.

To confuse things even more, my 2015 Alienware 17R3, which is still good enough to not consider replacing for years has a number of drivers on Dell’s support site for my S/N that are years old.  Everything from chipset drivers to wifi to especially video drivers.

Drivers specific to my laptop, anything with Alienware in the name, I get from Dell.  Keyboard backlight, for example.  No other drivers beside BIOS come from them, they come from the hardware manufacturers so they’re up to date or at least close.  I’ve never seen a generic driver not work and newer generics have proven to work better than old “official” ones.  Long after some old generics are deprecated, the equivalent kludgy OEM version can still be found.

Three alienware laptops, two dells, once acer, one dell desktop and one dell t30 server in our home.  Once driver support begins to wane, I go generic with drivers that are easy to understand.

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dmt_3904

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