Windows 7 Wireless Connections icon gone? Faulty Wi-Fi adapters?

[Zigra]

Hello,
I recently bought a new pc so I thought I'd get the Windows7 Ultimate 64bit edition to go with it.

Problem is my old Realtek WiFi usb dongle (Realtek RTL8187) didn't seem to work and after installing various drivers to get it working and failing I decided to buy a new WiFi usb adapter from TP-Link (TP-Link TL-WN321G).
This new adapter is installed and everything seems fine in the Device Manager but I get nothing after that.
The windows utility that should pop up and let me know of any wireless networks around isn't on the system tray.
I believe the utilities installed by either the Realtek or the TP-Link WiFi cards must be blocking it.

How can I remove them altogether and go back to windows controlling my wireless networks?
And how can I ultimately fix this and get connected finally to my wireless network because
atm I have resorted to connecting this pc to my old one where it shares the internet connection via a LAN cable and it drives me crazy.

I am new to Windows 7 and any help would be greatly appreciated
Thank you!

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're experiencing difficulties with your WiFi adapters on Windows 7. To resolve this issue and allow Windows to manage your wireless networks, you can try the following steps:

How to Remove Third-Party WiFi Utility and Use Windows to Manage Networks​

1. Uninstall Third-Party WiFi Utility:
   • Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features.
   • Look for any utility software related to your old Realtek or new TP-Link adapters and uninstall them.
   []Disable Startup Programs:
   • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
   • Go to the "Startup" tab and disable any entries related to the Realtek or TP-Link utilities.
   []Enable Windows Wireless Service:
   • Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
   • Look for the "WLAN AutoConfig" service.
   • Double-click on it, set the Startup type to "Automatic," and start the service if it's not running.
   []Update Network Adapter Driver:
   • Right-click on the network adapter in Device Manager and select "Update Driver Software" to ensure you have the latest driver.

     Troubleshooting Connectivity Issues​

   []Check Network Settings:
   • Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center.
   • Click on "Change adapter settings" and ensure the WiFi adapter is enabled.
   []Scan for Networks:
   • Right-click on the network icon in the system tray.
   • Select "Open Network and Sharing Center" > "Set up a new connection or network" to scan for available networks.
   []Connect to a Network:
   • Select the SSID of your WiFi network, enter the password if required, and connect to it.

     Additional Tips​

     • Ensure there are no physical obstructions blocking the WiFi signal.
     • Restart your router and modem.
     • Check if other devices can connect to the WiFi network to rule out router issues.
     By following these steps, you should be able to remove the third-party WiFi utilities and allow Windows to manage your wireless networks effectively. If you encounter any further issues, feel free to ask for more assistance!