AC1900 A7000 not recognized on Surface Laptop 7

[aebmass]

I have used this my AC1900 A7000 USB Wifi Adapter on two Dell laptops successfully. Today I received a new Microsoft Surface 7 laptop, and it doesn't recognize the device. I have tried all the troubleshooting steps. Any advice?

[michaelkenward]

Windows versions?

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Just another user with time on their hands.

[aebmass]

Good questions. It's Windows 11, 2H2024. Freshly updated.

[michaelkenward]

Both of them? The A7000 doesn't claim to work with Windows 11. Hasn't had an update in six years. But anything that says Windows 10 usually does 11.

Why would you want a USB adapter in a Surface 7 laptop?

Pricey bit of kit that comes with Wi-Fi 7. The A7000 isn't even Wi-Fi 6.

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Just another user with time on their hands.

[aebmass]

One of the Dells it works on is also Windows 11.

I was using the A7000 with my Dell because it's internal WiFi antenna is poor. Looks like the Surface's is much better, so good point, I probably don't need the A7000.

[michaelkenward]

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@aebmass wrote:

Looks like the Surface's is much better, so good point, I probably don't need the A7000.

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I'd hope so at that price.

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@aebmass wrote:

One of the Dells it works on is also Windows 11.

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Netgear seems to have problems with USB adapters. What works fine for one person is a bugger for someone else. Sometimes it tracks back to Windows and its own USB drivers.

But if you want real grief, try to get one of these devices to work on a Mac. Even when it claims to be a compatible device, Apple has a habit of delivering updates that are beyond Netgear's capabilities.

I went for a PCIe card in Windows 11. Not something that you can do in a laptop.

But one thing to look out for with the native WiFi is the drivers. Early version had issues with Intel's chips.

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Just another user with time on their hands.