8 Troubleshooting
If your computer cannot find the EZ Connect Wireless USB Adapter or the network driver does not install correctly, check the following items:
•Make sure the adapter is connected to the USB port. Check for any hardware problems, such as physical damage to the adapter’s connector.
•Try the adapter in another USB port. If this also fails, try using another SMCWUSB32 wireless adapter that is known to operate correctly.
•Make sure your computer is using the latest BIOS.
•If there are other network adapters in the computer, they may cause conflicts. Disable or remove all other adapters from the computer and test the wireless adapter separately.
•Check for a defective computer or USB port by trying the adapter in another computer that is known to operate correctly.
Common Installation Problems
Problems are often caused by cabling errors, conflicts with other devices installed in the same computer, or software that has been configured incorrectly. If you encounter a problem with the SMCWUSB32, use the following checklists to identify and correct the problem.
•If you’re computer cannot find the SMCWUSB32, or the network driver does not install correctly, check the following items before contacting SMC Technical Support
o Make sure the adapter is securely seated in the USB slot. Check for any hardware problems, such as physical damage to the card’s edge connector.
o Try the card in another USB slot. If this fails, test the card in a completely different system or try using a second SMCWUSB32 in that particular USB slot.
o Make sure your computer is using the latest BIOS available. Contact the manufacturer of the computer or motherboard for information on updating the BIOS (e.g. – Dell, Toshiba, etc)
o If there are other network cards in the computer, they may be causing conflicts. Remove all other cards from the computer and test the SMCWUSB32 separately.
Network Connection Problems
There may be a network connection problem if the LED on the card does not light, or if you cannot access any network resources from the computer. Check the following items before contacting SMC Technical Support.
•Make sure the correct network card driver is installed for your operating system. If necessary, try uninstalling and reinstalling the driver. To do this, first go into the Device Manager, select Network Adapters, and remove the SMC adapter. Then open up your Start Menu, go to Programs, click the "SMCWUSB32 WLAN Utility" program folder and choose "Uninstall". Reboot the machine when the uninstall is complete. Once you have booted up again, the OS may ask for the SMC Driver CD again. Insert your Driver CD and browse to the driver path again. Then install the utility program again.
•If you are using Windows XP and you cannot get the Wireless Zero Configuration to start or you simply do not see any wireless functionality on your system, the service may have been disabled by a third party application. Please check with Microsoft for assistance on
•Make sure the computer and other network devices are receiving power. If you suspect a power outlet to be faulty, plug another device into it to verify that it is working.