Connecting the wireless adapter to a computer. How to connect a regular computer (PC) to a Wi-Fi network? Connecting a Computer to Wi-Fi Using a Motherboard Replacement

In the process of writing various articles on the topic wifi settings in Windows 7, there are many incomprehensible moments and questions with WiFi driver adapter. For example, you write about connecting to a wireless network, but a person does not find Wi-Fi on his computer at all. The same thing happens when you try, if the driver for the Wi-Fi adapter is not installed, then virtual network fail to run. Many simply do not understand what to do next when the information from the article differs from what is happening on the monitor.

Look, there is a laptop, it must definitely have a built-in Wi-Fi adapter. Even take laptops that are already 5 years old or more, not to mention modern models. If you have desktop computer, and you want to connect to the Internet wirelessly, you can do it via USB or PCI adapter. Windows 7 was installed on your laptop or desktop PC. Masters, or you yourself - it doesn’t matter. The main thing is that Windows 7 itself does not install the driver for the Wi-Fi adapter. (I didn’t notice such cases, now Windows 10 already installs automatically). It turns out that if the masters who installed the operating system for you did not install the driver for the Wireless adapter, then Wi-Fi will not work for you. And if the network cable is not connected to the laptop, then the connection status will most likely be like this:

In settings: Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections you probably won't see an adapter "Wireless network connection" , and in the device manager, on the network adapters tab, there will be only one adapter - Network Card. You will not find a wireless adapter there.

All these are signs that correct driver not installed. The solution is very simple, install the driver yourself wireless adapter. Below, I will try to tell in detail, using an example, how to do this.

Windows 7: Self Install Wi-Fi Driver

It doesn't matter if you have a laptop or a desktop PC with an adapter, the necessary driver can be on the disk that comes with the same laptop or adapter. As practice shows, there may not be such a disk with a laptop, but with an adapter, it most likely comes in the kit. With Tp-Link adapters - definitely there. So, you can try to install the driver from this disk. Just insert the disc into your computer drive and follow the instructions. (usually a window prompting you to install software will appear automatically).

We need a driver for the Wireless adapter. Therefore, the most The best way, this one is guided by the word "Wireless", or "WLAN". There may be something like Wireless Network Adapter and the like.

How to download the correct driver for the Wireless adapter from the Internet?

In the case when there is no disk, or you cannot deal with it, then the necessary driver can be downloaded from the Internet. You may not be connected to the Internet, Wi-Fi is not working. Don't forget that you can connect network cable. Both through the router and directly from the provider. Or, you can download the driver on another device (even on smartphone, tablet) and download it to your computer.

I can't show how to do this for all laptop manufacturers (maybe I will write more articles later): Lenovo, HP, Asus, Acer, etc. I will show you in detail using my laptop as an example Asus K56CM. The procedure will be the same for everyone. If you have a PC with a USB / PCI adapter, then you need to download the driver from the official website of the adapter manufacturer.

I advise you to download drivers only from the official websites of manufacturers. Therefore, first of all, we need to go to the website of the manufacturer of our laptop (adapter). In my case, to the Asus website. You can just google. I type "Asus" in the search, and the official site is the first in the list. I think you will immediately understand this when you open the site. And if you know the address of the site, then you can go directly.

Further, through the search on the site, or through the menu, we need to find a page with the model of our laptop. Or, find the section with driver downloads. Typically, this is the "Support" menu item. In my case, with an Asus laptop, I indicate the model in the search on the site Asus K56CM and select it from the search results.

Switch to tab Support - Drivers and Utilities. Select your operating system from the list Windows 7.

I search and open the Wireless tab, and download the driver for my adapter.

We save the file on a computer, preferably on the desktop, so as not to lose it.

It may be that you see several drivers for different adapters (different manufacturers) . As in my case, there is a driver for "Intel" adapters, and "Atheros Wireless Lan Driver and Application". How to find out which adapter is on your laptop? To do this, there is a small program HWVendorDetection. which you can download. Download HWVendorDetection and just run it. The manufacturer of the Wireless LAN adapter will be listed there.

Installing the downloaded driver

And then everything is very simple. If you have a driver in the archive, as in my case, then just open the archive and run setup file. Most likely, this is the setup.exe file. Just follow the installation instructions.

That's all, after installing the driver, it is advisable to restart the laptop, and you can.

Let me remind you that I showed on the example of Asus laptops. Your process may be slightly different. If you can't find required driver, or you can’t install it, then write in the comments, I will try to suggest. And one more thing, if you just want to update the driver to a newer one (reinstall), then I advise you to do everything according to this instruction. The manufacturer's website always has the latest drivers.

Probably, many users are familiar with a device called a “router”. This small installation helps people get a wireless internet connection, which is very beneficial for free space and aesthetically - there are practically no wires. Suppose that you have purchased a router and you have a desire to send a wireless signal not only to mobile devices but also on a stationary personal computer. What to do in this case, how to install Wi-Fi on a computer? If there is a question, then there is an answer to it. Therefore, today we will look at ways wireless connection internet on PC.

Wi-Fi network on PC without cable

As soon as the router is installed, many are immediately puzzled by the question, but how to install Wi-Fi on a computer? Previously, a cable was used to transfer data, but what to do now? Does it make sense to lay a new cable from the router if the router was installed in order to get rid of all the wires?

Of course, the vast majority of indoor devices (tablets, smartphones and other laptops) are able to work with a Wi-Fi network without any tricks, since such gadgets are equipped with a wireless communication module. But if you also have a stationary personal computer, then only two scenarios emerge:

1. We throw a cable from the router to a stationary PC and serve the Internet. Unfortunately, this option not all users like it, because few people like to mess with wires, and not everyone has the opportunity to run the coveted wire to a computer.
2. The second option is to use a Wi-Fi module (adapter), which we are going to talk about today. Using such a device, a stationary device can be connected to a wireless network.

The topic is relevant, because today every second person is faced with a similar problem. After installation and configuration, all mobile gadgets had connections, but the electronic “head of the family” always remained without the Internet. You can try using a special Wi-Fi receiver that connects to your computer using a USB cable. It is about these devices that most words will be said today.

Important! If you have an unnecessary router that you haven't used for a long time, you can try using it as a signal receiver. It will independently receive and transmit data to the device. Best of all, models from the manufacturer ZyXel cope with this task.

Using an adapter, you can distribute the Internet in space. For example, you have cable Internet connected to your PC. You can simply install the adapter on the device and distribute data to all other devices.

Network connection without cable

For standard PCs that do not have built-in modules in their design, there are countless different models on sale. Such devices can be classified into the following two types:

• Internal.
• External.

If we talk about the price, then such a purchase will not hit too hard on your pocket. Of course, you can find models on the market that will cost sky-high money, but buying such equipment does not make any sense.

If you are willing to spend no more than ten dollars, you can pay attention to the following manufacturers:

1. Tenda.
2. TP Link.

These components work without interruption and provide a fairly high-quality connection. Many devices from this area are made in the form of familiar USB flash drives, which are very convenient to use.

How to choose equipment for working with Wi-Fi?

We have already mentioned that there are two types of modules. To install Wi-Fi on a computer, you need to decide on the view.

External adapters

These components use the USB input on the PC to connect. In order to install such a device, you do not need to remove the computer cover, and this is an absolute plus. Outwardly, such models look like the simplest memory carriers. There are small, medium, large, in general - for every taste and color. Some types of gadgets are equipped with antennas for best quality connections.

Important! If you are not very good friends with modern technologies, then it is best to give preference to the external type. Almost any model will suit you.

The “installation” itself is intuitive and looks like this:

1. We insert the device into a free entrance.
2. We are waiting for the end automatic installation drivers.
3. We connect to our network.

How to install Wi-Fi on a stationary computer inside the structure? Let's outline the main nuances.

Internal adapters

Modules of this type for connection use a PCI slot, which is located on the case motherboard devices. It is immediately clear that for the installation you will need to remove the cover of your PC, but even here “installation” will not bring you any special difficulties:

1. Remove the system cover.
2. We insert the gadget into the PCI-input.
3. Reboot the Windows operating system.
4. We are waiting for the drivers to be installed and enjoy the wireless connection.

Important! Be sure to de-energize all electronic devices with whom you will be dealing.

conclusions

Which of these two types is more priority for purchase? In fact, there is practically no difference. The only difference is that in the first case you will take one USB input, and in the second - you have to tinker with the installation for a couple of minutes more. The cost of this equipment is also not particularly different.

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Wireless technologies are becoming more and more part of our daily lives. Until recently, the best way to connect a personal computer  to local network and the Internet was considered a twisted-pair connection, which provides a speed of 100 Mbps (and even higher) and excellent stability. However, progress does not stand still and there are already quite a lot of wireless devices on the market that can provide a fairly fast and reliable connection.

If you already have a wireless router  (aka a router) installed in your home or office that allows you to organize a wireless network, then to connect to it personal computer or smart TV  you will need a wi-fi adapter . It will be a good alternative to a wired connection, which requires labor-intensive cabling work.

There are hundreds of models of wi-fi adapters on the market. How to choose the right model?

WiFi standards

First of all, you need to decide on the supported standards. wireless communication. Modern devices can support the following standards (in order from slowest to fastest): 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n , 802.11ac .

The 802.11n and 802.11ac standards are the most modern and fastest. At the same time, the 802.11n standard was adopted in 2009 and this moment most of the time wireless devices supports him. The 802.11ac standard was adopted in 2014. Devices that support this standard are produced less and are usually more expensive. The rest of the standards are considered obsolete, but all modern devices they are also supported for compatibility.

Below is a summary table that reflects the main differences between different standards.

Wireless connection speed

Speed wireless connection depends on the supported standard, as well as on the number of transceiver antennas. In the 802.11n standard, the maximum data transfer rate with one antenna is 150 Mbps, in the 802.11ac standard it is 433 Mbps.

It should be noted that the theoretical data transfer rate in all standards differs significantly from the real one. Firstly, wifi devices half of the time is spent transmitting data and the other half - receiving. Therefore, the theoretical speed must be immediately divided by 2 (which is reflected in the table). Secondly, along with useful information quite a lot of service traffic is transmitted, including the one necessary to ensure  noise immunity.

That is why, even under ideal conditions, the data transfer rate from one device to another will be 2-3 times lower than the theoretical one (the one indicated on the box), depending on the class of the device. Budget models, as a rule, show noticeably more modest results than top-end adapters. In the presence of interference in the form of walls or household appliances, the speed may drop several times more.

Frequency range

Wireless devices can currently operate in two frequency bands - 2.4 and 5 GHz.

Number of antennas

The 802.11n and 802.11ac wireless communication standards provide for the possibility of using multiple antennas (MIMO, from the English Multiple Input Multiple Output), which increases the connection speed by a factor of two. The 802.11n standard allows up to 4 antennas, 802.11ac - up to eight.

To achieve maximum speeds and a stable connection, it is advisable to choose wireless equipment with multiple antennas. As a rule, adapters and routers with multiple antennas are more expensive.

Supported OS and other hardware

Manufacturers of wi-fi adapters usually release drivers for their devices for most operating systems. However, older versions of operating systems (such as Windows XP) may not be supported. There may also be issues with device support on newer operating systems.

Therefore, when choosing an adapter, be sure to pay attention to the list of supported operating systems.

If you are purchasing an adapter to connect to a TV network , it will not be superfluous to familiarize yourself with the list of supported adapters on the manufacturer's website (if available).

Conditional price ranges wi-fi adapters (note that the pricing policy of manufacturers can vary greatly):

adapters costing up to 1200 rubles. As a rule, this inexpensive adapters 802.11n standard, having either an internal antenna or 1-2 external antennas. Declared data transfer rates are from 150 to 300 Mbps. Provide acceptable communication quality at an affordable price.

adapters costing from 1200 to 2500 rubles. These are 802.11ac adapters with 1 - 2 internal or external antennas (depending on connection type). They provide theoretical data transfer rates from 300 to 867 Mbps (in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, respectively), significantly outperforming cheap models.

adapters costing over 2500 rubles  support speeds up to 1300 Mbps and higher, have 2-3 external or internal antennas. Provide maximum speeds at the maximum price.

I hope this guide will help you understand the nuances of wireless technologies and consciously approach the choice of wireless devices.

At present, it is difficult to find a high-tech gadget, in particular a smartphone, laptop, etc., without support WiFi technologies . It is comfortable, practical and has managed to prove itself well. However, despite its increasing prevalence, Wi-Fi network support has not yet become a default option in desktop PCs: quite a few computers are sold without it, not to mention the "older" models. However install wifi on computer very simple, and there are several ways at once:

- Purchasing a new motherboard with built-in Wi-Fi;
- installing a PCI Wi-Fi card;
- USB connection WiFi adapter.

Do you need Wi-Fi on a desktop computer?

Before installing a WI-Fi module on a computer, you need to decide whether we need it at all?

Let's say your PC is connected to the Internet via Ethernet cable. Unless some sort of reshuffling is planned for the foreseeable future, which may entail the need to move the computer and cause problems with the cable, then the rationale for switching to a Wi-Fi connection looks very doubtful. Still, so far familiar to everyone cable provides a more stable and faster connection. Not least because of the lower exposure to various interferences. Therefore, it is still too early to categorically refuse an Ethernet cable, even if it looks like a kind of archaic. In addition, such a connection can be useful if you want to turn your desktop PC or laptop into a wireless access point.

The procedure is quite simple. The main thing is that the computer has a Wi-Fi module, and, of course, it is connected to the Internet via an Ethernet cable. It remains only to set up a wireless access point. Sometimes built-in resources are enough for this. operating system, but sometimes you have to install specialized software. However, as a rule, there are no difficulties with this. Why turn the desktop into an access point at all ? For convenience, because this way you can easily connect smartphones, tablets, laptops and other high-tech gadgets to the Web without the need to purchase a separate Wi-Fi router. The role of the latter in this case is assigned to the computer. Well, now, let me tell you in detail how you can install Wi-Fi on your computer.

Ways to connect Wi-Fi to a stationary PC

Buying a Modern Motherboard

As mentioned above, the simplest, but also expensive, solution to the problem is computer upgrade. At present, it is not difficult to find motherboards for sale in which, by default, there is WiFi support . If in the foreseeable future you still plan to purchase a new PC, then you should not waste your time buying USB adapters or PCI cards, but immediately take everything ready.

Buying a PCI card or USB adapter

In the case when the desktop upgrade is postponed indefinitely, there are two options: USB adapter or appropriate PCI card. Both methods are good about the same, but each has its own nuances. For example, an internal Wi-Fi board means reliability and a stable, fast signal. On the other hand, you need a free slot to install it. PCI Express, as well as the ability to freely penetrate inside the system unit. Considering the common practice of installing a PC vendor with warranty seals on the cover of the system unit, in order to prevent unauthorized access, the option with a PCI card is sometimes automatically dropped. Or you will have to sacrifice a guarantee, which is clearly not a far-sighted decision.

USB adapter is more practical and convenient, as it allows you to easily connect Wi-Fi to any stationary PC. Outwardly, it resembles a regular flash drive, although some models are a little more bulky due to the built-in antennas. The connection speed is likely to be slightly lower than in the two previously listed options. We add that sometimes for the correct operation of the USB Wi-Fi adapter, you need to

Without a working WiFi adapter, the laptop will not be able to connect to the wireless network. If you find that the Wi-Fi module is disabled, you can easily enable it yourself in hardware and software.

What is a WiFi adapter

A Wi-Fi adapter is a module in a laptop that is able to recognize signals from routers, establishing a wireless connection to the Internet. A WiFi adapter is available on any modern laptop as a built-in board.

If you want to connect to wireless networks from your computer, you can purchase an external WiFi adapter that connects to system unit via the USB interface. Software setting equipment in any case will be the same, only the methods will differ hardware enable devices.

Hardware enable

To enable the Wi-Fi adapter on a laptop, find the corresponding hardware button on the case or use the hot key combination. Discover Current state module (on or off) is usually possible with the indicator light. If it is not lit, then you need to turn on WiFi on the laptop.

Most often, the combination of the Fn button with one of the keys of the F1-F12 row is responsible for turning it on. On the ASUS laptops, for example, the combination Fn + F2 is used. Pressing these two keys at the same time activates all wireless modules laptop, including Wi-Fi.

Combinations for enabling Wi-Fi on laptops from various manufacturers:

• Acer - Fn + F3.
• ASUS - Fn + F2.
• Dell - Fn + F2.
• Gigabyte - Fn + F2.
• Fujitsu - Fn + F5.
• HP - Fn + F12.

Pictograms will help determine the appropriate key. Usually, an antenna is drawn on the desired button, distributing a signal.

On some laptop models, you can turn on the WiFi adapter with a separate button on the case. It can be located directly below the display. On older models, there is a two-position switch, which is located on the side of the laptop.

Software inclusion

If, after the hardware enablement of the WiFi adapter, the tray icon does not display the wireless connection icon with a list of available points for connection, then you will have to activate the module also programmatically. You can turn on Wi-Fi in the system settings.

On Windows 8 and Windows 10, WiFi is disabled / enabled by a special switch located above the list of available points or in the system settings.

An icon should appear in the notification area, when clicked, a list of available connections will open. wireless networks. If the list says available connections No, make sure that Wi-Fi is configured on the router. If the wireless icon in the tray does not appear, make sure that the WiFi adapter works without errors.

Possible problems when turning on

There are several reasons why the Wi-Fi model cannot be turned on:

1. The Fn button does not work, respectively, the key combination does not work.
2. The adapter drivers are not installed, the system does not detect the device.
3. The WiFi module is out of order and needs to be replaced.

Using a keyboard shortcut is usually not the only way to turn on the wireless module, but if you are trying to get the adapter to work using a button combination and nothing happens, then you should check the status of the software.

On some laptops, for the Fn button to work correctly, the system must have special utility. For ASUS laptops, this is the ATK Hotkey Utility. You can find suitable software on the manufacturer's website. The Fn button may not work for other reasons, but this is a topic for a separate large article.

The most common reason why wifi adapter cannot be enabled, is the lack of hardware drivers.

Drivers can be installed automatically or manually. It is recommended to use manual installation after downloading the software from the manufacturer's website. At manual installation driver of a suitable version and bit depth, the problem with turning on the adapter should disappear.

If no manipulations help turn on the adapter, then it is likely that it is damaged. You can replace the module in service center, an alternative is to buy an external adapter and connect it via USB port. But these actions are justified only if you are sure that the built-in wifi adapter out of order.