Then restart.

To make your search more direct, here is a summary of the most common chipset manufacturers and where to begin your search:

Your Wi-Fi should now list available networks.

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As noted in many troubleshooting forums by , identifying the chipset manufacturer is key. Most 802.11n USB dongles use chips from:

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Select inside the Update Driver wizard.

If your adapter is a Realtek RTL8188CE, search for “Realtek RTL8188CE driver” and download the version that matches your Windows version (e.g., Windows 10 64‑bit).

: Allows for direct device-to-device wireless connections without a router. Security Note:

You just reinstalled Windows 7 or 10 on an old laptop. The Ethernet port is broken, and you have no CD drive. The OS cannot recognize your Wi-Fi card because the default driver is missing. You cannot go online to download drivers—a classic catch-22.