Acer wireless driver

I just bought a new Acer laptop and scrubbed the hard drive and installed my own Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit software (original CD's). I can't get a wireless connection now. The system recognizes my router signal, but the driver I need for the PCI communications controller wasn't part of the list of drivers I downloaded from Acer.

Acer has been less than no help - basically saying their laptop doesn't support Windows 7 Ultimate (after hours on the phone and numerous e-mail exchanges), but they implied the problem is fixable. I know the controller is an Intel 3B64, but Intel's website indicates the controller has been modified and I need to go back to Acer - Acer just blows me off with the lame explanation that I need to order the recovery disk and use their factory installed software, and basically get over it.

I'm not an IT guru, but not an idiot either. I would think there's a driver that will solve the problem...the trick is just finding it. And I'm too stubborn to just be a victim to this kind of nonsense. Tried all of the standard things - none work. The device manager indicates the controller needs a driver. Is this a problem with a solution?

Also, I would have posted all my computer specs, but the Acer website is down...go figure.

Can anyone help?

Mc, Thanks for the reply

I completely re-formatted my hard drive and did a full install of Windows 7 Ultimate. The driver set I downloaded from Acer indicates it's supposed to support every version of Windows 7, but it isn't working. There are two drivers for wireless networking - an Atheros and a Broadcom driver - tried both and neither solves the problem.

Yes, I can hardwire my laptop to get internet access, and have done both a windows and driver update, no help.

• Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium

Processor

• 
  Intel® Core™ i5-450M Processor
  (3MB Intel® Smart Cache, 2.4GHz)
  or
  Intel® Core™ i3-350M Mobile Processor
  (3MB Intel® Smart Cache, 2.26GHz)

Chipset

• Mobile Intel® HM55 Express

Memory

• Up to 4GB (2GB installed in each of two memory slots) DDR3 1066 SDRAM
  
  User upgradeable up to 8GB (one 4GB memory card in each slot)*
  
  *If upgrading after initial purchase, one or more of the memory cards provided with the system may have to be replaced with optional larger memory cards in order to achieve the maximum capacity.

Storage

• Up to 500GB* SATA hard drive, 5400RPM
  
  Integrated variable-speed Super-Multi drive:
  -Read – 24X CD-ROM, 24X CD-R, 24X CD-RW, 8X DVD-ROM, 8X DVD-R, 8X DVD+R, 6X DVD-ROM DL, 6X DVD-R DL, 6X DVD+R DL, 6X DVD-RW, 6X DVD+RW, 5X DVD-RAM
  -Write – 24X CD-R, 16X CD-RW, 8X DVD-R, 8X DVD+R, 4X DVD-R DL, 4X DVD+R DL, 6X DVD-RW, 8X DVD+RW, 5X DVD-RAM
  
  5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO™ or xD-Picture Card™
  
  *When referring to storage capacity, GB stands for one billion bytes. Some utilities may indicate varying storage capacities. Total user-accessible capacity may vary depending on operating environments.

Video

• Acer® CineCrystal 15.6" (1366 x 768) high-brightness (200 nit) TFT display
  
  16:9 aspect ratio
  
  Up to 16.7 million colors
  
  Integrated Intel® HD Graphics
  
  Acer® Video Conference with integrated Acer® Crystal Eye webcam
  
  MPEG-2 DVD, WMV9/VC-1 (Windows® Media Video 9, VC-1 standard), H.264/AVC decoding
  
  Microsoft® DirectX® 10.0 support
  
  VGA and HDMI™ (High-Definition Multimedia Interface™) with HDCP (high-bandwidth digital-content protection) support ports
  
  Support for simultaneous display on notebook LCD and external monitor

Audio

• Integrated microphone
  
  Two integrated stereo speakers
  
  High-definition audio support
  
  Headphones/speaker/line-out and microphone ports
  
  Microsoft® DirectSound® compatibility

Interface Ports

• DC-in
  RJ-45 LAN
  VGA
  Headphones/speaker/line-out
  Microphone
  HDMI™ (High-Definition Multimedia Interface™) with HDCP (high-bandwidth digital-content protection) support
  Three USB 2.0

Card Slot

• 5-in-1 card reader for optional MultiMediaCard™, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick PRO™ or xD-Picture Card™

Communications

• Acer® InviLink Nplify 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN, Acer® SignalUp technology for enhanced antenna efficiency, WI-FI CERTIFIED™
  
  Gigabit LAN, Wake-on-LAN ready
  
  Acer® Video Conference with integrated Acer® Crystal Eye webcam

Included Software

• Acer® Assist
  Acer® Crystal Eye
  Acer® eRecovery Management
  Acer® Identity Card
  Acer® Registration
  Acer® Updater
  Adobe® Flash® Player
  Adobe® Acrobat® Reader
  CyberLink® PowerDVD™*
  eSobi™
  Google™ Toolbar
  McAfee® Internet Security Suite (trial version)
  Microsoft® Silverlight™
  Microsoft® Office (60-day trial)
  Microsoft® Works
  Norton™ Online Backup
  NTI Media Maker™*
  Skype™
  Windows Live™ Essentials
  
  *OEM, not full-featured, version.

User Interface

• 103-key keyboard, inverted T cursor layout, independent standard numeric keypad, hotkey controls, international language support, 1.8mm minimum key travel
  
  11 function, four cursor, two Microsoft® Windows® keys
  
  Multi-gesture touchpad supporting two-finger scroll, pinch, rotate, flip
  
  Play/pause, stop, previous, next media keys printed on keyboard

Dimensions & Weight

• 15.0" (381.0mm) W x 10.0" (253.0mm) D x 0.9" – 1.3” (25.0mm – 34.0mm) H
  
  5.7 lb. (2.6kg)
  
  Size and weight may vary depending on configuration

Power

• 65-watt AC adapter
  
  Six-cell lithium ion battery: up to 4.0 hours life depending on configuration and usage

Compliance

• ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) 3.0
  Energy Star®
  Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™

Security Features

• User, administrator and hard drive BIOS passwords
  Kensington® lock slot

bwildcat, welcome to the Seven Forums.

This comment from Acer makes no sense,

Acer has been less than no help - basically saying their laptop doesn't support Windows 7 Ultimate

As Window7 is Windows 7 as far as drivers go, sounds like the person you were talking to got their training at the Geek Squad. The only thing that would be different is 32 bit or 64 bit. That said looking here,

Service & Support

and using the Aspire 5741 there is 2 wireless adapter drivers; one for a Broadcom adapter and one for Atheros, both supporting 32 bit and 64 bit.

Edit: You added all of the above while I was typing. Anyway if the "PCI communications controller" showing in Device Manager is the wireless adapter, it should show the DevID in the properties; Right click on it and select Properties, click on the Details tab and from the dropdown select hardware IDs. If it does post back what it shows.

Thanks Stormy13,

The detail indicates it's an Intel Management Engine Interface (8086 which is the Intel ID, and 3B64 which should ID the particular device). Unfortunately, I'm doing this at work and not in front of the laptop in question. I'm Just relying on notes from last evening.

Also, as you might imagine, Acer told me that even though they support Windows 7 Ultimate and the downloaded driver should work, that because I've changed the operating system they won't provide support and the product will be out of warranty.

Out of curiosity I downloaded and had a look at the " Intel iAMT Driver", and from looking at the INF in the Drivers\MEI folder it contains the DevID that you posted. Might want to give that one a try when you get home. Doesn't look like it is the wireless driver, but it may be needed (that and the chipset driver if you didn't install it) in order for the wireless driver to install.

Thanks for the info. I'll try it this evening.