Windows 7: Won't detect PCI wireless cards

A friend has a new Compaq system with Win 7 Home factory installed. She asked if I could set her up with wireless, to avoid running Cat5 in her really old house.

I visited with two cards I'd used previously:

Linksys WMP11 v4



Netgear MA311 rev2

I also brought a disc with the latest drivers, which didn't include Windows 7.

The problem however, was that Windows didn't even detect either card when installed.

Each board lit the little green light near it's antenna, indicating it had power from the PCI slot, but Windows 7 never knew I plugged them in.

I tried re-seating each a few times.

I checked the BIOS, but nothing there seemed related.

There was one setting to enable PCI graphics, but since the slot was empty and it was using MOBO graphics, I disabled that - no improvement.

I checked the MS compatibility list, and the Linksys card is definitely compatible. Netgear card doesn't show up, but those with close #'s are all compatible.

I also tried installing the software for each board, using the setup wizard for each on the disc. Each installed fine but still didn't see a board plugged in.

I even got bold (or dumb) once and plugged the Linksys board in hot, but it did nothing.

Any ideas on why the PCI slot seems dead?

I didn't see a way to disable it in the bios.

Thanks,

Hoosemon

Linksys WMP11 v4 & Netgear MA311 rev2 are both old B rated cards.
Would be worth getting a new N rated card.

It does sound like you have probloms with PCI slot, as PC is a new Compaq system, have HP/Compaq check out frist.

Check also the cables from the PCI slot are not inverted on the wireless card, might want to clean aswell the contacts first from the PCI.

Thanks for the help!

Hoosemon