Realtek WLAN USB 2.0 dongle - how to use one from a Windows 10 PC?  

I have a WiFi USB dongle. I plugged it into my 64-bit Windows 10 laptop and drivers installed fine.

I plugged the same dongle into a 64-bit Windows 7 desktop (which is what I needed it for) and it did not install any drivers (the desktop was connected to internet via LAN).

The dongle shows up in the device manager, but with an error. When I try to update the driver, it can't find a driver. The device doesn't show up under network adapters (which it should if working properly), and from 'Devices and Printers' it shows as unknown. I need to install the driver for this device.

I tried backing up the driver from the Windows 10 laptop using Double Driver, and tried to restore it to the Windows 7 PC via Double Driver. It does 'install', but it just states that no relevant hardware is found.

I also tried updating the driver by manually searching for the driver from my PC and selecting the backup folder (no relevant drivers found), and by 'I have the disk' and navigating to the backup file and selecting the setup (INF) file (still no relevant drivers found).

The device description from my Windows 10 laptop is as follows:
Realtek RTL8188EU Wireless LAN 802.11n USB 2.0 Network Adapter

The driver is 'provided by' Realtek Semiconductor Corp. and is version 1030.6.1201.2015.

Can I edit the setup file so that Windows 7 makes the connection?

Not sure it's helpful, but here is part of the setup file anyway:

Code:

;;----------------------------------------------------------------------------
;; Realtek 8188eu default installation
;;----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[RTL8188eu.ndi.NT]
AddReg            = NDIS_64.reg, UsbCommon.reg, RTLWLAN.reg, Ndis6UsbRxAgg.reg, RtlSsOnn.reg, 11nWirelessMode.reg, TxByTimerOnn.reg, Ndis6Set.reg , WifiConfig.reg
Include             = netvwifibus.inf
Needs            = VWiFiBus.CopyFiles
Characteristics        = 0x84
BusType            = 15
CopyFiles        = RTWlanU.CopyFiles
*IfType            = 71            ; IF_TYPE_IEEE80211
*MediaType        = 16            ; NdisMediumNative802_11
*PhysicalMediaType    = 9          ; NdisPhysicalMediumNative802_11

[RTL8188eu.ndi.NT.Services]
AddService        = RtlWlanu, 2, RtlWlanu.Service, RtlWlanu.EventLog
Include         = netvwifibus.inf
Needs             = VWiFiBus.Services

[RTL8188eu.ndi.NT.HW]
Include = netvwifibus.inf
Needs     = VWiFiBus.PnPFilterRegistration.HW

I would include device properties about the device from Windows 7, but I don't have access to that PC at the moment. If anyone knows what properties or other info would be helpful let me know and I'll find it out.

Maybe I can install the driver manually from the command line and/or some other manual editing?

Or I could try downloading the driver from a driver site? I try to avoid such websites but can they be useful? Websites like driverscape and station-drivers seem to provide direct downloads of ZIP files.

If anyone can find the driver from the Realtek website, amazing, because I have had no luck. The only download for anything '8188' related is RTL8188SU (Software), which turns up no accessible results (Realtek)

Thanks for reading my post, any help is appreciated.

Thanks for the reply!

I did come across that download, however as I mentioned I'm suspicious of driver download sites. They often try to install other carp, though that site does supply a direct zip download, so it seems innocent enough.

It probably will solve the problem when I get the chance to apply it.

That said, can Windows 10 drivers definitely not be used in Windows 7? I imagine compatibility issues could be present, but as far as my limited knowledge knows, Windows 10 architecture does is not too different to Windows 7. I installed a number of drivers from my Windows 7 factory install to a clean Windows 10 install without a single problem. I know forwards isn't the same as backwards, but there is still a certain level of compatibility there.

So is there a manual way to manually force drivers to install for a piece of hardware? Even just to test it? I'm pretty curious to know.

timtadams said:

Thanks for the reply!

I did come across that download, however as I mentioned I'm suspicious of driver download sites. They often try to install other carp, though that site does supply a direct zip download, so it seems innocent enough.

It probably will solve the problem when I get the chance to apply it.

That said, can Windows 10 drivers definitely not be used in Windows 7? I imagine compatibility issues could be present, but as far as my limited knowledge knows, Windows 10 architecture does is not too different to Windows 7. I installed a number of drivers from my Windows 7 factory install to a clean Windows 10 install without a single problem. I know forwards isn't the same as backwards, but there is still a certain level of compatibility there.

So is there a manual way to manually force drivers to install for a piece of hardware? Even just to test it? I'm pretty curious to know.

not really.. you cannot force a driver because its install script the .inf file is CODED specifically for OS versions and hardware IDs etc

I downloaded that zip archive and took a look myself.. and all I found was the driver file(s) one .sys per folder for OS version and architecture .