10 Home Wi-Fi issue on older desktop

Bree · 21 May 2018

Helmut said:

That's a change of chipset from V1 Broadcom, to V2 Realtek.

Then the OP should stop doing this:

and buy a new dongle, they're cheap enough...

SD60659 · 21 May 2018

Bree said:

Then the OP should stop doing this:

and buy a new dongle, they're cheap enough...

Er, yeah. I'm not against doing this, I just thought I'd see if there was a workaround before buying a new one. I don't think that's unreasonable.

I'll have a look online for a new one, I can't just nip to the shop and buy one due to my location (four inches west of the moon)

Ben Myers · 21 May 2018

Please describe what happens when you right-click the adapter in Network Connections and select "Connect/Disconnect".

Ben

SD60659 · 21 May 2018

Ben Myers said:

Please describe what happens when you right-click the adapter in Network Connections and select "Connect/Disconnect".

Ben

Nothing really. It just opens settings and says I'm not connected. It doesn't scan for Wi-Fi networks

Ben Myers · 21 May 2018

Try clicking "Show available networks".

Ben

SD60659 · 21 May 2018

Ben Myers said:

Try clicking "Show available networks".

Ben

There is no "show available networks" option unfortunately. I also notice that when I type Wi-Fi in the search box I don't see anything relating to Wi-Fi. All I get is "Search the Web for Wi-Fi"

I'm familiar with ten, I have it on the laptop I'm using right now to post these messages. On mine when I type "Wi-Fi" in the search box I get relevant options but on the desktop in question I get nothing relating to Wi-Fi at all.

Bree · 21 May 2018

SD60659 said:

Er, yeah. I'm not against doing this, I just thought I'd see if there was a workaround before buying a new one. I don't think that's unreasonable...

I wasn't suggesting you were being unreasonable, just that the posts so far seem to have answered the 'workaround' question and it's time to stop looking and buy the new one :)

Ben Myers · 21 May 2018

SD60659 said:

There is no "show available networks" option unfortunately. I also notice that when I type Wi-Fi in the search box I don't see anything relating to Wi-Fi. All I get is "Search the Web for Wi-Fi"
I'm familiar with ten, I have it on the laptop I'm using right now to post these messages. On mine when I type "Wi-Fi" in the search box I get relevant options but on the desktop in question I get nothing relating to Wi-Fi at all.

Actually, one of the pictures you posted has "Show Available Networks". It's right under the "Troubleshoot" button in blue text.

Ben

EdTittel · 21 May 2018

FWIW, I agree with @Bree that you should declare "enough already!" and purchase a replacement WiFi dongle. According to what I read about the product it's USB 2.0 and 802.11n. If your laptop/PC has USB 3, you can buy a decent USB 3.0 802.11ac replacement dongle for as little as $18 (plus S&H) at Newegg. I bought a TrendNet TEW-805UB from Fry's earlier this year for about $25 that works pretty well, too (Newegg has it for $23).
HTH,
--Ed--

SD60659 · 21 May 2018

Ben Myers said:

Actually, one of the pictures you posted has "Show Available Networks". It's right under the "Troubleshoot" button in blue text.

Ben

Ok cool, I'll go click that. I'm pretty sure I'll have already done it but just in case I haven't I'll give it a stab. The PC in question isn't in my house so I'm trying to remember what happens when I do X etc. I will definitely have clicked that and it won't have got me anywhere but I'll go do it again just so I'm posting an accurate answer to your question.

I've ordered another adapter, was a grand total of £4.49 with free delivery, so I guess that will solve the issue. But I'll still try the other suggestions while I'm waiting for that to arrive..