Solved DW 1525 Adapter Device Not Found - Dell Inspiron 570 desktop

[boweasel]

This W7 desktop has been working with an ethernet cable for years, but we just recently changed things around in our house and it's no longer in the room with the modem and router.

'No problem', I tell the wife, 'this is Windows 7, and on this OS even the desktops have built in wireless capability'.

So after not seeing the wireless icon in the notification area, and going to the Network and Sharing Center and seeing no wireless icon, I check Device Manager. No wireless driver. Still no problem - I go to the Dell Drivers and Downloads page and type in my service tag. I then download the only wireless driver they list (Atheros Wireless 1525 WLAN Mini Card Desktops, v.8.0.0.376, A02) onto a USB drive, plug the drive into the Dell and run the executable, expecting a quick and easy resolution.

Wrong. Almost immediately I'm greeted with the DW 1525 Adapter Device Not Found.

Gregrocker once told me that 'Google is your friend'. Well my friend has disappointed me - there's precious little information available on this error.

So I turn to the experts...

 

[d00p98uy]

so, the first thing we ask, what is the model of your desktop?

 

[boweasel]

so, the first thing we ask, what is the model of your desktop?

Uhhh.. as I said in my thread title, it's a Dell Inspiron 570 desktop
Drivers & Downloads | Dell US

 

[derekimo]

Are you sure you have a wifi adapter on that Dell?

Does it list one in the device manager?

According to this,

Dell Inspiron 570 AMD Dual Core Desktop | Dell

It is listed as optional.

 

[d00p98uy]

well, i have one, and only one, driver program that i have ever needed, it's called slimdrivers. You'll have to connect your desktop to the internet first though, so you may need to drag your desktop over to the reach of the ethernet cord. Remember, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Many, including me, have learned that the hard way. so see if your wireless driver shows up and download it with slimdrivers. I wish you luck!
Link >> >> https://www.slimwareutilities.com/slimdrivers.php

 

[d00p98uy]

remember to go to slimdrivers options to stop it from booting up with your computer, or else, it just gets really annoying

 

[derekimo]

well, i have one, and only one, driver program that i have ever needed, it's called slimdrivers. You'll have to connect your desktop to the internet first though, so you may need to drag your desktop over to the reach of the ethernet cord. Remember, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Many, including me, have learned that the hard way. so see if your wireless driver shows up and download it with slimdrivers. I wish you luck!
Link >> >> https://www.slimwareutilities.com/slimdrivers.php

remember to go to slimdrivers options to stop it from booting up with your computer, or else, it just gets really annoying

Why don't we wait and see if there is even a wifi card in there, these programs are not always correct with the drivers they recommend.

 

[boweasel]

Are you sure you have a wifi adapter on that Dell?

Does it list one in the device manager?

According to this,

Dell Inspiron 570 AMD Dual Core Desktop | Dell

It is listed as optional.

I said in my original post that there was no wifi adapter in device mgr. That's what I thought I was downloading. I never knew that wireless was an option on Windows 7 desktops. Especially a well-known brand like Dell. And I see nowhere in your link anything about wreless being an option.

 

[derekimo]

Are you sure you have a wifi adapter on that Dell?

Does it list one in the device manager?

According to this,

Dell Inspiron 570 AMD Dual Core Desktop | Dell

It is listed as optional.

I said in my original post that there was no wifi adapter in device mgr. That's what I thought I was downloading. I never knew that wireless was an option on Windows 7 desktops. Especially a well-known brand like Dell. And I see nowhere in your link anything about wreless being an option.

It clearly says it under "Tech Specs",



The driver you downloaded only works if it has a piece of hardware to interact with.

 

[boweasel]

Why don't we wait and see if there is even a wifi card in there, these programs are not always correct with the drivers they recommend.

So you're saying that if there is no wireless adapter listed in device manager I have to go out and buy one of those USB wireless adapters?

 

[derekimo]

Why don't we wait and see if there is even a wifi card in there, these programs are not always correct with the drivers they recommend.

So you're saying that if there is no wireless adapter listed in device manager I have to go out and buy one of those USB wireless adapters?

Yes, you need to have the actual hardware.

They have internal and external (USB) Wireless adapters.

 

[boweasel]

The driver you downloaded only works if it has a piece of hardware to interact with.

I just never knew that it was optional. And although I can read your latest link, I see that verbiage nowhere in your first link. But I guess it's a moot point - Dell has done it to me again.

 

[derekimo]

It's there, you need to click on the tech specs tab,



Dell Inspiron 570 AMD Dual Core Desktop | Dell

 

[boweasel]

The page you show looks nothing like the page I get when I click on your link

 

[derekimo]

The page you show looks nothing like the page I get when I click on your link

Interesting, what does it look like to you?

Do you see the tech specs tab?

 

[boweasel]

Dell Inspiron 570 AMD Dual Core Desktop | Dell and since this will probably change to text, I get www dot dell dot com/us/p/inspiron-570/pd

 

[derekimo]

That is the same thing I get, my screenshot above is from the "Tech Specs" tab I have circled, do you see the tech specs tab?

 

[boweasel]

This is what I see

 

[derekimo]

So you don't see the tech specs tab if you scroll down?

The only thing I can think of is your screenshot is from XP which is obviously using an older version of IE.

 

[boweasel]

No, nothing pertinent if I scroll down. And yes, this is an old XP Dell Latitude laptop which of course can use nothing newer than IE8.And if I look at the page in Firefox, it does show the tech specs. I had no idea that pages actually displayed differently in older versions of IE.