Windows 7 Win7 Can't Find Wireless Network

[Cheemag]

[Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP-1]
[Duronic USB-2 Wireless 802.11N Adaptor]

Have installed dongle and drivers according to Realtek instructions.

Everything appears to be in place and working, but Windows can't find a wireless network whose wireless router is less than a metre away and working well with a laptop downstairs.

Realtek wireless LAN icon in system tray - Available Networks tab - Searching, but nothing is found. Dongle's LED is flashing slowly.

Control Panel - Manually connect to a wireless network - 'An unexpected error occurred. Not helpful.

Windows diagnostics suggests driver problem - searches and finds driver - informs me the installed driver is up-to-date.

The dongle connects easily when installed on an XP 32-bit machine.

Wired network connection works perfectly.

Regards,

Jim.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're facing some issues with your Duronic USB-2 Wireless 802.11N Adapter on a Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP-1 system. Let's troubleshoot this step by step:

Troubleshooting Steps for Wireless Adapter Issue:​

1. Check Device Manager:
   • Open Device Manager (you can search for it in the Start menu).
   • Look for any exclamation marks or warning symbols next to the wireless adapter. If you find any, it indicates a problem with the driver.
   []Update Drivers:
   • Since you mentioned that Windows diagnostics suggest a driver problem, let's try updating the driver:
     • Right-click on the wireless adapter in Device Manager.
     • Select "Update Driver Software" and choose to search automatically for updated driver software.
   []Use Compatibility Mode:
   • If the drivers are updated and you're still facing issues, try installing the drivers in compatibility mode:
     • Right-click on the driver setup file.
     • Select properties and navigate to the Compatibility tab.
     • Check the box that says "Run this program in compatibility mode for" and select Windows XP (since it worked on an XP machine).
   []Reset TCP/IP Stack:
   • Sometimes resetting the TCP/IP stack can resolve network-related issues:
     • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
     • Type the following commands one by one:

        netsh int ip reset netsh winsock reset

   []Check Wireless Adapter Settings:
   • Make sure that the wireless adapter settings are optimized for performance:
     • Right-click on the wireless network icon in the system tray.
     • Select "Open Network and Sharing Center".
     • Click on "Change adapter settings" and right-click on the wireless adapter to check its properties.
   []Test in Safe Mode:
   • Boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking and check if the wireless connection works in that mode. This can help identify if any third-party software is causing conflicts.
   []Additional Troubleshooting:
   • Re-seat the USB adapter in a different USB port.
   • Check for any Windows Updates that might address compatibility issues.

     Summary:​

     Try these steps sequentially to troubleshoot the wireless connection issue on your Windows 7 machine. If the issue persists, consider reaching out to Duronic support for further assistance or testing the dongle on another Windows 7 system to see if the issue is specific to your setup.