Annoying USB WiFi dongle issue It bothers me with its performance and compatibility problems
Annoying USB WiFi dongle issue It bothers me with its performance and compatibility problems
Yeah, that's a mystery too, Donut417, but then you DID say Win ME!!!! LOL Another twist just now this morning. Uninstalled the USB NIC as usual, but when I plugged it back in, it seemed to reinstall itself, but came up as not only the wrong item, but turned off with no way to turn it on. Essentially, it appears as though my built-in and the dongle switched designations as far as Win 10 was concerned. I have the built-in disabled and have had it that way since installing the USB one. I "renamed" them both and now after another reinstall of the USB NIC, I'm back up and running as though nothing happened. I swear, even after all these years of building, fixing and in general, messing with these computers, they are out to drive me nuts and be the death of me yet!
Well it clearly is defective, not sure what other reason you want though you seem to be looking for one.
Likely correct, though it might also stem from a Windows 10 issue or your device's specific setup. I was just exploring various explanations!
Also, just to clarify, I’m a retired doctor (veterinarian) and I really want a complete diagnosis—not just for health matters, but for almost everything else in my life. It’s about understanding the root cause. The more I learn, the higher my chances of getting a positive result... that’s just how I think. Sorry if it’s still unclear!
Oh I sort of understand but there is a sort of cost benefit I apply to these sort of things personally. As I mentioned in an earlier reply it already is a very cheap device where if you investigate the reviews on amazon a fairly large percentage reports defects. In combination with the symptoms you are describing I personally would have called it a day as the likelihood of it being defective is the most obvious one and the only way to actually further investigate would be to tear the thing open and investigate. Which requires knowledge most of us don't have making it not something worthwhile to pursue other than pure curiosity towards the insides.
I used to train to become an IT professional before my health issues forced me to stop. Coming from an IT background, I now understand that not every problem has a clear solution—sometimes you need to accept uncertainty and explore other options.
I've completed what I could so far. The larger USB NICS models usually come with big antenna arrays, which would be really inconvenient for me. It's hard to describe my setup here. I'm looking for a compact, reliable unit. I'm only about ten feet from my repeater, but in the middle of the living room with my Lazy-Boy and the swivel tray where I keep my laptop. Ideally, I'd use an Ethernet cable if possible, but that's not an option. I've ordered another brand and design of a compact dongle and hope it works. Many of these devices rely on the same Realtek chipsets, so options are limited. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them! By the way, thank you all for your help in this forum—it means a lot. Alex Atkin UK, I'm facing similar challenges. I had to stop practicing veterinary medicine early because of health issues and now have significant spinal problems and neurological symptoms similar to MS. My laptop remains my connection to the world, allowing me to learn and assist pet owners. It keeps me motivated and off the streets! ROFL I wish I could upgrade from this old Lenovo IdeaPad Z585 to something newer, but with fixed income, I have to make do as long as I can. This machine has been quite reliable over the years, even though switching from Win 7 to Win 10 was difficult—the company didn't release drivers for Win 10, and Windows 11 is out because of processor limitations. Still, I'll keep trying until then. I'll update if I find a fix. If anyone wants, I can share pictures of the Ookla results before and after reinstalling. It's really strange!
I realize no one may be following this thread at this point, but an UPDATE, for what it's worth. A second, different brand of USB 3.0 adapter was obtained and tried with the same results. Actually, this was the third dongle I've tried now. Only the first USB 2.0 unit is usable, with the quirk as described in the OP. Here's the thing though. All 3 units obtained and tried are based on Realtek chipsets! I can't find anything else out there! Someone had suggested obtaining one based on a Broadcom chipset, but where? I really would love to find and test something compact that ISN'T Realtek based, but so far haven't found any. Again...... Suggestions???? Thanks, good people!
When using the laptop on a stationary setup, other options beyond WiFi exist. Consider Moca or power line adapters if Ethernet isn't feasible. Wireless bridges or extenders with Ethernet ports can also work, allowing you to plug in the laptop and skip the USB dongle. Lenovo is known for including certain WiFi cards in their BIOS. You might want to check the white list to discover alternative cards that could be purchased.
The laptop stays mostly fixed, and my extender has an ethernet port, BUT the cable would need to cross the center of the room. That’s not okay since we’re elderly and I’m partially disabled, which would increase the risk of a fall. I’ve already checked all the cards on the white list—they’re not available anywhere, they’re just as slow as my current one, and none support dual band. Guess I’m stuck! Sigh!