BTW, if anyone has been trying to find updated drivers and client utility for a Broadcom BCM43xx based a/b/g WLAN PCI adapter, you might try these from HP/COMPAQ:
Broadcom a/b/g WLAN PCI drivers Version 4.40.19.0 (03/23/2006)
sp33010.exe (4.1MB)
Broadcom WLAN Client Utility Version 4.40.19.0 (03/23/2006)
sp33011.exe (40.2MB)
Most network hardware companies including the biggies like Linksys, DLink, and Netgear are very poor at updating their drivers. I have several WLAN adapters from various brands where the only driver available for download is the 'first release' driver, some with a release date of 2004! Even though neither of the Broadcom WLAN PCI adapters I own is HP/COMPAQ branded, nor do I have an HP/COMPAQ computer, these drivers work fine because the adapters are pretty much Broadcom reference designs.
The driver .INF is customized for HP/COMPAQ branded stuff, so you'll probably need to 'manually' install the driver by using the following procedure:
- Run the sp330xx.exe archives to extract the setup files (e.g. C:\SWSetup). This package will install the Broadcom WLAN driver when executed as opposed to just extracting the setup files. Find the Broadcom WLAN entry in Add/Remove Programs and uninstall it.
- Install your Broadcom WLAN PCI adapter and boot the computer to Windows. Alternatively, if the adapter is already installed, select Update Driver from the Device Properties
- When prompted by the Found New Hardware thingy, select 'No, not this time' when asked to connect to Windows Update
- Select 'Install from a list or specific location' on the next screen
- Select 'Don't Search, I will choose the driver' on the next screen
- From the hardware category, scroll down and select Network Adapters
- When asked to select the Network Adapter, click "Have Disk"
- Browse to the directory where the files were extracted and select bcmwl5.inf (e.g. C:\SWSetup\SP33010)
- From the hardware list, select Broadcom 802.11 a/b/g WLAN if you have an a/b/g adapter, or Broadcom 802.11 b/g WLAN for all other adapters
- Select Continue Anyway when warned that the driver doesn't match your hardware
- Restart the computer after the driver is successfully installed
There is more than one way to manually install the driver, you don't need to use this particular method if you know a better way. If your wireless doesn't work and you selected a/b/g WLAN, use Update Driver to change the hardware to [non-A] b/g WLAN instead.
