Wireless LAN help

[Ting Ho Dung]

Been out of IT for a very long time and don't feel like researching all the idiots remarks on newegg. But it seems my wireless adapter (USB) is kind of shot. I do speed tests and they bounce around from 90kps to 7msp download. Upload is worse of course. I thought at first it was my ISP but hooked up an old XP laptop directly to the Linksys router and download speed is consistent @ 17Mps. I'm running a desktop I built in '09. 4gig ram. Intel dual core 2.7 ghz. Unofficial Win 7.

I know the PC isn't up to today's standards. But I don't use it for anything but YouTube, this site, and pirated movies / streaming from netflix and Amazon. 

I believe all I need is a better USB wireless adapter but I suppose it could also be my old Linksys 2.4 ghz router. It has the extra large antennae with the bar across the middle. The wireless drivers are not updateable. 

[mathman]

How old is the link sys?   They seem to flake out after 4 to 6 years.

 

 

[Ting Ho Dung]

Just now, mathman said:

How old is the link sys?   They seem to flake out after 4 to 6 years.

 

 

It's probably that old. 

[HamerDave]

I've run into similar problems with both Linksys and Netgear routers. I've found that resetting the router to the factory default setting and the reconfiguring it to my liking clears up the problem. Make sure you know the default admin password and give it a try. It couldn't suck any worse right?

[HSB0531]

FYI

I believe the default user and password for linksys routers is admin for both.

Its always good to update with a new wireless router every several years.

Older laptops with internal wifi adapters can benefit from a new USB wireless adaptor stick and making that your default adaptor.

 

[Carl.B]

Did you try the adapter in another USB port on your computer? Do you have any Window's restore points saved? If you do try resetting Window's back to a point prior to you seeing your issue's.

 

[scottcald]

If it's a desktop, is it so far away you can't run ethernet?  That would be better all around.   Also, depending on the router, you could just use another old router and join the wifi network, then plug a wire from it to your computer.