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RoscoePC's avatar
RoscoePC
Aspirant
May 10, 2016

A6100 Installation, Standalone or Genie Version and Windows WLAN AutoConfig

Hello, 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read my question. I've searched for this answer and even sent an email to Microsoft, but no answer yet...I cannot find it anywhere.

 

So what I'm wanting to know has more to do with WLAN in general than with my NetGear A6100 card but it does apply to my A6100 NIC.

 

I installed the A6100 v1.0.0.30 with Genie on my Windows 8.1 64-bit machine and it seems to work good, I see many networks and all appears to be good, but I'm wondering if I should uninstall it and just use the standalone version?

 

The reason I ask this is that this is the first WLAN NIC I've had in years, almost 7+ years since I last used WLAN and I realize that things have changed, but back then I had a Wireless NIC (don't wanna mention the name 'cause it wasn't a NetGear product), and I remember that the product had it's own WLAN service and driver and I had to turn off Microsoft's WLAN AutoConfig service in order for it to work properly.

 

The PC I had this on was Windows XP Pro and I understand that Windows 8.1 has probably added some new things for networking but I'm wondering if I turn the WLAN AutoConfig service off in Windows 8.1 and uninstall the Genie version of NetGear and then install the standalone version, will I still have the ability to use WLAN on my Windows 8.1 machine.

 

In other words, do I need the Windows WLAN AutoConfig service to be on for the NetGear driver and firmware to function. I do not like the Windows WLAN AutoConfig, it never seems to connect properly, loses connections alot (they go from good to limited, etc.) and would prefer to have only the NetGear drivers for accessing Wireless networks. 

 

I have all the latest updates from Windows Update installed, except the one where it offers to replace the NETGEAR A6100 Genie with the Microsoft version of it and I also know that other people on Windows 7 and 8 have issues with the Microsoft WLAN AutoConfig so this is not just something limited to my computer.

A6100
AutoConfig
Genie
Installation
standalone
windows
WLAN

5 Replies

  • RoscoePC's avatar
    RoscoePC
    Aspirant
    May 10, 2016

    Update to my post:

     

    I should have said if I turn off the Windows WLAN AutoConfig can I still use either the standalone driver or the Genie to access wireless networks on my Windows 8.1 machine? Sorry for the confusion.

    • JamesGL's avatar
      JamesGL
      NETGEAR Employee Retired
      May 19, 2016

      Hi RoscoePC,

       

      If you disable the WLAN Autocnofig, your may need to use the Genie version so that the Genie will manage your network settings.

      • RoscoePC's avatar
        RoscoePC
        Aspirant
        May 19, 2016

        I guess I didn't explain my problem and gave too much information up front and I also notice that some of my wording could be confusing.

         

        So I'll try again, I have Windows 8.1 and I want to use only my NetGear A6100 NIC to handle the wireless in Windows, so can I disable the WLAN service that comes with Windows 8.1 and just use the Genie version of the drivers/firmware I downloaded from netgear.com or do I need both the Windows WLAN service to be turned on plus have the Genie in order to properly use my NetGear NIC?