Uninstall or delete all netgear stuffs on your pc ......
Put cd "that comes with adapter" install it again ....up to the point it says "plug the adapter in now" ...
do so ... Restart ..and use it to search for wireless signal..
You should be OK from there ..
(Don't quite understand when you say "use windows to find network...?")
BTW ...This is the best that i have been using ...:
Linksys AE1000 High-Performance Wireless-N Adapter
http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-AE1000-C.../dp/B003B20F5E