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Wireless card not detected on Acer Aspire One 722 running Windows XP

hi,
I've recently installed Windows XP onto an Acer Aspire One 722-0679 MFG Date 2012/03/20 SNID 21202720634

Internet working fine via ethernet cable, and via USB tethering (Samsung S4 mini)

Display and sound all ok.

Just the WIFI not working. The wireless card appears to be undetected, and the Fn F3 option to toggle it's activation appears not to work (no change in LED indicator). Attempt at installing the appropriate wireless driver gives this error:

Qualcomm Atheros 802.11a/b/g/n Wireless Adaptor

The Device may not be present or could have been ejected/unplugged from the system.

Insert or Reinsert Now.

Open in new window


I assume the hardware is fine, it was working with Windows 10 before.

Any tips please?

Thanks!

this is an aside question to Windows XP on Acer Aspire One.
Avatar of ☠ MASQ ☠
☠ MASQ ☠

Acer is not good with operating systems going backward (XP is long dead). See if you can get a USB Wi-Fi card that has XP drivers and use that.

Do you need XP?  You can always run Windows 10 and then run XP as a virtual machine. I do that on this machine I am using.
John, please see the previous thread this supplements
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28948378/Windows-XP-on-Acer-Aspire-One.html
Irrespective of the pros & cons of XP this has become something of a quest :)
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ASKER

MASQ, thanks I've tried those again and still no joy.
So to recap, in Device Manager SMBus and Network Controller are both showing errors still?
Can you find the device PCI IDs? (Properties > Details > Hardware IDs - the longer top line in the Value box starting "PCI\VEN ... " )
if you have  unknown devices in device manager, you can use this procedure to identify them :

1- visit the motherboard manufacturers support site, for downloading drivers
2- use windows update >optional updates to find them

3- Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information.
Now select  "Components" and highlight "Problem Devices".
All hardware devices with a driver problem will be listed here.
Make a note of the first line of the PNP Device ID line of the entry. It will show a Vendor number and a Device number (VENxxxxDEVxxxx) both four digits long.
Look up those numbers here:   http://www.pcidatabase.com/index.php

This will tell you the manufacturer and the chip number.  
Check the manufacturer's website first or google them - or post them here

4- If your LAN is running, you can also use windows update> optional drivers, or  use a  driver update software
MASQ is correct. Get the hardware IDs and start Googling. You need to get the SMBus issue resolved before going after the wireless.

Acer's web page also shows that it could be a Realtek or Broadcom wireless adapter. Are you sure it is a Atheros?
It has a AMD A50M chipset. Try Googling on that. Here is a link for a chipset driver for an Dell Inspirion M4040 (another thing to google): http://www.drivethelife.com/laptop/dell/158742.html
XP was never supported on that laptop
You can run XP in a virtual machine still (Like XP mode)
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ASKER

MASQ, Device Manager is now only showing Network Controller. The id is

PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4727&SUBSYS_E042105B&REV_01\4&14FD2A1D&0&00AB

SMBus is missing.
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nobus, nothing is showing under "Problem Devices"

I'm trying windows update again though.
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Lockdown32, yes it's coming up as Broadcom. Not sure where the Atheros thing comes from, sort of drowning in driver sources here.. ! Will have another look tomorrow.
ok the device should show in device manager for my suggestion to work - as problem device, or other hardware
presumably you need the SM bus drivers first - for it to show

maybe the vga +audio driver helps ? be careful - not official acer site !
 : http://aldrive.blogspot.be/2013/07/driver-acer-aspire-one-722-windows-xp.html
or here :  http://driversforalllaptops.blogspot.be/2014/05/Download-Acer-Aspire-One-722-Drivers-for-Windows-7-8-and-Xp.html
And yet another option (!  :))
http://support1.toshiba-tro.de/tedd-files2/0/intelsct-20140605104326.zip
Unzips a zipped .exe (TC00556500L.exe) - it's clean but you can open it in 7zip if you're worried before transferring an unknown .exe on your netbook.

SM Bus is probably missing because the chipset drive is now installed - try searching Device Manager by expanding System Devices, if you've no errors there then that part of the install at least is fixed. The SMBus Controller will be listed with the other Intel Chipset Family of components.

(It's a holiday in UK today so I probably won't post again for 24hrs)
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Lockdown, thanks was worth a shot but no luck.

nobus, likewise, though i also had a shot at the bios update which actually downgraded from 1.08 to 1.04 (without warning)

MASQ thanks again, tried this and received the following error:

Intel(R) Smart Connect Technology Setup
Platform Check Failed: Intel(R) Smart Connect device not found in BIOS, or it is not enabled

Open in new window


Not fussed about trying anything as I can always wipe the machine again.

cheers
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MASQ, thanks, tried this and got this error:

Setup Error
The operating system is not supported.
The software will not be installed.

Open in new window


It's sounding like there may not be a driver, but I'm learning somethings..
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MASQ, re SMBus, yes thanks this is now showing where you said, under System Devices:

AMD SMBus
PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4385&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_42\3&2411E6FE&0&A0
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As mentioned the wireless device that is not working has ID:

PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4727&SUBSYS_E042105B&REV_01\4&14FD2A1D&0&00AB

I understand I can look up the vendor 14E4 and device 4727 here: http://pcidatabase.com/index.php

What does the rest of the ID mean and could this help determine if there is a solution?
I think you are beating a dead horse at this point. Actually the horse died a long time ago. All the problems you are having with suggested drivers above is because they are for Windows 7. AT this point you should throw in the towel and go back to Windows 7...
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Agree, or plug in a usb wifi adaptor.
Broadcom BCM4313 802.11bgn Wireless Network Adapter
Vista driver or win7 driver should be worth trying.
is the wireless network card turned on? You can install drivers for a device that is not turnned on
"What does the rest of the ID mean and could this help determine if there is a solution?"

The remaining info from "&SUBSYS" describes the variations of model of device DEV from vendor VEN

That's the $64million question, can you find a driver that's a sufficient match for the specific version of the device you have?

If you look at DirectX logs for other AO722's (Running the Win7 they came with) you find the following &SUBSYS entries:
System Manufacturer: Acer
       System Model: AO722
               BIOS: InsydeH2O Version V1.05
          Processor: AMD C-60 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics (2 CPUs), ~1.0GHz
             Memory: 2048MB RAM

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: AMD Radeon HD 6290 Graphics      
       Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
          Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9807)
           DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9807&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_00
     Display Memory: 879 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 250 MB
      Shared Memory: 629 MB
       Current Mode: 1366 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: unknown
         Monitor Id: CMO1113
        Native Mode: 1366 x 768(p) (59.968Hz)
        Output Type: Internal
        Driver Name: 

aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidx

x64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1083 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.861.0.0
        DDI Version: 11
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 5/24/2011 08:06:40, 811008 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: Yes
    WHQL Date Stamp: 
  Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-DB47-11CF-AE77-9225BEC2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x1002
          Device ID: 0x9807
          SubSys ID: 0x05981025
        Revision ID: 0x0000
 Driver Strong Name: oem9.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_Wrestler:8.861.0.0:pci

\ven_1002&dev_9807&subsys_05981025
     Rank Of Driver: 00E60001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C 

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (Conexant High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_506C&SUBSYS_10250598&REV_1000
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: CHDRT64.sys
         Driver Version: 8.54.0008.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 3/24/2011 19:49:24, 1583744 bytes
            Other Files: 
        Driver Provider: Conexant
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Microphone (Conexant High Definition Audio)
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: CHDRT64.sys
         Driver Version: 8.54.0008.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 3/24/2011 19:49:24, 1583744 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x1
           Format Flags: 0xFFFFF

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
      Device Name: Mouse
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Keyboard
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No

-----------
USB Devices
-----------
+ USB Root Hub
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x1002, 0x4397
| Matching Device ID: usb\root_hub
| Service: usbhub

----------------
Gameport Devices
----------------

------------
PS/2 Devices
------------
+ Standard PS/2 Keyboard
| Matching Device ID: *pnp0303
| Service: i8042prt
| 
+ Terminal Server Keyboard Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_kbd
| Upper Filters: kbdclass
| Service: TermDD
| 
+ Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad
| Matching Device ID: *syn1b4e
| Upper Filters: SynTP
| Service: i8042prt
| 
+ Terminal Server Mouse Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_mou
| Upper Filters: mouclass
| Service: TermDD

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C:
File System: NTFS
      Model: WDC WD3200BPVT-22JJ5T0 ATA Device

--------------
System Devices
--------------
     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1704&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&C4
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_43A2&SUBSYS_00001002&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&AA
   Driver: n/a

     Name: ATI I/O Communications Processor SMBus Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4385&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_42\3&2411E6FE&2&A0
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1703&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&C3
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_43A0&SUBSYS_00001002&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&A8
   Driver: n/a

     Name: ATI I/O Communications Processor PCI Bus Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4384&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_40\3&2411E6FE&2&A4
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1702&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&C2
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard ISA bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_439D&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_40\3&2411E6FE&2&A3
   Driver: n/a

     Name: High Definition Audio Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4383&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_40\3&2411E6FE&2&A2
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Atheros AR8152/8158 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.20)
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1969&DEV_2062&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_C1\4&1F5B09F0&0&00AA
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1701&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&C1
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4397&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&98
   Driver: n/a

     Name: High Definition Audio Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_1314&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&09
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
Device ID: PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4727&SUBSYS_E042105B&REV_01\4&9EBC17D&0&00AB
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1700&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_43\3&2411E6FE&2&C0
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4397&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&90
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1719&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&C7
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1510&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&00
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4396&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&9A
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1718&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&C5
   Driver: n/a

     Name: AMD Radeon HD 6290 Graphics      
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9807&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&08
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4396&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&92
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1716&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&C6
   Driver: n/a

     Name: PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_43A3&SUBSYS_00001002&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&AB
   Driver: n/a

     Name: Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial ATA Controller
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4391&SUBSYS_05981025&REV_00\3&2411E6FE&2&88
   Driver: n/a

Open in new window


So both Atheros and Broadcom are listed.  

XP's Device Manager is only reporting an error with the Broadcom device code.

I was looking at a Linux forum for Aspire One's which mentioned this:
"Note: If you experience freezes when turning on the wireless card/connecting to wireless networks, select "Network Boot" as first boot device in the BIOS. (Press F2 during Acer boot screen to access the BIOS options.)" which might be worth pursuing.

In the meantime you're looking for XP drivers for hardware built for 64bit Windows 7.  Given the list above you've done pretty well so far, for the Broadcom you need the closest XP driver match to PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4727&SUBSYS_E042105B&REV_01\4&9EBC17D&0&00AB (i.e. where the driver .inf file contains the longest match beyond "SUBSYS_E042105B&REV_01".

So far the best I can come up with is this

You might also want to look at the Aspire One user's forum I posted at the beginning.
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ASKER

MASQ, yes atheros entry is the ethernet card, the device id matches mine (almost)

Broadcom is the wifi,. But for the win7 installation it's atheros for some reason.

Thanks for the link, but no luck on that.

I tried network boot also. Fn F3 still not working (or the LED not working)

re the Device ID, how much of the ID defines the device uniquely. eg is some of it just factory batch or something like that and can be ignored.

I realise this is probably just a learning exercise at this point.
Atheros is wired card
Broadcom is wireless card
When XP was supported windows update pushed the drivers.
"I realise this is probably just a learning exercise at this point. "

OK with that in mind try this download from Acer's ftp site
ftp://ftp.work.acer-euro.com/netbook/aspire_one_D150/driver/WLAN_Broadcom_4312_T77H030_4.170.75.0_WHQL.zip;type=i

unpack it and edit the .inf file bcmwl5.inf by adding the hardware ID you've got above using Notepad

i.e
User generated image
That should tell XP that the hardware and driver match and allow the driver to install - let's see if some driver is better than none!
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ASKER

Still no joy I'm afraid (i have double-checked I added the line correctly and to the correct section)

Thanks though the hack was worth a shot.
Did you get any errors or just no change in the behavior of the WiFi LED?

Are you still getting an Atheros error?
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No LED and no pop-up error, the setup stated that to complete the installation i should use the "New hardware found" process and so i did this and manually selected the hacked location. The device was still unable to start. I tried uninstalling it and reinstalling again.

As an aside, the android USB tethering also works off WIFI alone, so basically the phone can act as a wifi adaptor which is pretty cool. Only found that googling for an app to do that, but discovered that it's a native feature on android.
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☠ MASQ ☠

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Please post your PCI ID here:
https://catalog.update.microsoft.com
They still offer latest drivers for XP
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MASQ, thanks again. Error this time: "Non 7z archive"
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MASQ, thanks for the hardware tip too. For now though, with a usb plug-in only 6 quid from pc world I have opted for this and it works just fine. I have posted another aside for learning though: https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28949939/Explanation-of-install-files-for-Windows-XP-devices.html
"Non 7z archive" isn't a problem installing the drivers, that's about opening the package you've downloaded.  What compression software are you using?
It might be better to unpack on another machine and transfer the files over.  When you run the downloaded .exe it should unpack as below:
User generated imageand automatically launch the .exe
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ok thanks i will try that...
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MASQ: it's an exe, when i run on another pc it only give me the option to install. How can I just unpack it?
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can you attach a regular zip?
If you have 7zip on the other machine right-click on the .exe and choose "Open archive" from the 7zip sub-menu
That should unpack the files into a folder as shown above.
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I installed 7z on XP and windows 10. On XP gave an error. On Windows 10 no option to open with right click. But then opening it from within the app gave the same error as before "Non 7z archive"

I will try download again in case it's corrupted
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yes sorry was just corrupted download
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WOW, THAT WORKED!
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Thank you MASQ, that seems to have done it. You are officially the genius here.

I will close this q shortly assuming no major issues occur. Can you give a brief explanation of what that archive is and any hack done?

Thanks again
Excellent!  Delighted to be able to help. - Now make copies of all the drivers and upload them for anyone who wants to to downgrade their AO722 to XP - or at the very least keep an archive for yourself :)

It worked because it's very similar to what we were trying earlier - altering the .inf file to accept the hardware ID of the Broadcom card - however that generic driver I pointed you at wasn't specific enough for your actual card.  The DriverPack version was made using a driver (.sys) file that better matched the hardware - this is the PCI ID code bit I talked about here the further along the string you can get the better match the driver and hardware are.

Also a vindication for your original idea that this could be done even though the device was never built for XP.

DriverPack as a group often get overlooked because they package their drivers as .exe's which can get hijacked and have nasties attached but their original products are really useful in situations like this - you just need to remain cautious with anything you install that isn't directly from the manufacturer.
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That's great thank you MASQ.

Yes I will do that - upload a full set of working drivers and provide a link on the original question: https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28948378/Windows-XP-on-Acer-Aspire-One.html
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PS the Fn F3 option now works too, along with the LED (orange when wifi is on, off when off)