Wireless devices not installing

[benjacobs101]

Hi

I have tried two different wireless N devices with my desktop pc, but neither of them will connect.

The first was a Belkin USB wireless N adapter. I tried two of these and the same thing happened. The device was recognised by the pc and I installed the latest driver. After rebooting the pc the adapter was recognised but it said it wasn't connected to the computer.

Then I got a PCI-e x1 wireless adapter - Asus PCE-N10. This was detected and installed with the latest driver, but again it shows that it isn't connected to the computer.

Both times, the computer detected the device before it was installed.

I am currently using a linksys wireless G usb adapter but it's old and slow.

My PC is a HP s5202uk. Please help! I'm going mad!

 

[TVeblen]

Hello benjacobs101. Welcome to the forum.

Are you removing the old Linksys adapter from Device Manager and/or uninstalling all of it's software and rebooting before you attempt to install the new adapters?

 

[benjacobs101]

No. I didnt want to risk losing connectivity, but Ill give it a go now.

 

[benjacobs101]

I deleted both devices and drivers. Then re-booted and installed the asus utility and driver. Then I shut down, installed the card and then powered up. The card was detected and the driver installed again. But again the utility and the adapter settings windo both say that the card is not connected. I am just re-booting to see if there is any change.

 

[TVeblen]

Where does the system say the card is not connected?
In the Device Manager? On the Taskbar? Or in the Network & Sharing Center?

 

[benjacobs101]

In network connections and the taskbar.

 

[TVeblen]

OK. A little bit of misdirection there. When you said the "card" was not connected that meant (to me) that it was a system/hardware/driver problem.

Yours is a Network Connectivity problem. Have you configured your wireless connection yet?

 

[benjacobs101]

Not yet. I was trying to use the asus utility software, but it wont communicate with the card - it's saying its not there. If it's a software problem, how can I configure it?

 

[TVeblen]

First, please check in the Device Manager and let me know if the wireless card is there, that there are no warning icons over it, and it says "This device is working properly".

Next you will look in the Task Bar and find the Network Icon. This may have a red X on it, or yellow ! . What does it look like?

If you right click on the icon, you should get a list of wireless networks you could connect to (it could be a list of one). What do you see?

 

[benjacobs101]

Card is there, no warnings and working properly. In the task bar the icon is the wireless one with a red x through it. There aren't any wireless networks available in the window. The router is on and working and the pc is about 7 metres away (through the wall).

 

[F5ing]

Is your router transmitting its SSID? Some routers can be set so they don't broadcast it and it can still work wirelessly but can be troublesome, especially for the initial connection.

Then check to ensure the adapter is enabled:

You can right click the adapter name to bring up a context menu with an option to enable it.

 

[gregrocker]

Rightclick on the wireless icon in SysTray to Troubleshoot.

Do you have HP Wireless Manager also running in System Tray. You need to set it to Allow Independent Wireless manager before disabling it, or it will often block the signal or disallow use of just the device without the HP bloatware. Turn off any other wireless software in msconfig>Startup. Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

This brings up whether this is still an HP bloatware preinstall? HP has the worst load of bloatware and useless factory utilties with better version built into Win7. Most tech enthusiasts will not run such a corrupted install but instead Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

The latest HP's have a Minimal Factory Recovery that is very close to a Clean Reinstall however keeps the HP Wireless manager. Again, you need to disable it in the Preferences.

You can also Clean Up Factory Bloatware

 

[F5ing]

Even if you're not ready to do the recommended clean install without all the bloat, I would at least disable any OEM software that tries to manage network connections. Windows handles network connections quite well.

If you find you cannot enable or otherwise manipulate properties of the network adapter via Network Connections it is likely due to OEM software interfering.

 

[benjacobs101]

Im now thinking that is is a Windows issue. I have set up a 2nd router as a repeater. This is working with other computers in my house, but not with my desktop. I have deleted all of the connection software and adapters, so that only the ethernet connection remains, then rebooted the computer. But it won´t connect. It says that an unidentified network is connected and it won´t connect to the internet.

Both routers transmit SSID and both work wirelessly and wired with other computers running Windows 7.

Any ideas?

 

[gregrocker]

Work through all of the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

 

[benjacobs101]

I have the repeater working - the IPv4 was not set to auto detect. However the taskbar icon still has a red X through it. I have internet though. I'm going to try the wireless card again and see if I had the settings wrong.

 

[benjacobs101]

Red X gone now and internet working. Now I want to focus on trying to get this card working as I would like 802.11n rather than b/g. I have checked all the settings and they appear to be normal. It says "Not Connected" rather than "Disconnected" - not sure if that makes a difference?

 

[gregrocker]

In Network and SHaring Center, choose Network Adapters, disable all others than the one you want and Enable it.

If it won't connect to a Network, run it's Troubleshooter.

 

[F5ing]

Can you post some screenshots of the settings you're looking at? Also post a screenshot of ipconfig /all output.

 

[benjacobs101]

Attached screenshots. The IPv4 and IPv6 are both set to auto detect in the properties.

Thanks!