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Wireless adapter just won't work

Gunslinger08

Gunslinger08

Lifer
So I'm working on my brothers computer after he picked up a virus. I've got everything cleared out, but now his wireless adapter isn't working. It shows up in device manager with a warning on it (code 31 - couldn't load the driver). I've installed every driver I can possibly find for it (Linksys WUSB54GS). I even tried a different adapter (cheapo Monoprice USB adapter that's also Ralink based). Nothing is working. Does anyone have any suggestions? This is Windows XP SP3. Could a virus have messed up the USB or networking stack somehow? Networking does work via ethernet.
 
try running a registry repair tool. not got any reccomendations for a free one but don't install just any as many contain malware so try ask for a good free or trail one.
 
jamesmcuk said:
try running a registry repair tool. not got any reccomendations for a free one but don't install just any as many contain malware so try ask for a good free or trail one.
Click to expand...

Engrish?

OP, have you tried manually pointing the device to the driver files on your computer?
 
If you have a 3rd party security sofware (actvly running) get rid of it.

With XP you can do a refresh install without really touching the current applications and data.

Refresh XP Installation.

Boot from the XP original CD. Skip the first screen that offers Console Repair, and continue as though you install a New XP.

After you Agree etc., the new install screen will come on and would detect the current XP installation.

Choose the Repair option by Pressing R for Repair.

Use it, would take about 45Min. and you will have a Refreshed Installation of XP while keeping all your data and XP configuration.
 
jamesmcuk said:
try running a registry repair tool. not got any reccomendations for a free one but don't install just any as many contain malware so try ask for a good free or trail one.
Click to expand...

Do not do this, registry "cleaning" tools cause more problems than they have ever fixed. Never trust an automated tool to modify the registry en masse
 
Just tried to do a repair. The option isn't available. I followed some instructions online for rebuilding boot.ini, but it didn't fix anything. Tried system restore to before I started working on the computer and it's not working either. I think I might be at the point where I tell him to reformat.
 
Hi,

While in Device manager did you try deleteing the device and reboot? windows should then find the device and reninstall it.

Just something else to try.

bluwing
 
joshsquall said:
So I'm working on my brothers computer after he picked up a virus. I've got everything cleared out, but now his wireless adapter isn't working. It shows up in device manager with a warning on it (code 31 - couldn't load the driver). I've installed every driver I can possibly find for it (Linksys WUSB54GS). I even tried a different adapter (cheapo Monoprice USB adapter that's also Ralink based). Nothing is working. Does anyone have any suggestions? This is Windows XP SP3. Could a virus have messed up the USB or networking stack somehow? Networking does work via ethernet.
Click to expand...

If you know for certain that the machine was rooted/contaminated, you need to do a clean install. If you don't have your data backed up, back up what you can now and do your best to migrate it afterward. Once a machine has been rooted you can never trust that box again until you do a fresh install.
 
wages said:
If you know for certain that the machine was rooted/contaminated, you need to do a clean install. If you don't have your data backed up, back up what you can now and do your best to migrate it afterward. Once a machine has been rooted you can never trust that box again until you do a fresh install.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I ended up doing. I backed up the whole file system and scanned it for viruses with Avira (found 2). Formatted the disk and reinstalled XP and got it all setup last night. It did take me a while to figure out that the wifi adapter I was using didn't support WPA2. It would be really nice if XP gave you some useful message for that.
 
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