My Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 adapter stopped working (Code 31). L , updating, uninstalling, resetting Windows—nothing works. Need urgent help!

[Microsoft Windows]

my wifi adapter (Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260) no longer works. The device manager tells me "This device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device. (Code 31) The device is pending further configuration." I have tried the following: 1) restarting 2) updating driver from within device manager (doesn't work, just spins) 3) updating driver from Intel (driver updates, but error remains) 4) uninstalling the device and restarting (problem persists) 5) rolling back driver (grayed out) 6) restoring windows to a previous update (won't complete

Continue reading...