Q. What is a Wireless LAN Adapter?

A. A wireless LAN adapter is a special device that provides communication between a wireless access point and a device: computer, laptop or netbook, tablet PC, smartphone.

Modern portable devices, such as laptops, tablets and smartphones, have this miracle module “on board”, that is, they are already complete and do not require the installation of third-party modules and brackets. Of course, it happens that a laptop or netbook does not have enough power of the internal wireless network adapter to “reach” the access point or uses an outdated B or G standard, the throughput of which is significantly less than or equal to 54 Mbps. Often, such moments upset owners of old equipment. There is only one way out of this situation - purchasing an external wireless network adapter. The USB adapter has good power and uses the modern N standard, which allows you to get speeds within a wireless network of up to 100 Mbps. Of course, the range also becomes larger, which allows you to connect to access points at a distance of up to 100-150 m.

With personal computers the situation is a little more complicated. There are 2 main types of wireless network adapters available for PCs: the most popular is with a USB interface and its older brother is the PCI adapter, which is installed in a special slot on the motherboard.

PCI adapters are older and an order of magnitude cheaper than USB adapters, less convenient, although they are simply not intended for portability, and cause horror in the eyes of beginners or ordinary PC users. Although, it is worth noting that they work stably, quickly, have a good range, and support b\g\n standards. Install once and work happily ever after.

Adapters with a USB interface are more expensive only because of their “friendliness” to all categories of users. Because nowadays everyone knows how and where to “stick” a flash drive. These devices work with all standards: b\g\n. They can have sizes not exceeding the size of the most ordinary flash drive.

So, wireless LAN adapters can be internal or external, have different power and bandwidth, and work with different standards: outdated b/g and currently relevant n.

Wireless Internet access technologies are gaining increasing popularity. However, despite the apparent perfection, quite often you can encounter situations with a lack of connection, although it would seem that the network is configured correctly. In most cases, the problem with a wireless network adapter or access point in Windows 7 or other similar operating systems is associated either with router settings or with incorrectly set access parameters on a computer, laptop or mobile device. Next, we propose to consider the reasons for this phenomenon and several solutions to eliminate problems corresponding to typical situations with the appearance of connection errors.

Wireless adapter or access point problem: Why is there no connection?

Let's start directly with the reasons. Problems that arise can be divided into two types: when there is a connection, but without access to the Internet, and when there is no Internet access at all.

How to correct such situations will be discussed a little later. However, do not forget that the problem with a wireless network adapter or access point (in Windows 10, for example) may be related not so much to the equipment or connection settings, but to the provider. You can find out by looking at the router. If the problem is on the provider's side, the LED light indicated by the Internet icon will not light up. Or maybe, no matter how trivial it sounds, the user simply did not pay the subscription fee on time, or the provider is currently carrying out technical work?

But what to do if the light is on, the provider’s router is pinging, and there is no connection for connected computer terminals or mobile devices? In this case, you can offer several options for action that usually eliminate all sorts of failures and errors in the wireless connection, mostly using software methods rather than physical intervention in the operation of devices.

Wireless adapter or access point problem: how to fix the problem in the simplest way?

Let's start, perhaps, with the most primitive solutions. To get started, just check your Internet access not from your main computer, but, for example, from a mobile device. If there is a connection, then the problem is with the computer. If there is no connection on all devices, try resetting the router by completely disconnecting it from the network for 10-15 seconds and turning it on again (some users advise pausing for one to five minutes). Sometimes it may be necessary to reboot the device from which the connection is supposed to be made (this means desktop computers or laptops, not mobile devices).

Quite often, a problem with a wireless network adapter or access point on a laptop can be resolved by checking that the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on. To do this, laptops use either special switches, assigned buttons, or combinations thereof. It may very well be that the network adapter just needs to be turned on, and after a while the available networks will be identified, and the connection icon for selecting the required network will appear in the system tray.

Checking your router settings

But, suppose that the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on, but there is still no network. Here you will have to enter the router settings by entering the appropriate address indicated on the sign on the back of the router in any Internet browser, and then, using authorization in the form of login and password, check whether Wi-Fi distribution is turned on (usually this is the Wireless section or something something like that, unless the router interface is Russified).

Another option to troubleshoot your wireless adapter or access point is to check whether it is enabled in the appropriate section of your router settings. If this does not help, reset the settings to factory settings directly in the router options (there is usually a special menu for this).

It is also advisable to check a similar service in Windows, using the services.msc command in the Run console to access it. If the service is inactive, you should enable it and set the startup type to automatic.

Changing the connection type

In some cases, even after resetting the settings, the problem with the wireless network adapter or access point does not resolve. In this case, use the router settings again, and in the established channel line, enter the values ​​5, 6 or 11.

You can also try changing the connection type to mixed (b/g/n) in the wireless connection section.

Driver Questions

The problem with the wireless network adapter or access point may be due to the fact that the device drivers are outdated or crashed.

Enter the "Task Manager", find the device you are looking for and use the driver update option from the RMB menu or when going to properties on the driver tab. If this does not work, completely remove the Wi-Fi adapter from the system, and then install the drivers again. You should not rely on Windows, since the system, after removing the driver or upon reboot, will still offer to install the most suitable software from its own database, and for some non-standard devices it may not be in the catalog. It is better to use the original driver disk, if available, or install the control software using programs like DriverPack Solution.

Checking TCP/IP protocol settings

Finally, another solution to the question of how to fix the problem of the wireless network adapter or access point is to check the IPv4 protocol settings in the properties of the connection you are using.

All parameters must be set to receive addresses automatically. If this is the case, but the network still does not work, you can use manually set DNS server addresses. As an optimal option, many advise entering free Google combinations, which are sequences of fours and eights (less often, sevens).

Please note that in some cases, when the sixth version of the protocol is also activated along with the fourth version of the protocol, it must be completely disabled (it is quite possible that the provider does not use the DHCP server of the sixth version, and the active IPv6 protocol causes conflicts in the system).

Using utilities to troubleshoot network errors

Some users recommend using various testing programs to troubleshoot connection problems. One of the most interesting (albeit in the English version) is the NetAdapter Repair utility, which is a kind of automated tool for fixing failures, similar to how, for example, the Windows troubleshooting service or the same FixIt utility works.

Simply launch the application, select the required tests from the menu on the left and run testing (Run all selected). You can also use the Advanced Repair alternative to fix identified problems.

What else could it be?

Only the most common problems and the main methods for eliminating them were described above. But sometimes more serious situations can occur. In some cases, you may need to delete an existing connection and create a similar one again.

Many experts call the most severe case the situation when only the Power indicator on the router is lit when it is turned on. This already indicates a problem with the equipment itself.

It also happens that the Wi-Fi indicator does not light up. On some router models, you need to check whether there is a button to turn on the distribution on the rear panel (it is, as it were, recessed into the case). Sometimes you may need to update your router firmware. Perhaps the problem is that the connection cable is broken. To find out, connect the cable directly to your computer or laptop and check the connection. Finally, contact your ISP and find out if and which static IP you can use. If this is provided, register it in the IPv4 settings.

However, in most situations, if the problems are not related to broken routers or do not relate to the provider providing Internet access services, the above methods usually fix the problems. True, it will be impossible to immediately say what exactly caused the failure, so you will have to act, to put it mildly, at random, although you can perform all the actions in the order in which they were described above.

Determine when you can restore the system. Restore your system if you were able to connect to the wireless network just a few days ago and now cannot do so. System Restore will return the settings and files to the date you selected. Changes made to the operating system after this date will be canceled. That is, for example, programs that were installed after the selected date will be deleted. Keep in mind that the system restore process will not affect your personal files.

Run the System Restore utility. To do this, find it in the system; the search process depends on your version of Windows.

• In Windows 10/8.1, click “Start” and enter “recovery” (without quotes) in the search bar. The Recovery window will open in Control Panel. Click "Run System Restore."
• In Windows 7/Vista, click Start and type “recovery” (without quotes) in the search bar. In the list of search results, click on “System Restore”.

Check which programs will be affected when you restore your system. Since the restore will return settings and files to the date you selected, programs installed or uninstalled after that date will be uninstalled or installed accordingly. To check programs, click "Search for affected programs." Please remember that the system restore process will not affect your personal files.

Start the system restore process. After selecting a restore point, confirm in the window that opens that you really intend to restore the system. Windows will restart and restore your settings and files. The system recovery process will take some time. Once this process is complete, the operating system will boot and a message will appear on the screen indicating that the recovery was successful.

Try connecting to a wireless network. If your wireless adapter won't turn on due to driver or software issues, restoring your system to a date when the adapter was still working will resolve the issue. If you still cannot turn on the wireless adapter, take your laptop to a repair shop or replace it.

Wireless connection is gaining momentum every day and becoming more and more popular. Due to its mobility and openness, wifi will soon completely displace its “wired brother”.

But, as with any device, malfunctions, problems and other “misunderstandings” are possible in wireless networks. In this article, we will look at how to fix the wireless network adapter or access point problem that occurs on both Windows 7/8 and Windows 10.

Windows 7 wireless adapter or access point problem

One of the most common problems is “No connection”, i.e. the router is turned on, the network is configured, but there is no connection.

In this case, the wireless adapter problem may occur due to the following reasons:

1. 1. If all the indicators on the router are on, but there is no connection, check whether the network is available on different devices, for example, a phone. If, for example, the problem lies not in the “wifi adapter” itself - the router, but in the laptop (especially if the list of networks available for connection is empty). To resolve the issue, do the following:

• - if they are outdated, then update accordingly;

• - if the update does not help, remove the wifi module in Device Manager, restart the computer and install the driver again;
• - use the “NetAdapter Repair” utility: this program is designed to find and correct errors in the network, is easy to manage and indispensable in solving such problems;
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• - if the above measures did not help, there may be problems at the physical level in the network adapter: try and check the functionality of the network adapter.

1. 2. The network is available, the password has been entered, but there is no connection. This situation is possible when the password is entered incorrectly, but the system does not generate an error and saves the network. In this case, to fix the problem with the wireless network adapter or access point, delete the connection and reconnect by entering the correct security key.
2. 3. One of the most common problems is this. Check your router settings:

In the browser, enter 192.168.1.1: login and password “admin”;

If it is enabled, but the problem remains, write down “Statistical IP address”;

Also, resetting the router settings to factory settings can be a solution to the adapter problem.

1. 4. The network is connected, but the error “No Internet access” appears:

1. 5. Check whether wifi distribution is activated on the router. For example, this is the “Enable wireless connection” item.

The router interface may also indicate “Enable wireless broadcasting,” “Enable router wireless broadcasting,” or “Enable SSID broadcasting.”

How do I fix my wireless adapter or access point problem?

Now let's look at what to do if the network is unavailable and the indicators on the router do not light up.

1. 1. Only one power indicator (“Power”) is lit.

This is the most difficult case. Since this situation clearly indicates physical problems with the router. The only thing you can try is to reset the settings to factory settings or use a different power adapter. If it doesn’t help, then only a service center or return, or repair under warranty will help.

1. 2. The “WiFi” indicator does not light up.

First, check if there is a “WiFi” button on the back panel of the router - it can be recessed into the case (for example, on the “Tp-link TL-MR3220” router). If there is no such button and the indicator is not lit, try updating the router firmware. Download the latest firmware version from the manufacturer’s official website, save a backup copy of the configurations in the router interface (to be on the safe side) and update the firmware according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Otherwise, the problem with your wireless adapter or access point is most likely caused by a physical problem with your router.

1. 3. The “WAN” indicator does not light up.

In the “WAN” connector, the so-called “provider cable” is connected, which provides Internet access. If the indicator does not light up, the following possible causes of the problem:

• - the problem is in the cable: the network cable may be broken, the connectors are crimped incorrectly, or there is another physical malfunction;
• - a problem on the provider’s side or lack of payment for Internet access. The issue is resolved accordingly at the level of technical support of the Internet provider.

Hi all. If you are trying to connect your computer to Wi-Fi using the router that is in your apartment, but nothing works, then now I will try to help you.

What do we usually do? We go to Start - Control Panel, then Network and Internet – Network and Sharing Center - Change adapter settings. There we see an icon Wireless network, with which we connect to Wi-Fi.

Thus, any of you, most likely, have already connected to your Wi-Fi a hundred times, but this was only done on a laptop or phone. And now the question: How can I do the same on a computer? There's no icon there either Wireless connection!

It's actually very simple. By default, computers usually do not have a Wi-Fi module, as well as Bluetooth, so you need to install it yourself.

But naturally, the first option with a USB adapter is much more convenient, since there is no need to disassemble the system unit.

2. The Wi-Fi adapter that we used in this lesson can be connected not only to a computer, but also to a laptop. For example, if the laptop does not have built-in Wi-Fi ( this can only happen on very old laptops), or the wireless network module is broken, then in this case a Wi-Fi adapter connected via USB will be a lifesaver.

Connecting your computer to Wi-Fi is easy and simple. I think you are already convinced of this.

Bye everyone!