WHY do I NEED A WIFI ADAPTER?

[Lewis1987]

Fresh install, windows 7._.

No connections available????

 

[guanyu210379]

Why? You do not need WiFi adapter! You need magic!

 

[Lewis1987]

Why? You do not need WiFi adapter! You need magic!

Serious replies are what I need.

A quick skim over the TAC is advised for the likes of you. Note: you must be 13 or over to post here.

 

[guanyu210379]

Same for you ^o^
If you do not know why you need WiFi adapter

 

[Dunlop0078]

lol. Because you need something to receive your wifi signal, most desktops do not come with that functionality built in so you need an adapter.

 

[guanyu210379]

ehem! enough joking.
Tell us the exact problem you are facing. Yes, all the details.

 

[spdragoo]

Well, you need a connection to the Internet to set up the PC, so that a) it can verify the key is valid, and b) start downloading any driver/app/Windows updates that may be needed.

You don't need a Wi-Fi adapter, as long as your PC is hardwired to the router/modem with an Ethernet cable. If you don't have it hardwired in, & somehow it is physically incapable of being hardwired into the router/modem (i.e. it was mounted into the ceiling of your garage), then you'll need a Wi-Fi adapter to get the Internet connection.

 

[COLGeek]

Fresh install, windows 7._.

No connections available????

This sounds more like a missing driver issue (from the fresh install comment). In Control Panel/Device Manager, are any devices showing a status indicator showing a problem? If so, what are those devices?

Also, what are the specs for this system.

 

[Lewis1987]

Fresh install, windows 7._.

No connections available????

This sounds more like a missing driver issue (from the fresh install comment). In Control Panel/Device Manager, are any devices showing a status indicator showing a problem? If so, what are those devices?

Also, what are the specs for this system.

Yes, there are a few devices which appear to have status indicators, all of which are labelled under ‘Other devices‘ including:


Ethernet Controller
SM Bus Controller
Universal Serial bus Controller

Specs: HP Pro 3515 Series
AMD A6,5400k APU with Radeon
3600 MHz
4GB mem

 

[Lewis1987]

Well, you need a connection to the Internet to set up the PC, so that a) it can verify the key is valid, and b) start downloading any driver/app/Windows updates that may be needed.

You don't need a Wi-Fi adapter, as long as your PC is hardwired to the router/modem with an Ethernet cable. If you don't have it hardwired in, & somehow it is physically incapable of being hardwired into the router/modem (i.e. it was mounted into the ceiling of your garage), then you'll need a Wi-Fi adapter to get the Internet connection.

How would I hardwire it in?

 

[COLGeek]

First, you need to get the drivers installed or connecting your system, via Ethernet cable, to the router isn't going to do anything.

Drivers can be found here: http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/readIndex?sp4ts.oid=5332774

 

[Lewis1987]

First, you need to get the drivers installed or connecting your system, via Ethernet cable, to the router isn't going to do anything.

Drivers can be found here: http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/readIndex?sp4ts.oid=5332774

How, if I cannot access the internet on the relevant PC? USB booting?

 

[COLGeek]

Download them to another system and copy to a USB drive. Heck, you could even download to a smart phone and use it like a USB drive when connected to your PC.

Without drivers, from some source, you are stuck.

 

[Lewis1987]

Download them to another system and copy to a USB drive. Heck, you could even download to a smart phone and use it like a USB drive when connected to your PC.

Without drivers, from some source, you are stuck.

Do I just hit download then move it to the USB folder?

 

[COLGeek]

Download them to another system and copy to a USB drive. Heck, you could even download to a smart phone and use it like a USB drive when connected to your PC.

Without drivers, from some source, you are stuck.

Do I just hit download then move it to the USB folder?

Yes, in general, that is the process.

 

[Lewis1987]

Download them to another system and copy to a USB drive. Heck, you could even download to a smart phone and use it like a USB drive when connected to your PC.

Without drivers, from some source, you are stuck.

Do I just hit download then move it to the USB folder?

Yes, in general, that is the process.

Amazing, much appreciated

 

[Lewis1987]

Download them to another system and copy to a USB drive. Heck, you could even download to a smart phone and use it like a USB drive when connected to your PC.

Without drivers, from some source, you are stuck.

Do I just hit download then move it to the USB folder?

Yes, in general, that is the process.

Nope, not working still. Jumped the gun a bit there.

 

[COLGeek]

You save the files and then install the drivers. Have you attempted to install any of them yet?

 

[Lewis1987]

You save the files and then install the drivers. Have you attempted to install any of them yet?

Yes. I first installed the most recently updated driver via USB, rebooted, nothing. Installed another and this error prevented the setup:

This Device may not be present or could have been ejected/unplugged from the system

 

[COLGeek]

Which driver did you try first?

 

[COLGeek]

You also have to ensure that you get the correct Win 7 drivers (32-bit or 64-bit) to match what you have installed on your system.

 

[Lewis1987]

You also have to ensure that you get the correct Win 7 drivers (32-bit or 64-bit) to match what you have installed on your system.

I installed Ralink 802.11 WLAN v5.0.53.0 16 Jan 2015

Then I installed Qualcom Atheros Bluetooth

I can assure you that I used the correct filters for the downloads

 

[COLGeek]

I would assume your system does NOT have the optional wireless adapter from what you posted earlier and that it only has the built-in (wired) Ethernet connection. From HP's website:


Ethernet (RJ-45): Realtek RTL8171E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (standard)


• Wireless:


•802.11b/g/n PCIe x1 (optional)


•802.11b/g/n mini card (optional)


Source: http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c03544617

 

[Lewis1987]

I would assume your system does NOT have the optional wireless adapter from what you posted earlier and that it only has the built-in (wired) Ethernet connection. From HP's website:


Ethernet (RJ-45): Realtek RTL8171E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (standard)


• Wireless:


•802.11b/g/n PCIe x1 (optional)


•802.11b/g/n mini card (optional)

So I need to buy a network card?
Source: http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c03544617

 

[COLGeek]

You can open up the case to verify whether it has a wireless adapter, or not. If so, and you want one, then yes, you'll have to buy one.

The previous link should allow you to get the manuals for your system. This will help to identify what is actually installed, and help with disassembly/assembly.