Solved how to remove USB wifi adaptor?

[Dramx]

A few years ago I installed a USB wifi adapter on my machine, which I though might allow me to move the machine around freely. That turned out not to be an issue. But it worked well, and I kept using it. Now, I am suspecting that the USB wifi adaptor is flaking out, and I would like to return the machine to hardwired internet. How do I do that?


Is it just as simple as hooking up the ethernet cable, and the machine will default to that, or do I have to specifically disable the USB wifi adapter and tell the machine to use the ethernet cable instead of the adapter?

 

[Sven1458]

Unplug the USB adaptor and plug in the cable, your computer will find the new connection

 

[file3456]

What was stated above is all you have to do, but I'm wondering about this:

I am suspecting that the USB wifi adaptor is flaking out...

Define "flacking out." What exactly was going on? It may need the driver reinstalled or a program, driver or service is interfering or even an anti-virus software especially with a new update to the anti-virus software.

Use Revouninstaller to remove the WIFI adapter driver, reboot and reinstall the latest driver.

Edit-


Actually, before you do that try safe mode with networking first.

To get into safe mode with networking, reboot the PC and as the computer bots immediately start hitting the F8 key once a second. Now you'll have the option for different safe modes. Chose the one with networking. Does the WIFI adapter work in this mode? If it does you have a program, driver or service interfering with the WIFI adapter in regular boot mode.

Safe mode is actually invoked right after BIOS loads and just before the OS loads (sometimes very fast). So hitting the key then is all you need. But to make sure you get it you can just press F8 once a second.

 

[Dramx]

Thank you. I was hoping it was as simple as just removing the USB wifi and plugging in the ethernet.

As to "flaking out", what I meant was that the internet connection drops every once in a while. I need to reboot the machine to get it back. I'm reluctant to remove the WIFI adapter driver, reboot and reinstall the latest driver because I'm largely using the machine remotely. If everything works fine with a hard connection, I'll assume the problem is with the wifi module, and can eventually reinstall the latest driver.

 

[Barman58]

No need to even remove the existing Wifi option from the system, Just plug a suitable cable into the Ethernet port of the system and to the router and reboot, (not really needed but often is a better option for first link), you can leave the WIFI running and should either "Flake Out" the other will take over seamlessly, (The both systems actually work all the time, but as the Ethernet is a more reliable connection this is usually the primary).

I have ran duel systems like this for many years and rarely have seen any issues, In fact if I ever have a problem with network or internet access I start with the Router / External modem and the ISP.

 

[Dramx]

Very interesting. Thank you. So it seems that these wifi modules and Ethernet cables get along very well together. More to the point, if the USB wifi module flakes out, the quick fix is just to hook up the Ethernet cable.

 

[Barman58]

Yes they will simply choose the best system available, I always carry a USB wifi dongle in my Laptop bag, when travelling, just incase, on critical mobile systems I have added a wifi dongle to "backstop" the built in systems.

 

[Dramx]

Followup question. I see it posted that these dongles have a lifetime of less than a decade (for some strange reason). If I want to ASSURE a wifi connection, can I just plug two of them in? In the sense that if one craps out, the other will take over? I might assume that if I did that, both would need the same driver?

If so, how do I know which one is actually being used? In my current setup, I don't actually see that USB dongle identified explicitly, though you can see, in "Manage Wireless Networks" and "Wireless Network Connection Properties", which driver is being used to control it.

 

[Barman58]

The device manager will give you a little more information (I think you can access it by right clicking the Start orb, or it's in control Panel)



The above shows a shot of mine [Win10] - if you need to differentiate two wireless dongles you can remove one and check which is still showing, reverse the one plugged in to ID the second device. Depending on the reporting setup of the device it should be possible to ID the working service by a right click on the device entry.

 

[Dramx]

Well, my Device Manager shows, for "Network Adapters" my USB wireless adapter, and the NVIDIA Ethernet adapter. When I right click on those, they simply say that "The device is working properly." It doesn't say that I'm actually using the former, and not using the latter. If I had my Ethernet cable plugged in, in would be nice to know which one is working, and even decide which one I want to be working. It's a little strange that my NVIDIA Ethernet adapter is reported as working properly when, in fact, it isn't even hooked up!

This question is a simple one. There are two pieces of hardware that can provide internet connection. Which one is actually doing it? Now, this would be especially relevant if I have my ethernet cable connected, such that it could really be either one. If I did have that cable connected, how could I choose which one to use?

 

[Barman58]

The system Info tool shows all the possible network devices. unfortunately this includes all the system generates "phantom" connections - but the active network is the one that shows the DHCP information.

On my Windows 10 pro there is a system page Network Status under Network & Internet which states the current active network route - Not sure if this is available but it may be in Windows 7 - try Network / Internet properties

 

[Dramx]

My Win7 System Info shows a "Summary" page, which expands to show "Components" and therein "Network" and "Adapter". That "Adapter" page lists lots of stuff, including my NVIDIA Ethernet, which is listed as "DHCP enabled", and also my USB wifi dongle, which is similarly listed. Not obvious that I'm being told which one is actually currently connected.

 

[Barman58]

Here's a link to a trouble shooting guide to Network interfaces in Windows 7 (and Vista), you can have multiple working adaptors but which do not specify the active one, apart from the active one having a valid DHCP IP address etc - if they have an issue they will show it in Device manager


How to Check Network Interface Card (NIC) Status Using Windows 7 or Vista - dummies

 

[Dramx]

Nope. That doesn't help. That just tells me that the network devices (internal NVIDIA ethernet, and USB wifi in my case) are both functional. As in "Device Status - This device is working normally." It doesn't tell me which one is actually being used for my internet connection which in my case is the USB wifi.

 

[file3456]

First of all, the choice between which network source your computer uses, whether WIFI or Ethernet is more of a metric thing. This setting can be changed in the network adapters. No, you don't have to mess with it and advise you to never mess with it unless you know what you're doing.

To know what network source you're currently using should just be a matter of looking in the task bar, lower right. If you see the WIFI icon you of course are using WIFI as the source of network and Internet traffic. If you just see the Ethernet adapter then of course that's your current source of network access and Internet access.

Do you not see one of these small icons in your task bar? Even Windows 10 shows this. You should only see one at a time.

 

[Dramx]

In the taskbar I do see a "Network" icon, which is vertical bars. That lists the various wireless network channels, and it indicates that one is "connected". So I guess that's telling me I'm using wireless. Thanks. It does not, however, say which piece of wireless hardware is being used. Say, if I happened to have two.

 

[Barman58]

The detailed breakdown on the network in the Control Panel, [ Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections ] does show one device as connected, on my Windows 10, and there was the earlier finding that the active connection in the Device Manager is the only one that shows a DHCP entry which should be enough to separate Ethernet and Wireless, or even two wireless connections.

The reason this works is that the DHCP data is not provided by the local PC but by the remote device (normally a router )

 

[Dramx]

This is helpful, but I'm trying to associate a connection with a piece of hardware. We've moved beyond separating wireless and ethernet. In principle, I could have TWO wifi dongles on my box. How do I select which one I want to use, and how do I know which one is being used?

 

[file3456]

Go into Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections

Now right click in a blank white space and in the context menu shown organize by Connectivity. Now you know and knowing is half the battle...


family guy GI joe - YouTube

 

[Dramx]

I don't see that. Are we talking Win7?

I see "Control Panel/Network" and "Internet".
I can go there and open "Manage Wireless Networks" which shows the networks available, and then to "Adapter Properties"

wherein I see my wifi dongle listed in "Connect using". I have to suppose that that one is the one actually connected. if I had two dongles, maybe I'd be offered a choice here?

Now, that being said, I see no way to choose whether I'm using on-board ethernet or wifi. Maybe since my ethernet cable isn't plugged in, I'm not being offered that choice?

I guess the other half of the battle is the problem.