Getting XP to recognize generic wireless USB adapter

[Al Shades]

Hey all, I've got a generic USB Wireless Adapter and I'm missing the driver CD. I don't remember the manufacturer so I have no way to obtain the original drivers. Is there any way to get XP to recognize this? Plugging it in doesn't work, the OS doesn't know what to do with it. Is there any chance that I could get it working using foreign drivers obtained from a random manufacturer's website?

 

[Fardringle]

If you can figure out what wireless chipset is inside the adapter, you might be able to get it to work using generic drivers for that chipset, or drivers from another adapter manufacturer that uses the same chipset.

 

[Al Shades]

It's 802.11b compliant. Does that mean I can simply use drivers from another such device? Does XP have generic drivers for wireless adapters?

 

[Fardringle]

802.11b compliant doesn't mean anything except that it is able to run at "B" wireless speeds with B wireless capable routers. You need to know the actual physical chipset inside the adapter (there are many different chipsets used by different adapter manufacturers) in order to pick a driver that will work with the adapter.

Windows does not have built-in drivers for most wireless adapters, and even if it has a driver from another manufacturer that will work with your adapter, you'll still need to know the chipset in the adapter in order to pick one that will work.

Does the adapter not have a brand name or model number on it anywhere? What about a bar code label with an FCC ID number? Even a serial number might help identify the manufacturer of the adapter, which could at least be a start in determining the drivers you need to use.

 

[Al Shades]

No brand name but it does have those numbers written on it:

S/N: 13W0001613
FCC ID: PQP-WU221P-X

 

[snes tor]

type in the FCC ID on google you'll get hits on USB wireless drivers.

😉

 

[Fardringle]

Based on that FCC ID, it looks like this driver might work for you in Windows XP.