How to Fix a USB Wireless Adapter That Cannot Connect to an Access Point
If the USB wireless adapter cannot connect to a particular wireless access point, it literally stops functioning and serves no purpose. The one job of this type of device is to allow your computer to access wireless Internet networks and if it ceases to be able to do that it becomes worthless. You can fix your USB wireless adapter and get it connected to access points again by just checking a few of your "Settings" options.
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Instructions
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Move your computer closer to the source of the access point. If the signal from a wireless access point is weak, your USB wireless adapter may be able to recognize it but won't necessarily be able to connect to it. Moving the adapter (and by association, your computer) closer to the access point will increase the strength of the signal, allowing your computer to connect to it successfully.
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Verify that your USB wireless adapter is "ON." Certain USB wireless adapters turn on automatically when connected to your computer, while others have an "ON/OFF" switch. If the device is on, an indicator light should be illuminated on the device itself. If no such light is on, look for an "ON/OFF" switch and turn your device on. Try to connect to your access point again.
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Uninstall and reinstall your USB wireless adapter's device driver. Open the Device Manager (accessible by right-clicking "Computer" and clicking "Properties"). Right-click on your USB wireless adapter's icon in this screen and click "Uninstall." This uninstalls its driver. Unplug the device from your computer and plug it back in. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver, at which point the device should work again.
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Update your USB wireless adapter's driver. While still in the "Device Manager," right click again on your USB wireless adapter's icon and click the "Update Driver" option. If your USB wireless adapter has stopped working after you've recently updated your operating system, the problem may be an incompatible driver. Updating to the newest version of said driver will fix this issue.
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