Windows 7 - Is there a way to stop/start/refresh the recognition of new hardware?

My USB wireless adapter (Netgear WN111) has a habit of being a bit crap and I'll often have to unplug then re-insert it to get the connection going again. The trouble is that sometimes Windows will fail to recognize it being plugged in again and then the only thing I can do to get it working again is to restart my computer. If I try to do this the proper way (Start - Shut Down - Restart) if gets stuck in the Shutting Down bit for eternity and I'm forced to just flick the restart button on the front of my computer.

Is there a service I could stop and restart instead? It seems like the finding hardware thing becomes congested almost and then freezes and just needs stopping and restarting and then it'll recognise my adapter again. It's REALLY ANNOYING having to restart my computer.

Sounds like a driver issue. Do you have the WN111 Version 1 or Version 2. I don't know what the difference is but there's an update on V2 for Windows 7.

WN111v2

Another possibility is that you're flooding the bandwidth of the USB controller. Do you have a USB keyboard and mouse? Other USB devices? Try moving the wireless adapter to another port away from other devices. There's usually 2-3 controllers in a PC and each device connected to a hub has to share the controller's bandwidth. And, the system takes 20% right off the top. There's also power issues too if all your USB devices happen to be attached to the same hub.

Unfortunately I have WN111v1. Probably just a poorly optimised driver, think it was actually made to work with 64 Bit Vista and it just happens to work with Windows7 64 bit out of chance. My keyboard etc are in the USB ports at the back but I have this at the front with nothing alongside it.

Netgear are notoriously poor in respect of their hardware and drivers, even though on occasion they can churn out a half reasonable piece of hardware.

Personally I'd not use USB for networking, full stop. Ethernet is better, in every respect imaginable.

You can try and use the scan for new hardware from Hardware Manager. Right click on one of the controllers then select Scan For Hardware Changes. You may have to scan both controllers to find the one used by your adapter.

That could work, will try that next time. Thanks!