SMC EZ Connect g USB WLAN Adapter, not recognized.

A few days after buying my computer I purchased the USB WLAN Adapter in the title.
It worked perfectly for at least a year. After that, I started having the occasional "device not recognized" message. Unplugging and plugging again solved the problem.

Later it got worse. I had to unplugg and plugg several times for it to work (my record was 113 times). The strange thing is, it only malfunctioned after I turned the computer on. If I made it to work (using the unplugg and plugg routine), and left my PC on, I'd have no trouble. I could even switch USB ports at will, it would always work after that first time. If I had to turn off the computer, I'd go back to square one (restarting was no problem, though).

Now, I just can't make it work. No matter how many times I unplugg/plugg, I always get the "device not recognized" message.

I tryied the adapter in another computer (with Vista Home), and it gets detected with no problem whatsoever.

The computer where this issue happens, has other USB devices, and they all work without a single problem.

I'd really appreciate some help with this, I don't want to waste money on another adapter just to find the exact same problem happening.


Sincerely, Tatoon.

Edit: The computer where this issue is happening is using Windows 7 Ultimate x64.

Britton30 said:

Welcome to Seven Forums Tatoon.
Does the WLAN device malfunction in all USB ports after turning it off? You may try to find a new driver for it from the maker's website. It could be a USB issue too, have a look here to see if anything may apply to you.
USB Driver - General Fix for Problems

This happens on all the USB ports. But if I use them with any other device, they all seem to be ok.

I don't think this is a driver issue, since the WLAN Adapter isn't even recognized as such. Besides, I downloaded the most recent drivers from their site (a *.sys, *.cat and *.inf, but no *.exe), but they seem to be impossible to install without the adapter being recognized.

I'll take a look at your link tomorrow and I'll post the results. But I don't really think this is an USB port issue. I could be wrong, of course...

Edit: I just remembered, while I unplugged/plugged, I had a BSOD. But that only happened like...twice, and it was a while ago, while the adapter was still usable.

If you keep it on one particular port and force the drivers on through Device Manager it may return to better working order, but there's nothing to beat swapping it for a PCiE x1 slot type WiFi card if you can splash a little cash...

Ok, so I did what you said (both), and for a second I thought the problem was solved.
First time I connected the adapter after following your instructions it DID detect new hardware and a warning appeared saying the drivers where going to be installed. But as nothing else appeared, I went to look in the Device Manager...and I still got the "unknown device"

I tryed to run the sfc command in the boot prompt, exactly like it was in the instructions. But when I try to run the command (sfc /scannow /offbootdir...) I get a message saying "Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service".

I'm out of ideas. I tryed the adapter in other computers...it's fine.

After a few days I simply HAD to turn the computer off (went out of town). The problem is back again. I tryed to repeat the same steps, but I'm out of luck.
I took my time in MS forums, and it seems this is not new...but they have done nothing to solve it anyway.

Now, since this issue is making my computer unusable (no way to connect to the Internet), I'm seriously considering downgrading to XP.

Hi there,

this may come way too late (last post is more than 2 years ago), but I just had the same problem and would like to leave a link to the solution by gman7103 that worked for me:

Making SMCWUSBT-G wireless adapter work with Windows 7

Greetings!