Wireless Adapter won't work on windows 7 but will work on windows 10.

woodencan · 06 Nov 2016

Hello. I have an Asus M52 precision Desktop Computer. I have a USB Wireless Adapter called Belkin N300. Here's a photo of the USB Adapter:

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/dc6...ddd99d25d.jpeg

The computer originally came with windows 8 64-bit. However, I didn't like windows 8 so I switched to windows 7 (From scratch not downgrade). I started having problems with the internet and everything. So I decided to switch to windows 10. The adapter worked fine on windows 10 and I could game and everything. However, over the years, I decided to get windows 7 back. I always liked windows 7 if you were wondering why I went back. Anyway, this is the part when I start to have problems again. I install the driver from the CD like always. When in first use, it's fine and works. However when I shut off the computer and turn it back on it just fails. I have to connect even though I put it as connect automatically, and normally I have to trouble shoot it. When I troubleshoot it, this is what I get:

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

Also, When I go to device manager I get this:

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

Strangely, In the past when I had windows 7 before switching to windows 10, I installed the universal serial bus controller and the ethernet controller drivers, but still had network issues. PLEASE HELP. I would appreciate it so much if you could help and give me instructions. This is a very unique problem and a difficult one! THANK YOU.

Barman58 · 06 Nov 2016

First thing to do is go to the Belkin site and check for a specific windows 7 Driver for the hardware dongle - if there is one available download and install the driver - It may be however that there is not such a driver available, if this is the case then you will have to replace the Dongle

As Windows 7 is now no longer supported fully, (security updates only - extended Support phase runs to 2020), some manufacturers are not providing drivers for it and this is likely to increase in future

woodencan · 06 Nov 2016

Barman58

I don't think it's the driver issue. Plus, The CD driver installer was Specifically meant for windows 7. In actuality, the Belkin N300 wireless adapter is actually the replacement of my previous adapter (Netgear N300 WNA3100). What's even stranger is that I have the Netgear WNA3100 on another PC and it works fine. However whenever I use the ASUS M52 precision desktop and use EITHER the Netgear WNA3100 adapter or the Belkin N300 adapter, none of them work when BOTH of them have driver CD's specifically for windows 7. No, I do not have to replace the adapter. The adapter worked for windows 10, but not windows 7 on the ASUS m52 precision desktop. So it's obviously a software issue. I don't think it's the driver issue, I highly doubt that as well. And Yes, I do have a Genuine copy of windows 7.

Barman58 · 06 Nov 2016

Is the driver on the disk the latest available for windows 7? windows often changes in ways that needs new driver software to be written for the hardware to incorporate the updates to windows

If you consider that the install CD is several months old, and often more, when packed with the device, I always check for the latest driver on the manufacturers as Windows is a very fluid Operating system and updates arrive, and have done ever since reliable internet downloads were available .

torchwood · 06 Nov 2016

Well i am merrily using that adapter on my W7 desktop,
BUT its based on a Ralink driver which i swapped in for better performance, and got rid of the Belkin bloatware that came with the disc

Ralink RT2870 driver
USB (RT2870/ RT2770/ RT3X7X/ RT537X/ RT5572) - MediaTek

Roy

woodencan · 06 Nov 2016

Barman58

Well, I guess I haven't thought about that. That "might" be the issue. I'll check on it. But I have another question. What effects the driver to behave so "strange" and not work on a very new desktop on an old operating system? I use the adapter on an older PC and it works. But when I try to use it on a new PC it doesn't work WITH windows 7, the new PC with the adapter works with Windows 10 for some reason. Can you explain this phenomenon, please? Thanks. BTW I just got the latest driver for the Belkin Wireless Adapter. Installation went flawlessly.

woodencan · 08 Nov 2016

Barman58 and Torchwood

Thank you both for helping me out. It turns out that the Belkin adapter worked and that I simply put it in the wrong USB slot. I got a new driver( the latest ) and I think it worked. Thank you both so much for helping me out.