Network Controller Device Driver Missing - Can't Install - No WiFi

Mark -

How were you able to install all rounds of Important and Optional Updates if you had no Ethernet or Wireless connection?

Did you plug in the ethernet cable during install which delivers that driver about 70% of the time (wireless about 50%)? If not plug it in now and enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) to see if it loads from the driver Store or Windows Update.

Then if you've actually run all rounds of Updates to completion it will normally deliver the Wifi driver.

You can trace the driver using Hardware Identification.

Other steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to get and keep a perfect install.

gregrocker said:

Mark -

How were you able to install all rounds of Important and Optional Updates if you had no Ethernet or Wireless connection?

Oops, forgot to mention that I use my trusty ol' Apple USB Ethernet Adapter' in such situations as I have a copy of the driver for it on a USB flash drive....

Did you plug in the ethernet cable during install which delivers that driver about 70% of the time (wireless about 50%)? If not plug it in now and enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) to see if it loads from the driver Store or Windows Update.

Then if you've actually run all rounds of Updates to completion it will normally deliver the Wifi driver.

Yes, I had ethernet cable plugged into the adapter as noted above.....unfortunately, even after enabling Windows Update to deliver drivers, it did not....and as noted in my post above, have done all rounds of updates, such that it says no updates....except for some unnecessary optional ones....

You can trace the driver using Hardware Identification.

Yep, did that as noted in post above...that's how I got more info shown and downloaded and installed Intel drivers as noted....

Other steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to get and keep a perfect install.

I did read that in the course of trying to get this working....

Seems like I've been trying all the obvious things, that's part of what's so frustrating about this situation.....



Thank you for all your input!.....

Sorry but it was hard to process at first how thorough you are, it's so rare.

Those Intel ProSet drivers traced by Hardware ID say they apply to the 5150 card but then when you expand the detail for each version it says it's not supported. Intel® Wi-Fi Products — Intel® PROSet Wireless Software driver versions by Operating System

Have you tried Intel® Driver Update Utility?

I wonder if the card the previous owner added came from Dell discussed in Intel 5150 WiFi/WiMax Adapter doesnt work with 7?

It's not a good sign that the Google search results skip from the Intel Downloads page to that 2009 thread. I'd search it every which way.

gregrocker said:

Sorry but it was hard to process at first how thorough you are, it's so rare.

Thanks for the kind words, but I don't deserve the credit, you do!!!...as you helped me with something similar a few months ago...

Those Intel ProSet drivers traced by Hardware ID say they apply to the 5150 card but then when you expand the detail for each version it says it's not supported. Intel® Wi-Fi Products — Intel® PROSet Wireless Software driver versions by Operating System

Oops...thanks for catching this!....

Have you tried Intel® Driver Update Utility?

No, but will try it....

I wonder if the card the previous owner added came from Dell discussed in Intel 5150 WiFi/WiMax Adapter doesnt work with 7?

Will try to find out....but someone else in Japan got it for me...so, will have go through him...may take awhile....but will try....it was working I think when I got it, but it had Japanese install....pretty hard to work with...hence, fresh install in English....

It's not a good sign that the Google search results skip from the Intel Downloads page to that 2009 thread. I'd search it every which way.

Yep...agree......

Will report back tomorrow....

Thanks so much for your help!

Ran the Intel Driver Update Utility......

Not so good results....





As you can see, it looks like I need to reinstall driver for Graphics and Audio (OK, have Sony's driver for them...) and sort out the networking issues....it thinks the Marvell Ethernet Controller is related to WiFi ! and Wireless Display Software is blank.....

Any suggestions??

Thanks!

I've never seen Intel driver detection utility so screwed up.

Can you look on the actual wireless card and see what it's identifiers are to google?

Can you also explain better what aspects of the wireless card are already working and how these vary from actual Wifi. This is pretty unusual.

Are there any drivers still missing in Device Manager besides the wireless and how is it labeled there exactly?

gregrocker said:

I've never seen Intel driver detection utility so screwed up.

Just my luck!..... :)

Can you look on the actual wireless card and see what it's identifiers are to google?

Unfortunately, that's difficult to do on this tiny laptop....tried to take apart a previous VAIO P and ended up with a trip to the Sony Service Center to get repaired...

Can you also explain better what aspects of the wireless card are already working and how these vary from actual Wifi. This is pretty unusual.

Yep, somehow I always end up with the 'pretty unusual' situations....

As I understand it, this is a WiMAX/WiFi card.

The WiMAX function is working OK and the Intel ProSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility program is working OK and shows several available WiMAX networks available in the area.

It is the WiFi functionality that I don't think is working now (and yes, I have the WiFi physical switch on the outside of the casing turned 'On'....)....

Are there any drivers still missing in Device Manager besides the wireless and how is it labeled there exactly?

The only missing driver in Device Manager is 'Network Controller'. That's it....

However, in looking at the list, I see that there is a heading 'Intel Centrino WiMAX Adapters'.
Underneath it is the driver 'Intel WiMAX Link 5150 Function Driver'.

And below that under the heading 'Network Adapters' the driver 'Intel WiMAX Link 5150' is listed.

So, wondering if instead of the Intel WiMAX Link 5150' drivers listed, I should have a different driver that includes WiFi in the name along with WiMAX....ie, something like 'Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5150'....

How about this: Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software — Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software IT Administrator Links

Unzip the file and try browsing into it from missing driver.

If that fails try running it's Setup as Admin.