Configuring a wireless router adapter and making it work on Win 7
I have a new Windows 7 computer, and an old Belkin G wireless router that works fine.
The USB adapter that goes into the computer to receive the router signal from my old machine doesn't work in Win 7. Same for 2 other brands that I have tried new. I finally found a place that says the Rosewill adapter will work on Win 7, so I have that now.
I installed the drivers for this new adapter, and all appears fine. Then it brings up a window asking me to give it a lot of technical information -- information that I have no idea what it means or where to find it.
I have a router "name" and password for the connection, but none of this other stuff. The instruction manual says things like "enter your SSID in the SSID box" (really helpful). It doesn't have a clue what an SSID is or where I find it. I'm hoping someone here can help.
I've attached a screenshot of the configuration windows, and I just need to know what to enter and where to get it.
AdapterConfigWindow.jpg
The USB adapter that goes into the computer to receive the router signal from my old machine doesn't work in Win 7. Same for 2 other brands that I have tried new. I finally found a place that says the Rosewill adapter will work on Win 7, so I have that now.
I installed the drivers for this new adapter, and all appears fine. Then it brings up a window asking me to give it a lot of technical information -- information that I have no idea what it means or where to find it.
I have a router "name" and password for the connection, but none of this other stuff. The instruction manual says things like "enter your SSID in the SSID box" (really helpful). It doesn't have a clue what an SSID is or where I find it. I'm hoping someone here can help.
I've attached a screenshot of the configuration windows, and I just need to know what to enter and where to get it.
AdapterConfigWindow.jpg
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I'd follow jakob_di on this. Remove any 3rd party connection application you have installed, plug your old belkin adapter in, wait for it to finish installing the drivers, and then use the connection manager that is native to windows 7.
MO
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The router is Belkin, but my original adapter was something else, I installed the drivers for my old adapter, and it simply didn't work. I was unable to find any updated driver for it.
Then I purchased a new Linksys adapter, and spent over an hour on the phone with their tech support, who finally concluded that it was a "version 1" and only their 'version 3" adapter has a driver for Win 7/64bit, and version 3 is not yet available in retail stores.
I returned that and purchased a NetGear adapter, spent almost an hour on the phone with their tech support who finally told me their driver didn't work on 64 bit.
I then searched the internet for one that specifically claimed to work on Win 7/64bit and found a few places where other people with similar problems claimed that this Rosewill one worked for them. So I bought it and that's where I am now ....
I don't exactly understand what you all mean by "Windows integrated" connection. When I attempt internet connection through the Win 7 Network and Sharing Center, I can never see any wireless networks, including others in my area. All I ever get is "no connections are available".
On my old XP, I used to have to run a .bat file to start something called "Wireless Zero Configuration". I tried running that on the new Win 7 machine, but it just told me "the service name is invalid". There is a line in my Rosewill manual that mentions I can choose a configuration utility that uses wireless zero configuration, but as far as I can see, that utility doesn't exist on the CD.
Could WZC have anything to do with why I can't see the connections in Windows?
Then I purchased a new Linksys adapter, and spent over an hour on the phone with their tech support, who finally concluded that it was a "version 1" and only their 'version 3" adapter has a driver for Win 7/64bit, and version 3 is not yet available in retail stores.
I returned that and purchased a NetGear adapter, spent almost an hour on the phone with their tech support who finally told me their driver didn't work on 64 bit.
I then searched the internet for one that specifically claimed to work on Win 7/64bit and found a few places where other people with similar problems claimed that this Rosewill one worked for them. So I bought it and that's where I am now ....
I don't exactly understand what you all mean by "Windows integrated" connection. When I attempt internet connection through the Win 7 Network and Sharing Center, I can never see any wireless networks, including others in my area. All I ever get is "no connections are available".
On my old XP, I used to have to run a .bat file to start something called "Wireless Zero Configuration". I tried running that on the new Win 7 machine, but it just told me "the service name is invalid". There is a line in my Rosewill manual that mentions I can choose a configuration utility that uses wireless zero configuration, but as far as I can see, that utility doesn't exist on the CD.
Could WZC have anything to do with why I can't see the connections in Windows?
You need W7 x64 drivers for your router if it is x64 W7 you have....
ASKER
According to this page,
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Details.aspx?type=Hardware&p=Belkin%20G%20Wireless%20Router&v=Belkin&uid=F5D723-4&pf=3&pi=8&c=Networking&sc=Wireless%20Routers&os=32-bit
the belkin router driver for 64bit Win 7 installs automatically, and I don't see any way to download it manually.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Details.aspx?type=Hardware&p=Belkin%20G%20Wireless%20Router&v=Belkin&uid=F5D723-4&pf=3&pi=8&c=Networking&sc=Wireless%20Routers&os=32-bit
the belkin router driver for 64bit Win 7 installs automatically, and I don't see any way to download it manually.
you don't need a driver for a router, you need one for the adapter
ASKER
That's what I thought, also, jakob_di, but trying to follow any suggestions here.
Does anyone know any more about Wireless Zero Configuration in Win 7?
I know my previous router/adapter needed it on. Don't know if that relates to the router or the adapter. Could WZC be a problem?
Does anyone know any more about Wireless Zero Configuration in Win 7?
I know my previous router/adapter needed it on. Don't know if that relates to the router or the adapter. Could WZC be a problem?
you need either WZC in windows or a third party software.
YOu can check if WZC is enabled by rightclicking my computer, choose manage, then choose applications and services (or similar) and then services. Locate wireless zsero config, right click and start
YOu can check if WZC is enabled by rightclicking my computer, choose manage, then choose applications and services (or similar) and then services. Locate wireless zsero config, right click and start
ASKER
I found the Services list but there is nothing in it called anything like wireless zero configuration.
I did find something called remote access and routing, but when I enabled that, it cut off my ethernet connection as well, so had to put that back. I'm attaching a screenshot of my Services list. Perhaps you can see if there is anything else that looks wrong.
Services.jpg
I did find something called remote access and routing, but when I enabled that, it cut off my ethernet connection as well, so had to put that back. I'm attaching a screenshot of my Services list. Perhaps you can see if there is anything else that looks wrong.
Services.jpg
No such thing as wzc in win7. It's called WLAN Autoconfig in win7 i believe. Make sure it's enabled.
MO
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No, WLAN Autoconfig was not started (it said manual), but I did just set it to automatic, rebooted, and it came up Started after that. However, no joy on the connections, still says "no connections available".
I have not (to my knowledge) installed any third party connection software yet. The adapter CD did give me the option of the window I posted at the start of this thread, but I have not yet tried to use it. Still trying what people are saying about using the native Win7 connection stuff.
I have reinstalled the driver for the Rosewill adapter, automatically found by Win 7 and installed, apparently just fine. I have also tried using the original adapter (brand unknown) that I had on my old XP machine, and Win 7 says the latest driver is installed. Still get "no connections available" with both of them.
I have tried all the links in the Network and Sharing Center, and none of them will show any wireless source, including others in my neighborhood.
I have not (to my knowledge) installed any third party connection software yet. The adapter CD did give me the option of the window I posted at the start of this thread, but I have not yet tried to use it. Still trying what people are saying about using the native Win7 connection stuff.
I have reinstalled the driver for the Rosewill adapter, automatically found by Win 7 and installed, apparently just fine. I have also tried using the original adapter (brand unknown) that I had on my old XP machine, and Win 7 says the latest driver is installed. Still get "no connections available" with both of them.
I have tried all the links in the Network and Sharing Center, and none of them will show any wireless source, including others in my neighborhood.
ASKER
Was it Paul Harvey that used to say, ".... and now the rest of the story ...."
Since my last post here 5 days ago, I have been through every forum and help site I could find, on Win 7, on ASUS computers, on routers and adapters, and yesterday as a last resort, I call the ASUS technical support for help.
After an hour on the phone with their support engineer, who went through a lot of ideas, and verifying on my laptop that the Rosewill adapter did in fact work, he finally also gave up. But he gave me a service number to take the computer back to the retail store and have them work on it.
Today I did that, and after once again doing all the same things, downloading drivers, checking the adapter in other machines, checking each USB port, trying their own adapter in my machine, and finally trying the adapter in another new ASUS of the same model (which worked), they have finally concluded that it is my specific ASUS computer that is the problem.
The good news is that I'm getting a brand new replacement computer, and that the problem is finally solved. The bad news is that I have to once again save all my data and transfer it to my 2nd brand new computer, and go through installing everything all over again.
I really can't thank you all enough for trying to help, and for all the ideas, suggestions, and pointers that you have given. I wish I could award each of you the full 500 points!
Since my last post here 5 days ago, I have been through every forum and help site I could find, on Win 7, on ASUS computers, on routers and adapters, and yesterday as a last resort, I call the ASUS technical support for help.
After an hour on the phone with their support engineer, who went through a lot of ideas, and verifying on my laptop that the Rosewill adapter did in fact work, he finally also gave up. But he gave me a service number to take the computer back to the retail store and have them work on it.
Today I did that, and after once again doing all the same things, downloading drivers, checking the adapter in other machines, checking each USB port, trying their own adapter in my machine, and finally trying the adapter in another new ASUS of the same model (which worked), they have finally concluded that it is my specific ASUS computer that is the problem.
The good news is that I'm getting a brand new replacement computer, and that the problem is finally solved. The bad news is that I have to once again save all my data and transfer it to my 2nd brand new computer, and go through installing everything all over again.
I really can't thank you all enough for trying to help, and for all the ideas, suggestions, and pointers that you have given. I wish I could award each of you the full 500 points!
Sorry you had to go through all those exercises. What a beating! Glad it's working for you now though. Good job.
MO
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MO