Lenovo G780 replaced harddrive, network adapter drivers fail

n1tr0g3n8 · 13 Nov 2012

I recently bought a new Lenovo G780, as my old HP laptop failed on me. However, the harddrive from my HP was fine, so when I got the new computer I decided to just take the harddrive out of my HP and put it into my new Lenovo. I've got the drivers for everything else to work, except my wireless network adapter refuses to install drivers from any source I can find. The adapter is an Atheros AR9285. I've tried lenovo's online drivers, and have even bought Driver Manager and asked the support staff to find drivers that work for me. They said they found one that worked, but I tried installing it and it said that "This computer is not manufactured by Quanta Computers" and then didn't install it. I have them working on that right now. But seriously, if they don't find a solution, what could the problem be? And how do I get my network adapter working again?

Here is some additional important information:
-The harddrive they gave me came with windows 7 x64 home edition. I am using windows 7 x64 professional.
-The wireless network adapter works if I use the harddrive the computer came with
-I am a chemical engineering college student who needs internet to do his assignments, and this little netgear usb adapter my friend lent me isn't cutting it

Please help me. Let me know if you need any further information

ICIT2LOL · 13 Nov 2012

Hello and welcome nitro Mate one thing I didn't see you mention is the Device Manager in Control Panel have you tried that yet? CP > Device manager > open it up like in pic right click the adaptor > it will ask you to look for updates - it may come back as the correct one or not. See pic first.

If not have a look at this thread Best Atheros AR 9285 Driver? - Tech Support Forum there maybe something in there.

vaidas3 · 13 Nov 2012

First i want to confirm one thing. You moved HDD from HP laptop to Lenovo.. with operating system that was installed on HP? and did not do a clean reinstall or clone OS from lenovo HDD? Was the windows 7 pro OEM from HP laptop or is it retail? You know that you can not transfer OEM license to another PC right?
There is not jus license problem with oem but it is bad to use os that was installed and cofigured for other computer by just moving HDD.. Clean install is recommended.

n1tr0g3n8 · 13 Nov 2012

vaidas3 said:

First i want to confirm one thing. You moved HDD from HP laptop to Lenovo.. with operating system that was installed on HP? and did not do a clean reinstall or clone OS from lenovo HDD? Was the windows 7 pro OEM from HP laptop or is it retail? You know that you can not transfer OEM license to another PC right?
There is not jus license problem with oem but it is bad to use os that was installed and cofigured for other computer by just moving HDD.. Clean install is recommended.

First i want to confirm one thing. You moved HDD from HP laptop to Lenovo.. with operating system that was installed on HP? and did not do a clean reinstall or clone OS from lenovo HDD? -Yes

Was the windows 7 pro OEM from HP laptop or is it retail? -I got it through my school for free, so lets call that retail. The harddrive is also not the original HP harddrive

You know that you can not transfer OEM license to another PC right?
There is not jus license problem with oem but it is bad to use os that was installed and cofigured for other computer by just moving HDD.. Clean install is recommended. -Not sure what OEM means, but it sounds like this is probably the problem. So if I were to do a clean install, what would be the best way to do this without losing data? I have a lot of programs I need for school which I don't exactly have the discs for... I do have my roommate's 1 TB external HD which I could use for this purpose, and can get the operating system disc when I go home for thanksgiving.

To the other person, your suggestion was the first thing I tried, but windows Device Manager doesn't even recognize the device as Atheros. It just calls it "Network Adapter".

Thanks for your help guys, I really appreciate it!

ICIT2LOL · 13 Nov 2012

Hum first up OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer.
1st Say if you bought a retail laptop and it was preloaded then that would be an OEM that the dealer or company used.
2nd If you build a computer yourself or you significantly alter a machine say replace the hard drive and opto drive or add extra RAM then you can buy an OEM for a significantly lower price than retail - that you use for installing on that machine and ONLY that machine as it will be tied to that motherboard forever.
The only exception is if the motherboard you install that OEM on dies then you ask Microsoft very nicely if you can install it on another board / machine - after telling them the circumstances. They are usually very helpful with that. Any more than once though I think you would be pushing your luck:)

He he the other person - I like that LOL!! No when you right click on Network adaptor you should get the adaptors make come up - see my Desk 1 CP pic.

Another thing you could try to find the adaptor is to download either or both of the following free apps - they are invaluable for finding all sorts of things out re your machine. They will even let you know what the OS activation code is and passwords on your machine are etc etc Speccy is also great for seeing how the system is health wise - CPU temps, what hardware there is etc etc

Buy SIW Pro or Download SIW Home Edition << get the free one!! or

Speccy - System Information - Free Download << watch out for any add ons like Google bar ro whatever.

Just a couple of things when you answer a post you just need to click on Quote - it will take you to an answer window with the quote in it this will save you having to type what the quote in the post said.
Lastly I will try and PM you re something I want to let you know.:)

John