USB WiFi Adapter unable to start

[Retro2001]

I've got a Hawking HWU54D (rev Z)
that until recently worked on a Dell Dimention 4600C. A week ago (without warning) the adapter stopped working, and reports (with a yellow exclaimation mark) that it cannot start. I've un- and reinstalled the drivers for both the adapter and the usb ports and used "sfc" to check the windows install. The adapter works without trouble on several other computers, so the part itself is good. Does anyone have any advice on this problem?

Thanks!

Will

 

[Retro2001]

Just hoping that the answer to this came to someone in their sleep last night...;-)

 

[Fardringle]

I have a couple of those USB "thumb drive" wireless adapters and both of them have exactly the same problem when the adapter isn't getting enough power from the USB port. I've found that my adapters won't work at all when plugged into an unpowered hub that has other devices plugged into it, or when plugged into an onboard USB port that isn't suppling the full amount of power to the device that it should be. If you have the adapter on a hub, plug it directly into one of the ports on the PC itself. If it is already plugged directly into the PC, try a different port on the PC. If that doesn't work, try using a powered USB hub.

To make a long story short, it appears that these Hawking adapters use more power than most USB devices and if they don't get all of the power they want from the USB port, they won't work at all.