Linksys wireless-g notebook adapter not installing correctly

i have an dell inspiron 1000 laptop and just aquired the linksys wireless-g notebook adapter. i installed the software with the cd having no problems, then when the on screen instrustions tell me to insert the adapter, it connects and says that it had trouble installing and may not work properly. and what do you know it doesn't work at all! any ideas?!

 

Please post your laptop specs, and also what operating system you use.

 

Intel Celeron Processor - Intel® Celeron® Processor at 2.2 GHz.
Operating System - Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.

 

Try this...plug out the Adapter then uninstall the software by either browsing to it on the Start menu--> Programs OR go to Control Panel--> Add/Remove Programs and uninstall it from there. After uninstalling the software, restart the computer.

When you have logged back on, reconnect the Adapter and with the CD in the disc tray the Operating System (XP Home) should ask you to install the Hardware driver...Install it manually by browsing/pointing to the CD drive and locating the correct .inf driver by the file name you see in the window.

* Edit: If it does not prompt you to install when you reconnect it...right click My Computer and go to Properties. Then Hardware--> Device Manager. Locate the Wireless Adapter in the list under Network Devices. Right click it and select Update Driver Software. Now browse the CD drive manually and install the drivers from it.

Good Luck!

 

I all the way to the last sentence on your instuctions..there is no place that it lets me browse the CD drive manually

 

Is the CD in the drive bay?...you have to browse/point to the CD like you would browse through folders on the HDD. The driver is on the CD!

 

It is in the bay...i clicked on it then clicked next. it searches for a second then says "Cannot continue the hardware update wizard" then in smaller font "the wizrd could not find a better match for you hardwar than the software you currently have installed."

 

That means it already has a driver installed. I guess the uninstall didn't take care of that.

You still can't connect to a Network?

BTW which model adapter do you have?

 

The model # is: WPC54GS ver.2

it is a 2.4 GHz and 802.11g

 

Download the latest driver/firmware from HERE. Save it to your Desktop or something then extract its contents by right clicking it and extract all to the Desktop. Go back into Device Manager and right click the Wireless Network Adapter Card and try to Upgrade the Device Driver again. This time manually browse/point to your Desktop--> WPC54GS Setup Wizard 2.1 folder--> Driver--> NT and you should see the .sys driver file. Select it to install it. You may need to restart the computer and try to connect to your Network again.

 

I browse to the desktop but i do not see the .inf driver file that you are talking about

 

scratch that last post...i just seen your update and looked ant the NT folder but it doesnt drop down. no .sys driver file is shown

 

Right, for you last post. Just click Ok...the OS will find it in there.

And I take it that in your second screenshot the SiS PCI Fast Etehrnet Adapter is something else and not related to your Linksys Wireless Card. Because if you were actually trying to install to that card yor doing it wrong. That card is for the Ethernet port, and not the Wireless Adapter. Under the Network section in Device Manager don't you see the Linksys Wireless WPC54GS Card? That is what you should be updating the Driver on. It should have a yellow exclamation mark infront of it.

 

hmm that could be the problem. when i first plugged the adapter in the system installed it but said that it didn't install correctly and may not work properly. and when i look at the adapter the power light is not on...