Windows 7 64-Bit: Getting the Linksys Wireless PCI Card (WMP54G) To Work
Almost everything I’ve thrown at Windows 7 over the past 8 or 9 months of testing first the Beta then the RC has worked – hardware and software alike. The sole exception in the hardware realm has been the Linksys Wireless PCI Card (WMP54G v4.0) in my son’s computer.
The trouble is that Linksys has been very bad about supporting 64-bit Windows (Vista and Windows 7) for some of their slightly older products.
Neither Linksys nor Microsoft have drivers available for many models of these cards. But, I finally got the v4.0 card to work in Windows 7 64-bit. Here’s how:
1. Download this Ralink driver (the card is based on a Ralink chipset): Linksys Wireless G (RT2500) (direct link to download).
NOTE: This driver is hosted on Dan Wendorf’s site and is just the Windows 64-bit drivers. You can also download the full driver set from Ralink’s site, but the download is quite big (lots of unnecessary programs and drivers for other versions) and the site is unbearably slow.
2. Unzip the .rar file. You can use WinZip or WinRar to do this.
3. In Device Manager (click Start, right-click My Computer, click Manage, then select Device Manager in the management window), locate the network controller. It may be an unidentified device or a mislabeled device depending on whether you’ve already tried to install a driver for it.
4. After selecting the device, click the Uninstall button on the toolbar to remove the device.
5. On the toolbar, click the Scan for hardware changes button.
6. When windows find the new device and asks for a driver, point it to the folder you unzipped.
7. If you get a notice saying the driver is unsigned, go ahead and allow it.
Windows should now install the driver and you’ll have wireless access before you know it. It’s sad this has to be so complicated. A company like Linksys should really get on the ball with 64-bit support.
I’ve been using the driver for quite some time now and it seems perfectly stable. Hope this helps some of you avoid the frustration I went through.
Awesome, many thanks. Ive read this same explanation a half a dozen times but thank you for providing a direct download of the driver it made the process considerably easier. I doubt I will buy anything linksys again.
“Hope this helps some of you avoid the frustration I went through.”
Sadly I went through the same. -.- It was around 23rd October. Today I tried it again, and thanks god I finally found your instructions.
I tried so many drivers before, 2 even installed, but had hugh connection lacks (nearly 2 times per minute). Now your driver had only one lack in one hour, so I’m optimistic, that this won’t change.
THANK YOU.
gorgos
I did all of this but it says my wireless PCI card will not work.
Thanks Walter, worked like a champ, I so appreciate that there are people on the net who are waaaaaaaaaaaay smarter than me and will to share.
I bought a new wireless card months ago, beacause I still had too many problems.
OMG … struggled with this for days … gave up for about a week and then ran across this posting. THANK YOU!! Worked like a charm!
[...] this procedure. http://www.walterglenn.com/2009/10/2…mp54g-to-work/ __________________ Motherboard – Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R CPU – E8400 Memory – 2GB Corsair XMS2 [...]
with my linksys wmp54g rev 4.1 it absolutely does not work!!
win7 x64 pro.
Many thanks of this solution walter. I went digging for hours through google and diffent forum before i found your solution.
Dude!!!! I have spent HOURS trying to fix this, you are a godsend. I will make it my personal mission to tell everyone I know, NOT to buy any linksys products again, and if linksys is reading this……you have lost a customer……..FOR LIFE.
As soon as I get some cash, I’ll be trashing this adapter.
Thanks again Walter…your a saint