How to install Linksys WMP54G and WUSB54G Wireless card on Vista


UPDATE: This article is obsolete. Linksys added Vista Drivers to their support page. Please visit Linksys and download the latest Drivers for your Wireless card.



So i finished downloading Windows Vista Pre-RC1. The installation went really smooth as expected then came the part where you have to install the drivers.

I have a Linksys WMP54G Wireless-G PCI Adapter.Vista didn't recognize it. There was a "Network Controller" entry in Device Manager. I tried installing the drivers that came with the card but that didn't work. Vista said something like "Drivers could not be loaded code 31"

Here is how to get your Linksys WMP54G or WUSB54G wireless card working in Windows Vista


1) WMP54G and WUSB54G are based on chipsets made by Ralink Technology so we go to their support page and download the RT61+RT2500 drivers if you have Linksys WMP54G and RT2500USB if you have the USB version WUSB54G

The drivers were released this month so support for Vista is there.

2) Next we download the Windows XP drivers from Linksys (or use the ones in the driver CD)

3) run the Ralink installer. When it's done Windows Vista may ask you for drivers for your "Network Controller". If that happens point Windows Vista to the old Windows XP drivers.

Enjoy Wireless networking with your Linksys wireless card in Windows Vista thanks to Ralink Technology Corp!


Could you post a more

Could you post a more detailed write up? I can't get Vista to recognize Ralink or Linksys drivers.

I'm using the 64-bit version of Vista and Version 4.0 of the Linksys Adapter. Thanks.

Re: More detailed write up

The article above applies to the 32bit version of Vista. I am not sure there is even drivers for the 64bit version.

WMP 300N

I went to ralink and downloaded the RT61 i didn't get a installer ?

Also will the driver work with Linksys adapter WMP 300N or do you know where i can get a driver to work ?

thanks
bucky

Has this worked for anyone?

Has this worked for anyone? I have 32 bit vista and the WUSB54G v2.

Re: Has this worked for anyone?

yes... me :)

Vista X64 Instructions

Here's how I got my LinkSys WMP54GV4 card to work on Vista Ultimate x64:

  1. Go to Ralink Windows Driver and download the RT61 PCI/mPCI/CB driver for Vista X86/X64
  2. Extract and run the Setup program which will take about 5 minutes to complete
  3. Click Finish to complete the RT6x Wireless LAN Card Setup
  4. Open the Windows Device Manager
  5. Right-Click on the Network Controller under 'Other devices', and select Properties
  6. Select the Driver tab and click on 'Update Driver' button
  7. On the upcoming screen, select 'Browse my computer for driver software'
  8. I am not 100% sure if it's necessary to browse to the VistaX64 folder before you continue, but just to be safe here, browse to the VistaX64 folder (in my case it was installed at C:\Program Files (x86)\RALINK\RT6x Wireless LAN Card\Installer\VISTAX64), and then select 'Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer'
  9. On the upcoming screen, select 'Network Adapters' and click Next
  10. Now comes the part where you may have to try different Ralink drivers using trial-and-error. Select 'Ralink Technology, Inc.' under the Manufacturer listbox, and try out some of the Network Adapters which will appear in the right listbox. In my case, the 'Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN Card' did the job. If you selected a non-working driver, you will get the typical 'Device cannot be started error (Error 10)'. If you selected a working driver, the driver will successfully install. As I said above, I have a WMP54GV4 wireless PCI card, and the Ralink RT2500 Wireless LAN Card driver worked for me.

Good luck...

Great post, it is useful

Great post, it is useful. I have been searching for 64-bit drivers for LinkSys WMP54GV4 for one long time, Thanks.

Great post !!!

You saved my day. i tried with the card all night before finding your post. Thanks a lot.

Actually, for me the RT61 driver was the right one, (am using WMPG54-DE)

THANK YOU

I'm new to this "computer scene" thing and let me tell you, this post helped out tremendously! It was easy to follow and actually made sense to a newbie like myself. Thanks for the help, this is legit.

Great post!

Thanks so much for taking the time to post these instructions. I built an AMD 64x2 machine with Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition, using an older Linksys WMP54G Version 1 PCI Wireless Adapter. I followed your instructions and found the correct driver under "Ralink Technology Corp" (the first Ralink option listed in the driver update utility), and it was the first driver listed there.

A couple of other tips to add: If you don't find the correct driver right away (you get an Error 10 Code), be sure you go back and uninstall the incorrect driver. Then click on Actions, select Detect Hardware Changes, and you'll get back to your original Device Manager configuration with the Network Controller listed again under Other Devices. (When you install an incorrect driver, it will show up under Network Adapters and the original detection under Other Devices will go away.)

It wasn't necessary to browse my computer for the driver software, btw; I simply selected the "Let me pick" option.

The driver installed beautifully and the Ralink utility works flawlessly. Considering the limited options for Vista wireless adapters (Linksys doesn't even offer Vista updates), you've given this card and my new machine a whole new lease on life. Thanks again.

I'm impressed

I am impressed. Thank you very much for helping not to buy another card just to support Vista. Your instructions is clear and worked for my Vista Ultimate x32 as the Linksys driver just can't get to load.

Once again, thank you!

Vista x64

gmeyergauen thanks dude, and thanks to the dude who created this forum, I have been trying to get this to work for ages.

I can finaly send stuff back to my pC now, thanks once again.
Ps Thjis works for the premium version of vista 64 as well so am guessing it should work for all versions of the 64 bit vistas.

pps. I have the linksys v4 card.

cheers.

come on guys! where's the ¿?

Thank you very much for this information. I like this site

Thanks matthew.
Regards,

----------
~ Sohbet ~ Muhabbet ~

Thanks!

You just saved me hours of guesswork. The RT2500 driver worked for my WMP54G v.4.1.

Great job!

OMGWTFBBQ IT WORKED

YOU ARE A GENIUS. that is all.

Thank you very much for this

Thank you very much for this useful article.

----------
Sohbet

adsa

adsa

Thank you with all my heart

Thank you with all my heart you have no idea how many things I have been trying and now that this has worked I could kiss you

Thank you again

help!!

ok this worked the first time no problem, but i recently had to reformat my hard drive and when i go to do this again i download the RT61+RT2500 drivers and install them and then under "realtek technology inc." there is no driver for the RT2500. the first time i did this it worked no problem, i have a wmp54g and i installed the same driver that worked for you and everything was fine, now that driver doesnt show up?? any suggestions?

please i need this! lol

oh and i'm running windows vista ultimate 64bit edition

Help

I recently installed vista home premium 32 bit edition and the ralink drivers and the ralink application is running, but it will only work when i am physically plugged into the router. it recognizes my wireless network, but my wmp54g pci adapter card will still not work. Can someone please help?

Vista problem

i have wmp54g,i have vista ultimate installed, problem i m having is that when i install the driver , they get installed but after the installation is complete i recieve an erroe that this device won't work properly and error code is 301. then too it detects the wireless lan but the connectivtiy is poor so it does does not connect. but in XP its not like that i can use my net properly. plz... help.
Borat

same problem. i'm not

same problem. i'm not getting that enthousiastic with x64 this way.
Note: there are 2 drivers called rt61....
which one is the one that works on linksys pci wmp54G

link to driver

http://forums.linksys.com/linksys/board/message?board.id=Wireless_Adapters&message.id=2699

Hello

thanks for link!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adriano

Buy movies online

Thanks alot

A couple of other tips to add: If you don't find the correct driver right away (you get an Error 10 Code), be sure you go back and uninstall the incorrect driver. Then click on Actions, select Detect Hardware Changes, and you'll get back to your original Device Manager configuration with the Network Controller listed again under Other Devices. (When you install an incorrect driver, it will show up under Network Adapters and the original detection under Other Devices will go away.)
download movies online

I have done everything

I have done everything above. Everything connects. I get an Ip and everything. Just cant browse to the internetsohbet Driver works pefect. Just no browsing.

Obsolete for Vista... but not Windows Server 2008 x64

You can use the same technique to enable a V4.1 wireless adapter in Windows Server 2008... w2k8 makes a great (and quick) desktop os with a few tweeks... with the help of this thread I was able to get the wireless adapter up and going (Linksys's driver wasn't signed = wk8 won't activate the driver!) but the Ralink drivers are signed... Had to remove the newtwork adapter from the device manager, but once I did the Ralink install worked like a champ!

Thanks!

this post is definately NOT

this post is definately NOT obsolete!!!! I've been trying for weeks to get my WMP54G card working properly; connection kept slowing down after a minute or two.

YOU ARE MY HERRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

No thanks to the Linksys support line... phoned them 5 times, they offered me a new card but I had a hunch it was a driver problem.

thaaank you

Thank you for saving me close to $100, got my WUSB54G version 1 working on vista...perfect

Thank you

Followed Directions and My WUSB54G is working perfectly (version 1 on vista)

WUSB54G V1

Did anyone get WUSB54G V1 working on vista x64?

Thanks

WUSB54G V2

I am still having difficulties finding and installing drivers for the 64 bit version of Vista. I have a Linksys WUSB54G V2. Can anyone help?

I have done everything

I have done everything above. Everything connects. I get an Ip and everything. Just cant browse to the internet. Driver works pefect. Just no browsing.

Amazing:

Look at the date stamp on this comment. Two years from the time of the original post and 64 bit wireless cards and drivers for them are still hard to find.

Through google I did finally luck onto a post at a Linksys forum and got the drivers for my wmp54g v.4 card, distributed by Ralink. This was after I went to Linksys tech online chat support and was told by the tech there that Linksys does not make 64 bit cards and did not supply 64 bit drivers for existing cards. Thanx for the help Linksys.

To them, the x64 is a small

To them, the x64 is a small group of people. They don care cos is not cost effective and even though they knew there is a 3rd party x64 driver. They just want you to buy a new set! They sucks big time!

Thanks for the people who contributes the valuable info. :)

This is so not obselete

I had a hell of a problem geting a wmp54g version 1 card with vista 64bit cause this old of a card has no vista or 64 bit drivers but following this site was great the ralink drivers worked marvelously.

thanks for all of this and its far from obselete.

P.S: like someone else said i did not have to use the windows xp drivers, i went to either ralink corp or incoperated and the first driver entry worked for me, ive yet to have any problems.

Why the fuck hasnt linsys

Why the fuck hasnt linsys made 64 vista drivers for these adapters yet? WTF is there godamn problem?

ilginc

thanks for all. interesting.

Thank you...

I'm new to this "computer scene" thing and let me tell you, this post helped out tremendously! It was easy to follow and actually made sense to a newbie like myself. Thanks for the help, this is legit

_________
sohbet

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