Vista 64-bit Wireless adapters

Korioni

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May 24, 2007
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Networking has always made me want to pull my hair out but this one takes the cake so far... I've been looking for a Windows Vista 64-bit compatible wireless adapter for my newly built PC, but can't seem to get a straight answer from anyone. I've tried out 3 different adapters(2 Belkin and 1 D-link), and returned them all because the employees I ask about fail to mention the downloadable drivers are for 32-bit only. I've gone through the D-link 64-bit compatibility list, but for whatever reason, D-link doesn't seem to actually SELL any of the adapters it lists. :evil:

So. I need it from the horse's mouth. From someone who really truly, 100% knows; what adapter(any brand, but D-link prefered) will work on my Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit computer? If you know of one that comes compatible straight out of the box, awesome, even better, but downloadable drivers are certainly fine.

And if you include a link to newegg or a retailer... I just might name my firstborn after you.
 
in the exact same situation here. my Netgear WG111T definetly doesnt work, but the website claims to have 32/64bit drivers for the WG111v2 but im very skeptikal to actually see wether they actually work.

so yeh im £30 down with a usb adapter that doesnt work.

id also appreciate an answer very much 😀
 
For stationary applications, try a wireless bridge. Get it set up once, and thereafter, it's plug & play, driver-free, and OS-independent.

E.g. Buffalo Wireless Ethernet Converter. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162168

They have additional benefits of potentially better hardware (more space), positioning flexibility, support multiple devices, don't need opening up of the PC, etc. Requires an available Ethernet port, which is pretty much a given these days and not nearly as finicky in terms of drivers and configuration as wireless.

(You can also do this with 3rd-party firmware such as DD-WRT on a compatible router, e.g. WRT54GL or Buffalo WHR-G125, running in client bridge mode.)
 
The Belkin G+ F5D7001uk works with the drivers bulit in with Vista 64

See http://www.belkin.com/support/vista/?c=uk

You can pick them up at PC world, always ask the unknowlegable staff there if it will work, as then you can return it if it does not and they cant complain.

So try http://www.ralinktech.com/ for drviers if you have a different one as they have drivers for other OS and they may work with your model
 
yeh but what about Vista 64?

AG-320
802.11a/g Wireless PCI Card
Complies with IEEE 802.11a/b/g
- Wireless security with 64/128/256-bit WEP Encryption and WPA/WPA2
- Software Access Point (AP) support
- Instant wireless network setup and connection with One Touch Intelligent Security Technology (OTIST)
- Supports WMM for higher throughput and QOS
- Supports Window XP 64-Bit Edition
 
yeh but what about Vista 64?

AG-320
802.11a/g Wireless PCI Card
Complies with IEEE 802.11a/b/g
- Wireless security with 64/128/256-bit WEP Encryption and WPA/WPA2
- Software Access Point (AP) support
- Instant wireless network setup and connection with One Touch Intelligent Security Technology (OTIST)
- Supports WMM for higher throughput and QOS
- Supports Window XP 64-Bit Edition


.. needs vista... and on the driver page for that there is no vista driver
 
Thanks for all of the replies.

For anyone curious, or also in need of assistance, I went to PC club and picked up the TRENDnet TEW-423PI Wireless PCI adapter. It's not a particularly powerful piece of equipment but it gets the job done, and for only 25 bucks. The good thing about this adapter is that no outside drivers are needed at all. Vista(including the 64-bit) come with the drivers already and the only thing needed is to install the card into your motherboard and it sets up for you automatically. Even the drivers that come on the CD provided aren't necessary.
 
Thanks for all of the replies.

For anyone curious, or also in need of assistance, I went to PC club and picked up the TRENDnet TEW-423PI Wireless PCI adapter. It's not a particularly powerful piece of equipment but it gets the job done, and for only 25 bucks. The good thing about this adapter is that no outside drivers are needed at all. Vista(including the 64-bit) come with the drivers already and the only thing needed is to install the card into your motherboard and it sets up for you automatically. Even the drivers that come on the CD provided aren't necessary.

There are several different versions of the TEW-423PI, which have different underlying chipset manufactures and versions, therefore have different driver needs. Posting the hardware revision and what indication of that there is on the box might help. Otherwise, it'll still be something of a gamble.

I have one of these sitting on a shelf somewhere... I stopped using it because a wireless bridge served my needs better, and I grew tired of fighting with the wireless drivers/utility of that time.
 
ok heres what someone said they have working under vista x64

Edimax EW-73718USg


but im not sure i may log a query to support, this is the only confirmation i have seen of someone saying it works and i may buy one to see, ill post results if i do
 
Having experienced all the frustrations described here, I currently have a box running WinXP Pro x64 and another box running a dual boot WinXP Pro x64 / Vista Ultimate x64, both using NetGear WG111v2 usb adapters (bought 2 refurbished adapters from TigerDirect for $34 including shipping).
Go to: http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/wg111v2.asp and download Version 3.3.0 and Beta Version 2.0.1 to get 64bit drivers.
After installing the 64bit drivers, you'll experience a problem with your Windows Logon & User Switching... the NetGear program installs rtlgina2.dll in place of the normal msgina.dll. Just go to: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/fix_xp_logon.htm to download and run Doug Knox's fix. After this, the world will be right again.
Also, for anyone having a Linksys WUSB54Gv4, go to:
http://forums.linksys.com/linksys/board/message?board.id=Wireless_Adapters&message.id=2371 and follow mrsmith_007's advice precisely to install 64bit drivers... and thank mrsmith_007 everyday! I did this on another stand alone box runing WinXP Pro x64 using the Linksys WUSBGv4 adapter and it's the machine I'm on right now.
Hope this relieves some frustrations.
 
The Trendnet Wireless N PCI adapter TEW-623PI ver 2 has xp x64 adapters, but you have to go here to get them: http://www.ralinktech.com/ralink/Home/Support/Windows.html. All of the downloads that start PCI (there are three) under Ralink Part Number are for the same file, which is about 34MB. So far the card works fine in XP x64 (the notes say they work for Vista 32/64 as well). This adapter and the matching Trendnet Wireless N Broadband Router are available on Amazon. They're inexpensive and at present carry significant mail in rebates. The router was easy to set up.
 
Note: These are all PCI adapters and are all G, G+ or G+ MIMO, some of them my have support right out of the box, some you might need to pop in the cd and others you might just need to go to the site to get the Vista 32/64-bit drivers, but either way the 32/64-bit drivers exist for all these products. Enjoy :)




The asus WL-138g v2 has Vista 32/64-bit support.

The D-link WDA-2320 which is rangebooster g, DWL-G520 airplus xtreme g h/w versions b1 and later and the WDA-1320 standard g adapters all have Vista 32/64-bit support.

Belkin's F5D7000 standard g also supports Vista 32/64-bit.

For everyone who likes Linksys, they seem to be lagging behind and I can safely assume that it is probably hurting them in the consumer market right now. A lot of their products have Vista 32-bit support but noooooo Vista 64-bit support. Unless you want to try to find some 3rd-party drivers that aren't from Linksys then by all means go ahead but I'm always iffy about those as I assume anyone would be. I did spend about an hour and a half sifting through each and every product and going to the driver lists for that product but hey, I tried.

Netgear's standard g WG311 h/w ver 3 has vista 32/64-bit support.

Hawking Technologies' Hi-Speed Wireless-G PCI Card Revision R has vista 32/64-bit support.

Buffalo Technologies' site is down because they can't sell wi-fi stuff at the moment. Something about they violated the 802.11 standards or something like that and the FCC got all up on them. But I've seen them at Circuit City, I don't know why the can't sell their own crap.


Ok, I tried to hit everyones fav brands, sorry for the Linksys lovers that are running 64-bit. Maybe this will help you guys out :)
 
OK- plz spell it out for me- I don't have time to play tech-wanna-be. :??:

Here's what I own: Dell 490 w/MS Vista Business- 64 bit build Xeon Processor. This would be the computer receiving the PCI card. My son's computer is a Gateway w/MS XP sp2- Intel Pentium 3- this would be the one hosting the wireless router. :pt1cable:

I need to know which PCI card is the best and EASIEST to purchase and install on my computer- and WHERE in the USA to go to buy that- eg:Best Buy, CompUSA, Office Depot, etc. I need to know which router is the best and most compatible with that PCI card. I don't have to time to keep returning stuff to the store that's "supposed" to be compatible, only to find out it isn't or that the computer won't recognize the firmware upgrades, etc. etc. Why can't half these store actually hire knowledgable staff? It's wasting my gas everytime I return something!! :cry:

I work 6x10 graveyards- and frankly all I want to do is install the card and be ready to get on the Internet when I come home from work and then go to bed and get my sleep before I have to go back to work. 😴

Someone please give me a good answer once and for all- otherwise (and I really don't want to do this) I will start drilling holes in the wall of my townhome and I will run a CAT5. :pfff:
 
If you are going to drill holes in your walls to run wire, may I suggest cat 6 as it meets NFPA code and will make for a better install.
Cisco/Linksys just works, better than other brands. Why screw with other makers crap.
 
Contradictory to what has been said I currently have a netgear WG111T :bounce: . I researched performance on the internet and found nothing but good reviews about its performance. I am currently using Vista 64 with a quad core, 4gig DDR ram,i had to download the driver from their site and even thought it sometimes does have an issue with compatibility (as per some error messages), it sometimes does not recover the USB connection when my computer goes from sleep or Hybernate mode to active use, I have had to reset my computer :pt1cable: . However, when I disconnect the usb adapted before going to sleep, and wait to become active before reconnecting the adapter, the device works perfect 😀 . I have reserved my self to dealing with the minor inconvenience of this for the performance, wich is stellar. Considering my computer is in an old building, (100yrs.), with what I guess are several coats of lead paint of the years under the new paint and my terminal has several walls between it and the modem.
 
NETGEAR WG111T is working for 64 bit vista by install the driver software to progam files folder(download V2.1 from NETGEAR.COM) . It will not work if install to program files (x86).

Trendent TEW-424UB is also working with 64 bit vista but must install to driver software to program file (x86) by default ( no way to change) using the disk from the retail box, and let window to manage your wireless network.

Both must search the driver from C: drive and subfolder checked. TEW-424UB is much cooler than WG111T.
 
I have exactly the same problem. After 2 hours on the phone, Lynksys told me they did not make any product with drivers compatible with 64 bit Vista computers. They say a driver is in process, but were unable to say when it would be available.