*FIX* Linksys WMP54G v4.1 lag on Windows 7

[Thrax]

The Windows Update-provided Windows 7 driver for the Linksys WMP54G WLAN adapter is bad. It will increase your latency and cause outrageous packet loss.

If you're looking to fix the Linksys wmp54g Windows 7 driver issue, you must download the Windows Vista 32/64-bit driver for the Ralink RT256x & RT266x Series WLAN chipsets, which I have attached at the end of this post.

The WMP54G 4.1 will not inherently recognize these drivers as compatible, so you must force the card to install the Ralink RT61 WLAN Card V2 drivers. Please see the attached image to see the driver installation procedure.

[QCH]

Good info, Thrax. :thumbsup:

[Archreaper]

Hey, wanted to know if you had the 32-bit version of that link as I'm not running the 64-bit windows 7

[Thrax]

The drivers cover both.

[Archreaper]

Hmm, cause when I tried to follow the guide you made up there it didn't work, stating that 64-bit file will not work :(

[stellarvelocity]

Hmm, cause when I tried to follow the guide you made up there it didn't work, stating that 64-bit file will not work :(

I also have this problem. At this point if there's not x86 fix for this card I'm going to throw it in a box and buy a different one. It's become ridiculous.

[Thrax]

I eventually bailed on the card and went to a D-Link DWA-522. I suggest everyone do something similar.

[floppybootstomp]

The Windows Update-provided Windows 7 driver for the Linksys WMP54G WLAN adapter is bad. It will increase your latency and cause outrageous packet loss.

If you're looking to fix the Linksys wmp54g Windows 7 driver issue, you must download the Windows Vista 32/64-bit driver for the Ralink RT256x & RT266x Series WLAN chipsets, which I have attached at the end of this post.

The WMP54G 4.1 will not inherently recognize these drivers as compatible, so you must force the card to install the Ralink RT61 WLAN Card V2 drivers. Please see the attached image to see the driver installation procedure.

Thanks for posting this Thrax but I'm having no luck installing these drivers.

I have a Linksys WMP54G wireless card and Win 7 32 bit installed on a hard disk all to itself (HDD caddy). I haven't been able to get online at all so therefore can't get the Win 7 update for drivers for this card.
This is probably my problem.

I downloaded the drivers you supplied (thank you) but my problem is the card isn't listed in device manager.

I have several 'Other devices' listed in device manager amongst them two unknown devices, a network controller and a DVC170 which I don't know what it is.

All of these Other Devices don't like the drivers I've downloaded from here and will not install them.

Any ideas how to fix this issue?

As an aside, Win 7 has just informed me the activation period has expired and I therefore do not have a genuine copy of Windows. Well, that's because I can't get online to activate it...

The machine spec (which is working flawlessly with Win XP Pro) and which is probably more than you need to know but I just cut and pasted this info:

Asus M2N sli Deluxe motherboard
AMD Athlon AM2 XP6400+ 3.2Ghz dual core CPU
Noctua NH-U12F CPU Cooler with 2 x 120mm fans
2Gb Corsair XMS DDR2 6400C5 memory
BFG Nvidia 8800GTS 640Mb Video card
Creative Audigy 2 Sound Card
Linksys Wireless WMP54G V4.1 Network card
Sata II Caddies For Primary drive x 3 housing:
250Gb Samsung SATA II Hard Disk (Win XP)
160Gb Maxtor SATA II Hard Disk (For Linux Distros)
160Gb Maxtor SATA II Hard Disk (For Linux Distros)
Storage Hard Disks:
320Gb Samsung SATA II Hard Disk
750Gb Samsung SATA II Hard Disk
Western Digital 120Gb Hard Disks x 2
Dazzle Platinum USB Video/Audio interface breakout box
Antec Sonata Case
Corsair 650W Non Modular PSU
Plextor 800A 18 x DVDRW PATA
Asus DVD-ROM PATA
A Floppy Drive
Logitech corded G5 Laser Mouse
Logitech flat compact keyboard, corded
Samsung 22” 2232BW Glossy Black Pebble Monitor
Pioneer A300 80wpc amplifier
A pair of Bush SPK2025 Loudspeakers
HP Photosmart 7960 Inkjet Printer

PS: I could make up a CAT 5 cable to run between rooms from the Linksys wireless card to the linksys wirelss router/modem which has four hardwired ports. I could then enable onboard LAN and probably get the rudimentary drivers for the wireless card from MS - do you think this may be my only option?

[Thrax]

The driver package in fact only contains x64 driver. My condolences.

[floppybootstomp]

I eventually bailed on the card and went to a D-Link DWA-522. I suggest everyone do something similar.

Good idea.

Thanks for your reply.

Just out of interest Linux Mint 7 won't recognise the Linksys card either and I read elsewhere that Linksys flatly refuse to compile drivers for Win 7 for the WMP54G card.

If that information is correct then poor show from Linksys eh?

[Thrax]

It's impossible to know what Linksys does and does not refuse to do. Most people have had a fine experience with this card, but there are isolated pockets of those that don't.

To be fair, this card is borderline ancient for a wifi nic.

[floppybootstomp]

An update of sorts.

I thought I'd buy a D-Link DWA 522 card as that would be problem solved and it looks to be a fine card.

But it would seem the card is not yet available in the UK. I've tried a dozen suppliers, Amazon and Googled until my fingers bled but I just can't find one for sale in this beleagured little isle of ours.

I had to order a few bits online so I got me's a cheapie D-Link wireless card DWL G510, taking a gamble.

The card works perfectly with Win XP Pro and I note it's considerably faster than the Linksys WMP54G but I cannot get it to work in Win 7 32 Bit.

I've tried the drivers on the CD, fresh drivers from D-Link and drivers from RaLink none of which were successful in Win 7.

On the plus side though Linux Mint 7 'Gloria' took a shine to it and I'm now online with this Distro which I'm rather fond of, have just completed all the software updates, all 279 of them :)

So it was worth the £16.50 just to get Mint working and faster speeds in Win XP.

I had intended to use Win 7 when it is at last released as an OEM version and put my version of Vista onto the machine I'm using as a Media machine but I'm a little wary now.

If the DWA522 is released in Britain I'll definitely go for it but I'll have to bide my time.

And on a side note, I feel that Vista was definitely below par, not too bad but flawed and slow and Win 7 is MS's acknowlegement that they foisted a pile of crap on us and charged us for it, at the time telling us it was the bestest thing ever.

Now they want to charge us a second time for righting the wrongs in Vista.

I honestly think either Win 7 should have been issued as a Vista patch or at the very least every Vista licence holder should get a free copy or a substantial discount.

It's a repeat of the ME saga as far as I'm concerned and it is no small wonder lots of folk have no confidence in Mr Ballmer and his gangstas of unfair trading practices.

ok - /rant ;)

[Thrax]

Windows 7 has so many core changes that it would be impossible to release it as a patch. The exterior may look similar, but the interior is a whole new ball game. It's significant enough that they could have changed the kernel number one full revision to NT 7.0, but they left it as 6.1 for compatibility reasons.

[Jasdemi]

Sorry for necro'ing this thread, but:

Thank you a lot for your effort, Thrax. This driver works perfectly for me! :D

No more huge lag spikes every 60 sec.

[eyc908]

I eventually bailed on the card and went to a D-Link DWA-522. I suggest everyone do something similar.

Thrax, if you don't mind my asking, how come you ditched the card? I've been using some older driver for some time, but was experiencing lag, and I stumbled upon your thread. No question the newer driver made a world of a difference.

But, now, when browsing, I'm experiencing lockups and all sorts of strange problems. When I uninstall the driver, everything goes back to normal. Did you experience this? Is that why you bailed on that driver?

[Thrax]

No, I bailed on the card because the performance still wasn't as good as newer wireless chipsets such as those featured on the D-Link card. I surely experienced no freezing, though. :)

[eyc908]

No, I bailed on the card because the performance still wasn't as good as newer wireless chipsets such as those featured on the D-Link card. I surely experienced no freezing, though. :)

Gotcha. Thanks for the reply. I hope I can get the card to work properly. The card makes browsing exponentially better. But there must be some flaws that I am unaware of. Anytime I run a speed test, my computer will completely lock up and I have to force shut down.

Sorry for necro'ing this thread, but:

Thank you a lot for your effort, Thrax. This driver works perfectly for me! :D

No more huge lag spikes every 60 sec.

@Jasdemi, could you do me one favor? Could you go to either of these two websites and run a speed test?

http://www.speedtest.net/
http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

When I run speed tests at either of these sites, everything goes along just fine until the upload process, at which point the computer completely locks up and requires a force shut down.

I would think that any time I'm uploading something, I'll probably face the same issue.

[Thrax]

By the way, welcome to Icrontic to the both of you, Jasdemi and eyc908. :) I hope you'll explore other sections of our community and find a new home here.

[Jasdemi]

@Jasdemi, could you do me one favor? Could you go to either of these two websites and run a speed test?

http://www.speedtest.net/
http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

When I run speed tests at either of these sites, everything goes along just fine until the upload process, at which point the computer completely locks up and requires a force shut down.

I would think that any time I'm uploading something, I'll probably face the same issue.

Both speedtests are working fine for me.

[gorgos]

OK, now I need help. First I installed the RT2500 drivers for my WMP54G card on Windows 7 64-bit and it worked.. but I have many lags and often a very slow connection. I definitely need other drivers. So I found this thread and tried it, but whatever I do, it always ends with the error "This device cannot start (Code 10)". Any ideas?? Thanks.

[Thrax]

There are several versions of the WMP54G adapter. This guide is only compatible with v4.1, as it is the only adapter to use the RT2500 chipset.