USB wifi to replace broken LAN port on gaming desktop?

[TheNiceGuy]

Hello all
My old gaming PC (BF1) won’t go online. Was working fine yesterday. It appears to be the lan port on the back. The led indicators on the back stay off. Cables, router, internet all work fine.
Only recent update was to windows defender definitions yesterday. Appears to be no way to roll that back.
Assuming the port just died, is the easiest solution a USB/wifi adapter? What speed adapter would be required to run Battlefield 1 game? I have both 2.4/5.8, but would prefer only 2.4 as that’s what the satellite router right next to the PC puts out.
Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[VirtualLarry]

better, if it was already wired, is a usb gigabit adapter.

 

[TheNiceGuy]

Ok, like this?

https://www.amazon.co.jp/有線LANアダプタ、...it+adapter&dpPl=1&dpID=41acE2IId9L&ref=plSrch

 

[mnewsham]

Ok, like this?

https://www.amazon.co.jp/有線LANアダプタ、...it+adapter&dpPl=1&dpID=41acE2IId9L&ref=plSrch

Yup, though make sure to use USB 3.0 to get full speeds.

 

[mxnerd]

Ok, like this?

https://www.amazon.co.jp/有線LANアダプタ、...it+adapter&dpPl=1&dpID=41acE2IId9L&ref=plSrch

I would buy one with integrated USB 3.0 hub.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Aluminum-Portable-Gigabit-Ethernet/dp/B00PC07T02/

 

[TheNiceGuy]

Cheers, I just ordered it. I’ll have to dig out my old MB setup DVD and figure out how to enable the usb3 driver. I needed to cut a lot of the bloat ware at install, and somehow the USB3 driver was never installed in the process, and I couldn’t identify which one it was on the DVD.

 

[mnewsham]

Cheers, I just ordered it. I’ll have to dig out my old MB setup DVD and figure out how to enable the usb3 driver. I needed to cut a lot of the bloat ware at install, and somehow the USB3 driver was never installed in the process, and I couldn’t identify which one it was on the DVD.

you can always use USB 2.0 to get internet access, then download the latest USB 3.0 drivers specifically.
No need to use the old drivers on the driver disc.

 

[TheNiceGuy]

Iirc the usb3 driver was bundled or labeled in such a way I couldn’t find it specifically, and it’s ever worked since. I don’t think any better drivers online are available for such an old MB last time I checked. I think the real challenge will be trying to find it on the disk without screwing up my existing drivers by accident.

 

[JoeBleed]

did you check adapter settings in windows to see if windows just decided to disable the card and all it will take is a right click and enable to get it working again? And you said the cable was good, did you check it using another computer?

I mention checking disabled status as you mention an update then it not working.

 

[TheNiceGuy]

Here’s the error info:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b334/excipio/90A29952-176A-49BA-A0EA-0F0E45C14947.jpeg

Not sure if this happens automatically when the part breaks, or if it’s just a driver issue?

 

[JoeBleed]

what does the driver say? wonder if windows decided to change the driver.

 

[TheNiceGuy]

what does the driver say? wonder if windows decided to change the driver.

Here it is:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b334/excipio/B9D38FA7-E4F0-469F-81EF-D1A69BD6F56E.jpeg

By the way, how can I find the current status of the two usb3 ports on the MB? They may actually be working as usb3 now without my knowledge. Initially they only worked as usb2. I’m not sure how to interpret the information displayed and where to look exactly.

 

[JoeBleed]

i would try the "uninstall driver" option, but it may not help. as for checking the status of usb3, i'm not sure.

 

[TheNiceGuy]

What does that error report I screenshot indicate exactly?

 

[mxnerd]

Why not reset your network devices and let Windows to reinstall them?

Last tip on the page.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/10741/windows-fix-network-connection-issues

By the way, that PCIe Realtek adapter should be the one on board, right?

And have you tried different ethernet cable?

 

[JoeBleed]

the event list you posted seems like windows deleted the adapter and then reinstalled it. i'm thinking maybe it did it incorrectly. still a possibility that it's an actual hardware issue though.

 

[mxnerd]

By the way, how can I find the current status of the two usb3 ports on the MB?

Just found this. Maybe the following USB Tree View tool can help.

https://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtreeview_e.html

Unplug and re-plug the USB 3.0 device while running the program see if it tell you something.

 

[TheNiceGuy]

I followed that Microsoft linked checklist. Well I attempted to roll back the realtech lan driver, but it did not offer that option, which indicates there was no previous driver. It also says it is up to date and I have the newest driver installed. I didn’t go any farther, as it said further options could cause unintended problems.
The USB 3 show up in system properties now, Apparently the drivers were automatically installed earlier this year. These too had no option for roll back.
My USB line adapter arrived, so I plugged it in the usb3 port and immediately it started working. I played BF1 online with it, and could determine no difference. Not sure how to test the speed, but doesn’t seem to be any need to.
So there’s no speed or other advantage to trying to fix the Lan port now?

 

[mxnerd]

I followed that Microsoft linked checklist. Well I attempted to roll back the realtech lan driver
So there’s no speed or other advantage to trying to fix the Lan port now?

I didn't notice that the link have different web page for Windows 8 & Windows 10, did you try to reset network drivers for Windows 10. (Assuming you are using Win10)

==

 

[TheNiceGuy]

I stopped after step 4 above (update driver), as the dongle had arrived by that time and works perfect so far.
Reset indicates possible unintended effects, something I’ve learned the hard way to avoid at all costs.
Assuming there’s no speed advantage, I can’t see the point in pushing my luck on this.

 

[TheNiceGuy]

I have noticed a new in game several second freezing very occasionally, could be a coincidence.