How do I fix network adapter problems? Windows 7

How do I fix network adapter problems?

Windows 7 

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If you can't connect to a network, there might be a problem with your network adapter. First, try using the Network Adapter troubleshooter to automatically find and fix some common problems:

• Open the Network Adapter troubleshooter by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type troubleshooter, and then click Troubleshooting. Click View all, and then click Network Adapter.

If running the Network Adapter troubleshooter doesn't fix the problem, here are some more things to try

Follow the steps and detailed Procedure below:

• Make sure the network adapter is enabled
• Reset the network adapter
• Update the network adapter driver
• If all else fails, replace the adapter
• Disabling or uninstalling a network adapter

To enable the adapter:

1. Open Network Connections by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, typeadapter, and then, under Network and Sharing Center, click View network connections.
2. Right-click the network adapter icon, and then click Enable.  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

To reset the adapter:

1. Open Network Connections by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, typeadapter, and then, under Network and Sharing Center, click View network connections.
2. Right-click the network adapter icon, and then click Disable.  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. Right-click the adapter icon again, and then click Enable.  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

The adapter is now reset. Try connecting to the network again, or run the Network troubleshooter to verify that your network adapter is now working correctly.

• Open the Network troubleshooter by right-clicking the network icon in the notification area, and then clickingTroubleshoot problems.

Update the network adapter driver

You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.

If you reset your network adapter and you still can't connect to a network, you might need to update the adapter driver. (Updating the driver can solve the problem of missing or failed drivers, as well as outdated ones.) To update your network adapter driver, follow these steps:

1. Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Security, and then, under System, clicking Device Manager.‌  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2. Double-click Network Adapters, right-click your adapter, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver.
   If Windows can't find the driver on your computer and you don't have a connection to the Internet, you might need to contact the network adapter manufacturer or your computer manufacturer to get the driver. Check the information that came with your network adapter or your computer to see if you have a disc that contains the drivers.

Once you've updated the driver, try connecting to the network again, or run the Network troubleshooter to verify that the adapter is updated.

• Open the Network troubleshooter by right-clicking the network icon in the notification area, and then clickingTroubleshoot problems.

If all else fails, replace the adapter

If you've tried resetting the network adapter and updating the drivers, and the Network troubleshooter indicates that there's still a problem with your network adapter, try replacing the adapter. Buy a new network adapter and install it in your computer by following the manufacturer's instructions, or have a service technician replace the adapter for you.

Disabling or uninstalling a network adapter

If you decide that you don't want to use a particular network adapter, you can either disable it (which is the easiest) or uninstall it.

To disable a network adapter

Disabling a network adapter turns it off so that it won't be used.

1. Open Network Connections by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, typeadapter, and then, under Network and Sharing Center, click View network connections.
2. Right-click the network adapter icon, and then click Disable.  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

To uninstall a network adapter

Warning

• Turn off your computer and unplug it from its power source. This is very important. Installing a card in a computer that's plugged in could shock you or damage the card and computer.

1. Read the information that came with your computer to learn how to open the computer case. If you no longer have the instructions, look on the computer cover (usually on the back) for screws or clasps to undo the case.
2. After opening the case, ground yourself by touching the metal casing that surrounds the jack where the power cord plugs in. This can help protect you from an electric shock and can help protect the new card and existing computer parts from static electricity.
3. Read the information that came with your network adapter. If you no longer have the instructions, locate your network adapter. If you're not certain which card is your network adapter, follow the wires from your network cable to the back of the card, and then note which slot that card is in.
4. Unplug any cables from the back of the network adapter, and remove any screws or hooks holding the network adapter in place.
5. Carefully pull the network adapter straight out of the slot. Be careful not to twist or bend it as you remove it.
6. If you're not installing a new network adapter, install a slot cover if you have one, and then replace the screw or hook. Then, close the computer case and replace any screws you removed when opening the case.

Troubleshoot Network & Internet Problems in Windows 7 & Windows 8

When you have problems with your network and/or Internet connection, don’t hesitate to use the troubleshooting wizards bundled with Windows 7 and Windows 8. They are easy to use and they can help you identify what’s wrong and how to fix your problems. In this tutorial I will show how to start these network and Internet troubleshooting wizards and how to work with them in order to fix problems.

How to Find the Network & Internet Troubleshooting Wizards

One of the easiest ways to access the network and Internet troubleshooting wizards is to open the Network and Sharing Center and click or tap the "Troubleshoot problems" link.

This is how the Network and Sharing Center looks like in Windows 7.

In Windows 8, the Network and Sharing Center is a bit different. However, the "Troubleshoot problems" link can still be found at the bottom of the window.

This opens the list of Network and Internet troubleshooting wizards available in Windows.

As always, you can also use search to launch these wizards. In Windows 7, type the word "trouble" in the Start Menu search box. Then, click theTroubleshooting search result.

In Windows 8, go to the Start screen, type the word "trouble" and filter the results by Settings.

Then, tap the Troubleshooting search result.

Another way is to type the word "trouble" in the search box found on the top right of the Control Panel.

Clicking or tapping or Troubleshooting reveals the Troubleshooting window, where you find all the troubleshooting tools included in Windows.

To display the troubleshooting wizards we are interested in, click or tap Network and Internet.

You can start any of the available wizards, depending on the problem you are facing:

• Internet Connections - this wizard helps when you are connected to the network but the Internet doesn't work or you have trouble accessing particular websites;
• Shared Folders - use this wizard when you have problems accessing shared files and folders on other computers and devices from your network;
• HomeGroup - when you have problems viewing computers or shared folders that are part of the Homegroup, use this wizard;
• Network Adapter - this wizard is useful when you have problems with your wireless or network adapters. It helps with anything that is related to your network connection;
• Incoming Connections - this wizard is helpful when other computers have trouble connecting to your computer's shared files and folders;
• Connection to a Workplace Using DirectAccess - this wizard can be used when you have problems connecting to enterprise network domains. It is available only in Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 8 Enterprise.

Start the Network & Internet Troubleshooting Wizards from the Command Prompt

The network and Internet troubleshooting wizards can also be started using the Command Prompt or the Run window.

Copy and paste the following commands:

• To open the Internet Connections troubleshooting wizard - msdt.exe -id NetworkDiagnosticsWeb;
• To open the Shared Folders troubleshooting wizard - msdt.exe -id NetworkDiagnosticsFileShare;
• To open the HomeGroup troubleshooting wizard - msdt.exe -id HomeGroupDiagnostic;
• To open the Network Adapter troubleshooting wizard - msdt.exe -id NetworkDiagnosticsNetworkAdapter;
• To open the Incoming Connections troubleshooting wizard - msdt.exe -id NetworkDiagnosticsInbound.

How to Use the Network & Internet Troubleshooting Wizards in Windows 7 & Windows 8

Each troubleshooting wizard is a bit different because it solves the specific problems it is supposed to solve. To help you understand how to use a troubleshooting wizard, I ran the Network Adapter wizard in order to understand what is wrong with the wireless network connection on my Windows 8 laptop. Using other wizards works the same way, using the same principles.

At the beginning of the troubleshooting wizard, before you press Next look for a link named Advanced.

Click or tap on it. This reveals some interesting options. For example, the Network Adapter wizard can automatically apply repairs. Check the appropriate box to enable this feature and click or tap Next.

The troubleshooting wizard detects that I have several network adapters and asks me to select the one I want to troubleshoot. In this case, I selected WiFi and pressed Next.

NOTE: The Network Adapter troubleshooting wizard displays also virtual network adapters, if you have installed virtualization software that uses such devices (e.g. VirtualBox).

The troubleshooting wizard starts the diagnostics process and displays a progress bar like the one shown below.

When it detects problems, it also tries to apply the fixes it believes are appropriate and then verifies if the problem still exists.

At the end of the whole process, the troubleshooting wizard shares details about the problem and its status.

In my case, the problem remained unfixed. The Network Adapter wizard proposes additional options via the "Explorer additional options" button. If you want to view detailed information about the problem(s) it identified and what it has done to fix things, click the small link that says "View detailed information".

To close the wizard, click or tap Close

Click on Close and you are done.

NOTE: If the troubleshooting wizard you have used hasn't detected any problems but you still have issues, you may have not used the correct wizard. In this case, try another troubleshooting wizard, which is related to the problem you are experiencing.

Troubleshooting Problems with a Wireless Network

If you have troubles connecting to wireless networks, we recommend reading the following troubleshooting guides:

• Troubleshoot Internet Connection Problems over a Wireless Network - this guide shows how to use the Windows built-in troubleshooting tools, to fix problems when connecting to wireless networks;
• Troubleshoot Wireless Network Connection Problems by Yourself - this is a step by step chart with questions and answers. Answering a series of questions takes you to the most probable root-cause and its solution;
• Fix Troublesome Wireless Connections by Removing their Profile - if you have problems with a wireless network which worked in the past, it can happen that its profile in Windows was changed or corrupted. This tutorial helps you fix problems in such scenarios.
• The Layman’s Guide to Solving Wireless Network Interference Problems - an awesome guide, sharing how easy it is to fix problems generated by the signal interference, caused by other networks in your area or by other devices.

Five tools for optimizing Windows

Introduction

The Windows operating system has long been criticized because it tends to get bogged down over time. Installing applications, patches, drivers, etc., causes the OS to become cluttered. As a result, performance slowly diminishes. Fortunately, a number of applications can optimize your system and help restore performance.

Advanced System Optimizer

Once this tool optimizes your operating system, you can configure it to perform regular maintenance on a scheduled basis. Advanced System Optimizer sells for $39.95; a free trial version is available for download.

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WinASO Registry Optimizer

Registry errors it detects are categorized and are rated by severity. You can correct an error by selecting it and clicking the Repair button. WinASO Registry Optimizer sells for $29.95; a free trial is available for download.

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WinUtilities Free Edition

WinUtilities Free Edition is handy for performing basic PC maintenance. There is also a professional edition of this tool that performs other functions, such as registry and disk defragmentation, file level deduplication, file recovery, and disk cleaning.

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ARO 2013

There were two things I really liked about this application. First, it allows you to choose which areas of the registry you want to scan, repair, and optimize. That's great if you have certain portions of the registry you want left alone. I also really liked that the software can back up the registry for you in case it makes a mistake that causes registry problems.

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ARO 2013 sells for $29.95; a free trial version is available for download.

CCleaner

CCleaner also features a registry cleaner, which — like ARO 2013 — lets you choose the areas of the registry you want to work with. CCleaner includes some other nice tools as well, such as a file finder, a drive wiper, and an uninstaller.

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