NetGear WPN-511 Adapter will not install.

StillMatic · 04-01-2009, 05:58 PM

I have a NetGear WPN-511 RangeMax wifi adapter that will not install in my HP laptop. The funny thing is, it used to work! I had it installed and got a usb dongle but then sold it, so when I went to re-install the adapter again, it didn't even finish installing. Everything about the installation process is good up until the point where it says to insert the card. After the card is inserted, everything stops. Maybe the card is dead? Maybe the PCI ports on the side of the laptop are not functioning properly. Is there anyone who can help me solve this problem? I'd hate to have to shell out another $45 for another card. I mainly need it because I can run Backtrack 3 and put the wifi adapter into monitor mode to test my wireless security out. The card is under 5 months old and was only used for about 2 weeks. Is there some sort of warranty from NetGear itself that will help me get a new one? Any help is greatly appreciated and thanks for taking the time to read this!

guggesn · 05-29-2009, 01:15 PM

I fixed my problem, which apart from my adapter being a WG511, was exactly as described here - no lights on the adapter, install failing, installer not recognizing the adapter as a Netgear one (how could it, the card would not power on). All this after it worked for over a year, but was flaky, gave me a nonresponsive mouse a lot, worked around that one by pulling the card until the box booted up, but still a pain. Then it just shut down, when I installed updated driver, while working with Verizon MiFi tech support. But I installed the latest v2 driver, which you will see below is where my problem was.

Went to Netgear site to ask them if cards just refuse to power on, and discovered this article - http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WG511.asp in a really roundabout way, anyway, I looked at my adapter, WG511 (AKA v1) and then I looked at the dang CD that came with the card (still have the box!), and it says WG511 v2, and those two drivers are NOT interchangeable. Some dummy at the distribution center put v2 CD into my v1 shipping box. Well, I downloaded the right driver (still have the rgina.dll issue, but I will fix that again), and the card fired right up after I installed the RIGHT DRIVER. I would say, if your install blows up as described above, get the v1 or an earlier driver and try it. Worked for me, now I don't have to shell out another $50.
Susan

StillMatic · 05-31-2009, 11:06 AM

Thanks for the reply. I had given up on the card and the laptop. But since I read your reply, I will try to fix the problem. I have downloaded all three drivers for my card and will test which ones will work. Hell, since my first post, the laptop just sat on my desk untouched as I have grown quite fond of my iPhone for portable internet and have rigged my PSP with packet sniffers to test out my wifi stability against intruders. Seeing as how yours has the same chipset, I now wished I had gotten the WG511 instead of the one I purchased.

Anyway thank you so much Susan for the reply. You have just given cpr to a dead laptop! As soon as I get the results from my findings I will post them in hopes of helping anyone else who may experience this kind of trouble!

On a side note, I know my wife will be happy if this works too!

guggesn · 06-01-2009, 06:47 AM

I went through the rounds with Netgear over the weekend, asking them to comment, and finally after getting the issue bumped up to a senior level, the rep did say that my call on the issue, that I received a v1 card with a v2 CD WAS RIGHT. So now the company has just confirmed our issue and the resolution! I hate to see HW going unused, bugs me!! Glad you can revive your laptop, I'm convinced that's the issue, since the v1 install went like butter for me when I finally twigged what was going on. Still works this morning, dude - glad because I'm conducting a training with my laptop and that card and the new MiFi access point. Fingers crossed!
Susan

04-01-2009, 05:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
StillMatic Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 8 OS: Windows XP	NetGear WPN-511 Adapter will not install. I have a NetGear WPN-511 RangeMax wifi adapter that will not install in my HP laptop. The funny thing is, it used to work! I had it installed and got a usb dongle but then sold it, so when I went to re-install the adapter again, it didn't even finish installing. Everything about the installation process is good up until the point where it says to insert the card. After the card is inserted, everything stops. Maybe the card is dead? Maybe the PCI ports on the side of the laptop are not functioning properly. Is there anyone who can help me solve this problem? I'd hate to have to shell out another $45 for another card. I mainly need it because I can run Backtrack 3 and put the wifi adapter into monitor mode to test my wireless security out. The card is under 5 months old and was only used for about 2 weeks. Is there some sort of warranty from NetGear itself that will help me get a new one? Any help is greatly appreciated and thanks for taking the time to read this!

05-29-2009, 01:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
guggesn Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2 OS: XP Pro SP3	Re: NetGear WPN-511 Adapter will not install. I fixed my problem, which apart from my adapter being a WG511, was exactly as described here - no lights on the adapter, install failing, installer not recognizing the adapter as a Netgear one (how could it, the card would not power on). All this after it worked for over a year, but was flaky, gave me a nonresponsive mouse a lot, worked around that one by pulling the card until the box booted up, but still a pain. Then it just shut down, when I installed updated driver, while working with Verizon MiFi tech support. But I installed the latest v2 driver, which you will see below is where my problem was. Went to Netgear site to ask them if cards just refuse to power on, and discovered this article - http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/WG511.asp in a really roundabout way, anyway, I looked at my adapter, WG511 (AKA v1) and then I looked at the dang CD that came with the card (still have the box!), and it says WG511 v2, and those two drivers are NOT interchangeable. Some dummy at the distribution center put v2 CD into my v1 shipping box. Well, I downloaded the right driver (still have the rgina.dll issue, but I will fix that again), and the card fired right up after I installed the RIGHT DRIVER. I would say, if your install blows up as described above, get the v1 or an earlier driver and try it. Worked for me, now I don't have to shell out another $50. Susan Last edited by guggesn; 05-29-2009 at 01:18 PM.

05-31-2009, 11:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
StillMatic Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 8 OS: Windows XP	Re: NetGear WPN-511 Adapter will not install. Thanks for the reply. I had given up on the card and the laptop. But since I read your reply, I will try to fix the problem. I have downloaded all three drivers for my card and will test which ones will work. Hell, since my first post, the laptop just sat on my desk untouched as I have grown quite fond of my iPhone for portable internet and have rigged my PSP with packet sniffers to test out my wifi stability against intruders. Seeing as how yours has the same chipset, I now wished I had gotten the WG511 instead of the one I purchased. Anyway thank you so much Susan for the reply. You have just given cpr to a dead laptop! As soon as I get the results from my findings I will post them in hopes of helping anyone else who may experience this kind of trouble! On a side note, I know my wife will be happy if this works too!

06-01-2009, 06:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
guggesn Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2 OS: XP Pro SP3	Re: NetGear WPN-511 Adapter will not install. I went through the rounds with Netgear over the weekend, asking them to comment, and finally after getting the issue bumped up to a senior level, the rep did say that my call on the issue, that I received a v1 card with a v2 CD WAS RIGHT. So now the company has just confirmed our issue and the resolution! I hate to see HW going unused, bugs me!! Glad you can revive your laptop, I'm convinced that's the issue, since the v1 install went like butter for me when I finally twigged what was going on. Still works this morning, dude - glad because I'm conducting a training with my laptop and that card and the new MiFi access point. Fingers crossed! Susan