Missing wireless adapter driver

[winta]

Hi all! I'm new to this website and in need of some serious help. My wifi adapter, all of a sudden, stopped working. My brother was messing with the computer and assumed he installed the wrong driver but we found it to be correct so i've been using an ethernet this whole time. I looked under network adapters today and couldn't find the adapter anymore. I did notice, however, under other there was "network controller" I figured that was it and tried installing the drivers manually (after downloading from tp link website) but then I get cyclic redundancy check errors. I tried running chkdsk and when I did, it would close quickly but I did notice it said "error detected in index $i30 for file 59713" What do I do? I'm actually pretty terrible with computers...
By the way;
i'm on windows 7 professional 64 bit
the wireless adapter I have is tl-wdn4800 by tplink.

 

[cyclops]

Remove/delete the device in Device Manager, make sure your ethernet is connected. Right click on Network Adapters and left click Scan For Hardware Changes. Sit back, watch the blinking lights, sip a beer and follow the promts. See screen shot in the attached file

 

[winta]

Hey thanks for the reply. Honestly, I don't think the adapter is even showing up on here. My brother removed it earlier carefully..as to not ruin anything.. and no adapter/devices went away.
I did notice that "network controller" was still there even though it wasn't there before so I thought that was it. I uninstalled/removed it and when I followed what you said I got this

 

[cyclops]

give me the make and model for the wireless adapter, I'll find a driver and probaly need to set up a download link to my Google Drive for you to download from

 

[winta]

Here. I took a picture of the wireless adapter

 

[cyclops]

Download for TL-WDN4800 V1 - Welcome to TP-LINK
Follow that link to the driver download

Download for TL-WDN4800 V1 - Welcome to TP-LINK
follow that link to the User Guide

Download for TL-WDN4800 V1 - Welcome to TP-LINK
Follow that link to the Quick Install Guide

Please keep in touch as to how you are making out with it. Good picture!

 

[winta]

Okay so I downloaded the driver from the link you provided. I tried seeing if it would appear in my device manager but nothing.

One thing, though. I've tried installing/downloading the drivers earlier and even downloaded the utility to help. This is what I get.

Maybe the adapter itself is not working? It confuses me a bit

 

[cyclops]

Is there a slight chance that the card is plugged into the wrong type of slot or not compatible with the mother board? What is the make and model of the mother board?

 

[winta]

I wouldn't think so because it has worked before. I had wiped my computer clean and reinstalled Windows. It worked for for a while then just kind of stopped. I've been using my ethernet for about a month but only today did I notice the actual driver is gone. I'll find out what the motherboard is

 

[GokAy]

Does that Network Controller vanish if you remove the card? Try it on another PC.
And also download and make bootable Linux Mint MATE DVD/USB. Boot with it (no installation needed) and see if it works.