Windows 7 wifi drivers are being installed. Where to find, download and how to install Wi-Fi drivers for Windows

Setting up a WiFi connection in Windows 7 is not difficult at all. In the tray, on the "Network" icon, you need to click on the left mouse button and then, in the menu, select one of the WiFi access points, click on it, and then click on the "Connection" button:

After that, a window will open in which you need to enter the password for this access point:

Enter the password, click "OK" and if the password is correct, then in half a minute or a minute the connection will be established. The network icon in the tray will change its appearance, and if you click on it, the one you connected to will be highlighted in the list of networks:

In this case, all other parameters, except for the password, for a new connection, Windows 7 will automatically install.

But there is another way to create a wifi connection to the Internet, a little more complicated, but it allows you to manually specify some parameters of the new connection. On the same network icon, in the tray, you need to right-click and then select "Network Control Center" from the menu:

Then, in the dialog box, select manual settings:

In the next window, enter the name of the access point, type of security and encryption, password:

After that, the created connection will be available through the network icon in the tray.

If you need to change the connection settings that have already been created, then you need to left-click on the network icon, and then right-click on the connection you want to change and select "Properties" in the menu:

In the dialog box, you can change the connection parameters:

How to use wifi

However, you need to understand that the ability to use wifi is highly dependent on external factors. Since the radio signal is exposed to the external environment. Various obstacles such as walls, ceilings, floors weaken both the signal of the access point and the signal of the client device. Windows shows the signal strength from the access point in "sticks". The pictures at the beginning of the article show the signal level in one or two short sticks. This is a very weak signal. With such a signal, you most likely will not be able to use the Internet.

There are programs that show the signal level in numbers - dBm, for example 60 dBm or 40 dBm. The larger this number, the weaker the signal - a good signal is less than 50 dBm. However, you need to understand that the accuracy of such numbers varies depending on the adapter and the driver of this adapter. Under the same conditions, one adapter can show, for example, 71 dBm, and the other adapter 82 dBm.

In addition to passive barriers, sources of electromagnetic radiation can adversely affect the quality of wifi signal transmission. So, even if you have the best wifi adapter installed on your laptop, this does not mean that you will always be able to use the Internet through wifi.

In a situation with a poor signal, using an adapter with an external antenna can help. For example, the TP-Link TL-WN722N/C USB wifi adapter is equipped with an external antenna. At the same time, it is removable and, if necessary, it can be replaced with another one with a high gain.

What gives the presence of an external antenna? Continuing the same example - under equal conditions - the same access point, the same time and place of connection, the presence of passive barriers between the access point and the client - as a result, a weak signal in both directions:

• The laptop's internal "native" wifi adapter connects to an access point, but practically does not allow you to use the Internet due to low speed and frequent interruptions.
• TP-Link TL-WN722NC with its own antenna provides a stable Internet connection at a good speed.

If wifi doesn't work

If there is no "Wireless Network Connection" on your computer, the reason may be as follows:

• There is no wifi adapter on your computer at all. You can find this out through the Device Manager. There should be a wireless network card in the list of devices.
• Your computer has a wifi adapter but it is disabled. For example, on many laptops there are buttons to turn off the wifi adapter. This can be a standalone button or one of the F buttons in combination with the Fn button. If the wifi adapter is built into the motherboard, it can be disabled in the BIOS.
• There is an adapter, but no drivers are installed for it, in this case it will be in the list of devices as an unidentified device.
• There is an adapter, but it is disabled by software.

If "Wireless Network Connection" is there, it shows a list of networks, but you cannot connect to the desired network, then the reason may be that:

• The signal between your adapter and access point is too weak. Long distance, thick walls, etc. Moreover, the signal level of the access point can be decent, but the signal of your adapter does not "finish off" to the access point. Because the adapter signal is generally weaker than the access point signal. Especially if the adapter is built-in, such as in a laptop.
• You entered the wrong password. This is especially true for Windows XP because you can't see the password characters there.

If the connection to the access point is established, but the Internet does not work, then the reasons may be:

• Wifi router (access point) is not connected to the Internet. For example, a technical failure at the provider, or a lack of funds on your account with the provider.
• Technical failure of the DNS servers at the provider.

Home WiFi networks

WiFi Security

Since when using wifi, all information is transmitted by radio wave, this makes wifi networks much more vulnerable compared to wired networks. The fact is that the radio signals sent by the access point (wifi router) and devices that are connected to the access point are available for interception by any similar device that is within the radius of "hearing" from the access point or from the client of this access point. That is, the interception of network traffic becomes very simple, affordable and invisible. And the interception of network traffic allows you to collect the information necessary to attack a wifi network. As there are more and more access points, wifi increases and the number of people who want to "hack" a wifi network.

The most common motivation for hacking wifi hotspots is to connect to the internet via wifi for free. A fairly common picture today is that you have a wifi router installed in your apartment and not only your devices are connected to it, but also the computer of one of your neighbors. You pay for the Internet, and your tech-savvy neighbor gets the Internet for free.

But "theft" of the Internet is not the only reason for "hacking" wifi networks. The fact is that if an attacker gains access to your access point, he can access all devices that are connected to your wifi router through it. And this gives him the opportunity to steal your personal data. For example, passwords to mail, to Internet banks, your documents - in a word, to everything that you own.

Therefore, you need to use wifi with caution. Here are a few rules to follow.

Do not connect to open public wifi networks through a laptop on which you store valuable information. And if you need access to the Internet through open wifi networks, then use a firewall and antivirus on your laptop. Even better if you install two operating systems on a laptop. One main, which will store all your valuable information. And the other is empty, only to access the Internet through open wifi networks.

If you use a wifi router at home or in the office, you need to correctly configure the wifi router:

• Use the WPA2 security type.
• The password for protection should be long - better if 50 - 60 characters, and should consist of an arbitrary set of characters. Password marina1234 very bad - it will be hacked in a few minutes. Password nvysue57k-sjehr)