Wireless on Windows 7 - What if there are no 64-bit Drivers?

Rezident · 26 Oct 2009 at 16:46

Zyxel do not appear to have 64-bit drivers [for Zyxel G-260 wireless USB] on their website or anywhere else. Old drivers that work for Vista do not work for W7. Apparently it works on 32-bit W7 but what about for 64-bit?

I can find drivers that work in Windows 7 for pretty much everything else I need but internet connection is fairly vital.

Any ideas? Cheers.

DragonQ · 26 Oct 2009 at 17:08

Most of the time Vista x64 drivers will work but if they never even made those then you're stuffed unless you can find an open-source alternative. Buying products from smaller, less well-known companies often has these kind of drawbacks - a media remote I got from Keyspan doesn't and will never have x64 drivers either so I'll just have to find another one.

J.B · 26 Oct 2009 at 17:15

Unfortunatly there will always be a few bits of hardware which are not 64 bit compatable. The easiest solution in my mind is to splash out 20 quid on a new network adaptor with the right drivers.

NVIDIA_x64 · 26 Oct 2009 at 17:54

Install Win 7 64-bit and see if windows has them built in to the os it is worth ago if you have not already done so

Rezident · 26 Oct 2009 at 17:56

NVIDIA_x64 said:
Install Win 7 64-bit and see if windows has them built in to the os it is worth ago if you have not already done so

I was hoping that'd work but no joy.

xb8browney · 26 Oct 2009 at 18:08

You may also find that some versions of Zyxel drivers cause BSOD's.

A very poor company there support is shocking as well.

Rezident · 27 Oct 2009 at 13:12

hmmm yes it's starting to look that way.

For any other Zyxel users, here's their official response:

Thanks for your emial, we do not curremtly have any windows 7 drivers for your wireless cards however RND in Taiwan are looking to develope and release drivers for some models at the end of November. Please keep an eye on the Global website for their releases

Regards,

ZyXEL Technical Support.

Duke · 27 Oct 2009 at 13:21

Can you get drivers from the chipset manufacturer?

Father Ted · 27 Oct 2009 at 15:13

I've had to splash out £20 on a new wireless adapter for my PC as my old one wasn't compatible with win 7 64, sometimes there's no alternative to updating your hardware.

boner · 27 Oct 2009 at 20:24

Father ted which did you buy? I am sure there are lots of people with the same issue, my copy of 7 can wait till I know for sure I can get a 64bit compatible adaptor .

Tranquillo · 27 Oct 2009 at 21:34

Yes, Father Ted, which one did you get. I'm having the same trouble here

miker1 · 27 Oct 2009 at 22:57

Don't get old BELKIN pre-N cards............

Rezident · 28 Oct 2009 at 17:44

Duke said:
Can you get drivers from the chipset manufacturer?

Intel? Not that I know of, might that work? There aren't even any chipset drivers for my motherboard for Windows 7 on the gigbyte site, because presumably they are already included in Windows 7. Certainly W7 works without installing chipset drivers (as I had to for Vista).

Gigabyte only has Lan, Audio and Raid drivers for my mobo in Windows 7.

Rezident · 28 Oct 2009 at 18:03

Father Ted said:
I've had to splash out £20 on a new wireless adapter for my PC as my old one wasn't compatible with win 7 64, sometimes there's no alternative to updating your hardware.

Do I only need to get a new USB wireless adapter? Will it work with the existing zyxel router?

NVIDIA_x64 · 28 Oct 2009 at 20:26

Rezident said:
Do I only need to get a new USB wireless adapter? Will it work with the existing zyxel router?

Yes any adapter will work with the router

something_totally_different · 28 Oct 2009 at 21:51

In ten years of fiddling with networks in businesses I have yet to come across a single one that uses Zyxel.

my advice is if you get no joy with new Zyxel drivers soon, just go pick up a new USB adapter. Netgear D-Link Linsys and even TP-Link are safe bets for driver support under win7.

Rezident · 29 Oct 2009 at 13:11

Netgear and TP Link, brilliant, will do. Yes I must admit the Zyxel connection has also been poor, it usually cuts out at least once every hour. Usually during TF2 when I'm a Spy just behind a medic and about to stab. Absolutely infuriating.

I thought I was stuck with Zyxel because the router is Zyxel but that is great news. Many thanks all.

Rezident · 29 Oct 2009 at 20:49

Netgear site has a compatibility list for Vista 64-bit but the drivers for Windows 7 appear to be 32-bit.

Does anyone know any Wireless USB Adapters that work with Windows 7 64-bit?

Father Ted · 30 Oct 2009 at 13:41

boner said:
Father ted which did you buy? I am sure there are lots of people with the same issue, my copy of 7 can wait till I know for sure I can get a 64bit compatible adaptor .

Tranquillo said:
Yes, Father Ted, which one did you get. I'm having the same trouble here

Sorry for the late reply. I went over to the purple shirt shop and just looked at their selection of wireless adapters, I just bought one that stated it was Windows Vista 64 compatible on the box (it was a Linksys one, I'm currently at work so don't know the model no). Plugged it in, went to device manager after it was detected, clicked update driver and browsed to the installation CD, worked a treat. I'll post the model no later when I get home.

swanseajack · 30 Oct 2009 at 16:36

I'm using a ZyXal router here with a £6.99 network adapter, been fine.