Need help with Wireless Internet..

Question

I have a laptop which has Windows Vista Home Premium on it and currently it is not connected to the internet. My PC has Windows XP Home Edition and I'm using a cable model to connect to the internet. I also have a WiFiMAX dongle which can be used to connect the laptop to the internet. The laptop managed to connect to the internet via the dongle before however I reformatted the laptop and now when I scan for the dongle it does not appear in the list of wireless network connections.

and yes, the WiFi switch is on. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Hi there,

Firstly, try the connections into the router, then reboot the router if no success. If no success still, restart your PC. Ensure no software is trying to manage the wireless network i.e. McAfee, if it is, disable that part of it. Ensure the wireless switch on the laptop is off if the dongle is the wireless receiver. If no success, go to start, Run, type in devmgmt.msc and press Enter, unplug the dongle and plug it back in again. In device manager, it may be listed in 'Universal Serial Bus controllers' most likely or 'Network adapters', it's unlikely to be anywhere else, but it may be. You're looking for a device with a yellow triangle (with a black exclamation mark in) next to it. If you see one, right-click on it and click on 'Update Driver'. Choose the top option, click Next, choose the top one again and click on Next. It may find it and install it. If it doesn't, connect the laptop to the internet with a wired connection and try the same again. If no success, look on the internet for the brand and model number, followed by 'driver' on the net on i.e. Google or Yahoo and you may be able to find it there. If no success, let me know, there are still a few things to try. Have you set the router up, the wireless settings before with a wired connection to it from a computer? (The drivers may also be on a CD which came with the dongle, there may be an installer on the CD or when searching for the drivers in device manager, it should pick them up from there). Also, once the drivers are installed, your computer may require a restart for it to work.

Have a great day,

Matthew.

Answer 2

When you reformatted it removed the drivers.  You need to find the install disc that came with that dongle and set it up like new.

Answer 3

Or you can probably find the driver on the company's website.