Is MS Hosted Network Virtual Adapter Driver Specific?

[jazzmac251]

Like, when you install a new wireless adapter, is the new driver supposed to automatically install a new Hosted Network Virtual Adapter too? Perhaps called "Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter #2"? Because my new Netgear USB Wireless AC Adapter is not doing that.

It really seems like the Hosted Network Virtual Driver is tethered to a specific physical adapter. I have an onboard adapter and an aftermarket adapter attached through USB (the Netgear described above). When I disable the onboard adapter, so too goes the Hosted Network Virtual Driver. There's no option to enable it separately either.

My aftermarket Netgear USB adapter says it is Hosted Network ready. Did Netgear just not include a virtual driver? If that's the case, what can be done about this? Nothing, I bet. :\

 

[Ralston18]

Jazz,

I did a bit of research and came across this:

"Getting started with wireless Hosted Networks

In order to use the wireless Hosted Network feature, your wireless adapter must be using drivers certified for Windows 7. If Windows detects a supported adapter, it will automatically add a connection to the Network Connections window, named Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter, such as Figure 1 shows. If multiple supported-adapters exist, Windows will automatically choose the one to use for the wireless Hosted Network."

Source: http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3849841/How-to-Create-Wireless-Hosted-Networks-in-Windows-7.htm

Not really sure how else to address your posting. At this point it is difficult to determine if the issue is with Netgear or Microsoft.

Could be that someone at Netgear took a very broad viewpoint and found something that allowed them to claim "Hosted Network ready". Or, too be generous (i.e., giving them the benefit of the doubt) , perhaps the claim was based on some earlier standard or specification that fell through.

You will probably need to dig into this all a bit deeper. Suggest you search the FAQ's/forums for both Netgear and Microsoft. There may be other specific details that are or are not applicable.

 

[jazzmac251]

Thanks so much for helping me research this.

I came across that too. Ugh, this is really bad. I need this to work!

Do you know if of a way to create an ad hoc network without using the virtual adapter? It seems like MS doesn't let you commit your NIC to that anymore...