rtl8187l is enabled but cannot connect

Hi,

I have a laptop with built in Broadcom 802.1g wlan which works absolutely fine. Due to my distance from the wireless router, I purchased a USB Wireless adapter with 9db antenna in hope that I will get good signals. It has rtl8187l chipset.

I have windows 7 x64. When I plugged the adapter, windows searched online and installed the drivers automatically. The adapter is enabled and the properties shows that the device is working fine. But I cannot connect it to available networks. Infact, when I disable my built in wifi adapter, I cannot see any connections to connect with.

So I installed Realtek driver and utility pack for win7. It installs but when I point the cursor to the realtek red bars icon in system tray, it shows the message 'rtl8187 is disconnected'.

I tried everything, even uninstalled the builtin adapter drivers. Then windows installed my Broadcom drivers but it had exact problem, i.e. it was enabled, but I cannot see any available network connections. I was in total loss with no internet so I had to perform system restore and atleast I have internet access and I am back where I started.

I wish if somehow, windows manages to control the connections for my USB wireless adaptor. Or ANY 3rd party utility / software that make my new adapter work!!

Thanks.

After 3 days of continuous research and just after posting the above (original) post, I found the solution.

I just unchecked the firewall from the Adapter properties which in my case was Kaspersky Internet security.

Disabled the built in card, Restarted the computer and there it is, all network connections appeared !!

Now I have unchecked the firewall of my built in adapter and checked the firewall of my USB wifi adapter that I am now using. Enjoying Excellent signals.

Regards.

"I just unchecked the firewall from the Adapter properties which in my case was Kaspersky Internet security."

And just exactly how did you do this? I may be having the same problem