I'm having real issues with Vista.

The first thing I wanted to do with regards to networks was to install my wireless dongle:

http://www.solwise.co.uk/wireless-wlu-703z.htm


Note the link for Vista drivers at the bottom.

However, on installing these the thing is detected as an Atheros AR5007UG Wireless Network Adapter. O-o

Still, Vista then says that that device is there, and installed. However I can't find the router, and don't really know what I'm doing. It's not hidden or anything.


After getting irritated with this for a bit I decided to have a go at getting a LAN game of Supreme Command going with my brother.

We had an ethernet cable, and the motherboard has a built in ethernet card, and comes with drivers. Those installed fine.

What then followed was more pain. It took ages before we could both actually ping each other, and Windows firewall kept turning itself back on.

Still, when we could both ping each other, and Windows firewall was off, we both loaded up Supreme Commander. Then, more pain.

My brother could see games I hosted but could not join them. I couldn't see anything he hosted.

After fiddeling with more settings I've cocked it up completely. One PC gives 'PING: transmit failed, error code 1231', the other has a 'destination host unreachable' error.

I know I'm useless at this, but I'm at my wits end, could someone with more experience in this please help?

With regards to the Atheros drivers - A lot of wireless adaptors use Atheros chipsets, and they are the generic drivers for it.

As for everything else, I can't help.

Ok, that means the wireless drivers are likely the correct ones.

The next step is how on earth do I configure Vista to actually find the router? It doesn't even show up.

Does the dongle come with any software at all? Like a program that will find the wireless router, I don't know what else to suggest.

You should have a little network icon (2 comps) in the bottom right corner (systray). Right click it -> connect to a network and press refresh, to see if your netwrok comes up. The rest it will guide you through.

If nothing comes up, right click the icon -> network and sharing centre, then manage network connections on the left. Both your onboard ethernet and wireless should come up. Make sure the wireless is saying enabled, not connected or something similar, if not, right click it enable then try connecting again.