Driverless (nano) network adapter

[RikkIV]

I can't seem to find a small network adapter/USB dongle that almost instantly works after inserting. Does anyone have any experience with this? Preferably on a Windows 10. I have a couple network adapters but for other purposes and some of them work without a driver but for the on I am asking has to be small.

For example:
- TP-Link Archer T1U
- TP-Link TL-WN725N
- Asus USB-N10 NANO
Quick auto driver install is also fine I just don't want manual driver install procedures.

 

[USAFRet]

Small WiFi adapters almost always give worse performance. There is only so much antenna you can cram into a tiny space.

Driver? If Windows didn't find it initially, there would be some driver from the manufacturer needed.

 

[Paul NZ]

Windows 7 may not have a lot of drivers, but Win10 should / will

I've had 2 adapters and Win10 has installed drivers for them (the TPlink WDN3200 - it's not small tho - but only Win10 anniversary update installed the right drivers)

And one off Ebay. Which worked fine with Win10 as well

You'll probably have more chance of Win10 installing a driver than Win7

 

[RikkIV]

I thought so as well, Windows 10 is pre-installed with alot of drivers which is convenient. I rather want to be sure it will work before buying one even though they are relatively cheap. For example:
- TP-Link Archer T1U
- TP-Link TL-WN725N
- Asus USB-N10 NANO
I wonder if Windows 10 has these drivers auto installed or will get installed immediately after insertions. I am not looking for the best performance. I know performance comes at a price.

 

[Paul NZ]

Even if Win10 installs drivers they're not always the best. Version 1511 of Win10 installed drivers, but 5 ghz didnt work. And the WDN3200 is dual band.

Thats why I had to wait for the AU to come out, before both 2.4 and 5 ghz worked

 

[USAFRet]

I thought so as well, Windows 10 is pre-installed with alot of drivers which is convenient. I rather want to be sure it will work before buying one even though they are relatively cheap. For example:
- TP-Link Archer T1U
- TP-Link TL-WN725N
- Asus USB-N10 NANO
I wonder if Windows 10 has these drivers auto installed or will get installed immediately after insertions. I am not looking for the best performance. I know performance comes at a price.

Without that device being installed when Windows was first installed, the drivers for that do not exist in the system.
Otherwise, upon every install of the OS, the drivers for every single device would be auto installed.
WiFi, scanners, mice, etc, etc, etc.

No. It only installs drivers for those devices it sees during the install.

 

[RikkIV]

I thought so as well, Windows 10 is pre-installed with alot of drivers which is convenient. I rather want to be sure it will work before buying one even though they are relatively cheap. For example:
- TP-Link Archer T1U
- TP-Link TL-WN725N
- Asus USB-N10 NANO
I wonder if Windows 10 has these drivers auto installed or will get installed immediately after insertions. I am not looking for the best performance. I know performance comes at a price.

Without that device being installed when Windows was first installed, the drivers for that do not exist in the system.
Otherwise, upon every install of the OS, the drivers for every single device would be auto installed.
WiFi, scanners, mice, etc, etc, etc.

No. It only installs drivers for those devices it sees during the install.

Interesting I didn't know that. Back to my question... if this is not the case and its a 'new' device for this Windows 10 system. Is it even possible then? For Windows 10 to find the driver after insertion?

 

[USAFRet]

I thought so as well, Windows 10 is pre-installed with alot of drivers which is convenient. I rather want to be sure it will work before buying one even though they are relatively cheap. For example:
- TP-Link Archer T1U
- TP-Link TL-WN725N
- Asus USB-N10 NANO
I wonder if Windows 10 has these drivers auto installed or will get installed immediately after insertions. I am not looking for the best performance. I know performance comes at a price.

Without that device being installed when Windows was first installed, the drivers for that do not exist in the system.
Otherwise, upon every install of the OS, the drivers for every single device would be auto installed.
WiFi, scanners, mice, etc, etc, etc.

No. It only installs drivers for those devices it sees during the install.

Interesting I didn't know that. Back to my question... if this is not the case and its a 'new' device for this Windows 10 system. Is it even possible then? For Windows 10 to find the driver after insertion?

Well, maybe.
Plugging in some new device will either install the driver, or prompt you for the drivers from the manufacturer.
But either way, there will be some user interaction. It won't just do it automagically.

Obviously, Windows does not/cannot install every driver for every possible device on the planet. My desktop has no use for a WiFi adapter, so why should those drivers be installed? Or a 10 year old Dell scanner? Or any other device...

During the OS install, it only tries to install drivers for things it see and knows about.

 

[RikkIV]

I thought so as well, Windows 10 is pre-installed with alot of drivers which is convenient. I rather want to be sure it will work before buying one even though they are relatively cheap. For example:
- TP-Link Archer T1U
- TP-Link TL-WN725N
- Asus USB-N10 NANO
I wonder if Windows 10 has these drivers auto installed or will get installed immediately after insertions. I am not looking for the best performance. I know performance comes at a price.

Without that device being installed when Windows was first installed, the drivers for that do not exist in the system.
Otherwise, upon every install of the OS, the drivers for every single device would be auto installed.
WiFi, scanners, mice, etc, etc, etc.

No. It only installs drivers for those devices it sees during the install.

Interesting I didn't know that. Back to my question... if this is not the case and its a 'new' device for this Windows 10 system. Is it even possible then? For Windows 10 to find the driver after insertion?

Well, maybe.
Plugging in some new device will either install the driver, or prompt you for the drivers from the manufacturer.
But either way, there will be some user interaction. It won't just do it automagically.

Obviously, Windows does not/cannot install every driver for every possible device on the planet. My desktop has no use for a WiFi adapter, so why should those drivers be installed? Or a 10 year old Dell scanner? Or any other device...

During the OS install, it only tries to install drivers for things it see and knows about.

I think I am just gonna try out on and otherwise buy a different one. I don't mind the quick user interaction I just don't want a manual install of the driver by downloading it manually from the manufacturer.