How do I make my WiFi driver work?  


  1. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
       #1

    My WiFi driver doesn't work. What should I do?


    Hello everybody.

    I have a problem on the Wifi driver on my computer. Recently, I've uninstalled some programs from it but by I also uninstalled my ethernet driver by mistake (It was an Atheros driver, but I cannot remember exactly which version). As a result, I can't connect to the Internet from that computer. I searched the lastest Atheros driver I could find (Atheros AR9285 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter) and installed it and enabled it through the device manager, but nothing changed. Also, it made appear a program to analyse the problem and I ran the troubleshooting test and the result (or problem that the driver has) are listed on the image I uploaded along with this message but I don't really comprehend what listed on the result because I have no clue what it is and also the language barrier doesn't help either (since my computer is in spanish).
    I don't really understand what is the problem. Wasn't the driver recognized? Or it needs some sort of manual activation?
    Also, there's another internet driver installed on the computer named Realtek PCIe Family Controller, but I have no idea what is its purpose or if it has something to do with to problem
    By the way, I have a Windows 7 Home premium 32-bits.
    Sorry for my bad english.
    Last edited by BlueCheese; 31 Aug 2012 at 18:50.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,167
    Windows 7 Pro with SP1 32bit
       #2

    Welcome to the Seven Forums. Please fill up your System Specs properly for more meaningful help.

    It is not clear from your post whether you need an Ethernet Driver of Wi-Fi Driver or both. If you need an Ethernet Driver then download Realtek_Install_Win7_7045_05192011 from Download Realtek_Install_Win7_7045_05192011 - GEGEREKA! LIVE downloads and install it.

    I am not saying that it shall work in all cases but it would in most situations. I suggest that you uninstall/disable the existing Ethernet Drivers before installing this one.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    The problem comes from the ethernet driver (the Atheros driver) since I uninstalled the one that came in default with the computer and I installed another version (Atheros AR9285 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter) but it didn't work.
    I uninstalled all the Wifi/ethernet drivers I had and installed the one you recommended me, but instead it re enabled those I uninstalled previously so I decided to eliminate that driver too. In fact, every time I installed a new driver I wouldn't change anything so I uninstalled them all. Now, I don't have any Wifi/ethernet driver in that computer.
    I would like to install new Wifi/ethernet drivers, but I don't really know which drivers install or if I would be better to stick with those that came with the computer.
    Also, I'm trying to fill the specs but it's a little bit confusing.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,167
    Windows 7 Pro with SP1 32bit
       #4

    Please learn from the tutorial at System Info - See Your System Specs on how to fill the System Specs.

    It is best to continue using the driver that came originally with the machine if you can locate it. Otherwise try the driver that I have suggested. In case it does not work then you can uninstall it and look for one that works.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks for the program to fill the specs.

    Also, I realized that the internet drivers that where indicated in the Systeminfo were marked as false. Has that information something to do with the fact that I can't to internet?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,167
    Windows 7 Pro with SP1 32bit
       #6

    It would appear that you are using incorrect drivers and that is why the Internet connection does not work. You should uninstall them and install the correct driver(s).

    I am almost certain that Realtek Drivers (Download Realtek RTL81xx LAN Driver 7.009 for Win7 Driver for Windows 7 / Windows 7 x64 - Softpedia and Realtek RTL8187L Wireless Driver 1.316 for Windows 7 - TechSpot Drivers) for Ethernet and Wi-Fi shall work.


    BlueCheese said:
    Thanks for the program to fill the specs.

    Also, I realized that the internet drivers that where indicated in the Systeminfo were marked as false. Has that information something to do with the fact that I can't to internet?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I installed the Realtek RTL8187L Wireless Driver 1.316 but not the second one because I don't how to do it.
    But what really bothers me is that each time I install a new driver (and the last one wasn´t a exception) they don't appear and instead these two drivers (Atheros AR9285 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter and Realtek PCIe Family Controller) appear out of nowhere. The problem is that the Atheros driver was one of the no funtionnal drivers I installed before and uninstalled and the other came with the computer, which I also uninstalled, so I don't know from where they come.
    I think those two drivers are making some kind of problem for the ones I try to install and I don't know how to remove them properly and
    definitely from the computer.

    Also, each time I install and uninstall a driver, another "driver" (it appears as a driver in the device managent and in the control panel) appears called Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport adapter #x. Each time I install and uninstall a driver, it changes of number. Its now by 8
    . I'm not really sure if it has something to do, but I found it strange.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,243
    win 7 ultimate32bit, Win8.1pro wmc 32bit
       #8

    Hi BlueCheese, When installing drivers for a laptop it is always recommended to get them from the laptop manufacturer as they "tweak" the drivers to suit the needs of their motherboards Software & Driver Downloads Compaq Presario CQ56-106EA Notebook PC - HP technical support (United Kingdom - English) You have a choice of 7 network adaptors for your particular model of laptop It's a case of finding which one you have :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    NOTE: I need to post about my problem, since I found same difficulties. Instead of doing another post, I'm to edit this one adding more information. The old post is between lines.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I already searched in the manufacturer's page and I gave up there, but I didn't searched in other languages (only spanish), so I'll give it a try.
    Anyway, I'm almost sure that I already found some of those drivers in other pages and I tried to install them, but they didn't work (or at least I couldn't make them work ). What I mostly fear is that they're not going to work, not because they would be incompatible, but because I've been having this issue repeatedly, which I already stated in my last post, but I quote here:

    BlueCheese said:
    But what really bothers me is that each time I install a new driver (and the last one wasn´t a exception) they don't appear and instead these two drivers (Atheros AR9285 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter and Realtek PCIe Family Controller) appear out of nowhere. The problem is that the Atheros driver was one of the no funtionnal drivers I installed before and uninstalled and the other came with the computer, which I also uninstalled, so I don't know from where they come.
    I think those two drivers are making some kind of problem for the ones I try to install and I don't know how to remove them properly and
    definitely from the computer.
    So, what I am searching first is how to get rid of them, because they don't let me resolve the problem.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I managed to uninstall all network drivers permanently from that computer, and I began to see which driver I had to install from the manufacturer's page.
    The Realtek PCIe Family Controller driver worked fine.
    Regrettably, none of the WLAN drivers worked, even some of the installer didn't showed up! And those who were "installed" don't appear in the device manager or control panel.
    I ended up with an Atheros driver once more, which didn't fail as all the others, but it's the same version as the one I installed before. In other words, I went back to square one.
    The only differences this time is that the conexion icon looks different and, the one I fear the most, the connection scheme in the control panel is different (I made a drawing of it with paint to recreate it which is attached with this message).
    I don't know what it means. And I have no clue what to do since everything I tried hasn't succeeded so far.
    What should I do? Should I give up and ask a technician or is there another solution to the problem?
    Last edited by BlueCheese; 04 Sep 2012 at 00:30. Reason: add more information
      My Computer


 

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