Notebook WinXP WLAN problem

[netarangi]

Just got a 2nd hand notebook, can't find the exact model but from what I've gathered it's a "ASUS Z8100".

It's only got 1gb ram so I'm wanting to use Windows XP on it for the low resource consumption. I had trouble finding wlan drivers for it but I have found the proper ones. They installed fine, but when I go to find wireless networks it says "Can't find any wireless networks. Make sure the wireless switch on your computer is on". From what I can gather there is no wireless switch, and pressing the fn key + F2 to turn it on does nothing. I assume it's software based error.

I've installed Ubuntu, Mint, JoliOS, Backtrack 5 & Windows 7 and the wireless works perfectly in these. For the Win7 installation I used the same drivers as I did for the XP install, yet they worked pefectly fine on the Win7.

I've updated my XP to SP3 as I saw standard XP doesn't come with WPA2-PSK support. But it made no difference.

I can't find the exact wireless adapter the netbook uses but the name of the driver installation file is "ASUSZD1211WLAN.exe".

I appreciate any help with this.

E - Just to see if it was any issue with XP picking up WPA2, I turned my wireless security off, still can't find it. So I'm assuming it's something to do with the OS software and seeing that the wireless "Switch" is turned on. I don't really understand though as it worked fine in all other OS's I tried.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I have no idea how to fix this, but as a last resort you could get a $10 USB wifi adapter.

 

[Fardringle]

There are quite a few different Z8100 series models, so you either need to find the exact model of the laptop, or the exact brand and model number of the wireless adapter in the laptop.

For a Z81D, Z81K, or Z81Ka, select WinXP and download the ASUS 159G wireless driver on this page.

For a Z81G or Z81L, select WinXP and download the SIS USB wireless driver on this page.

For a Z18S or Z81Sp, select WinXP and download the WLAN Driver on this page.


Or, just enter the laptop's serial number in the "Search by Product Serial Number" field or use the "Model Automatic Detection" button on this page.

 

[tcsenter]

Open Device Manager -> expand the network device/adapters category - > double click on the network adapter/controller -> select the "Details" tab -> in the drop-down menu under Properties, select Hardware IDs -> post the ID string listed first. e.g. PCI\VEN_blahblah

 

[netarangi]

Will try all 3 drivers posted above.

Here are hardware ID's:

usb\vid_0b05&pid_170c
usb\vid_0b05&pid_170c&rev4802

I done this earlier, that's how I originally got this driver for it now but it doesn't seem to be working.

 

[netarangi]

Finally fixed it:

Downloaded this driver - http://support.asus.com/Download.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=Z81G&p=3&s=42

Awesome! THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[tcsenter]

Well that's weird. That adapter is based on the Zydas (acquired by Atheros) ZD1211 wireless chip, according to a few different ASUS-packed OEM driver INF files, but the driver you say works is for an SiS wireless chip and doesn't contain support for the ID string you provided.

Oh well, glad you got it working.