This took me a fair bit of time to accomplish this but after digging around, the Linux community led me to the solution. The chip set in the in Linkysys WUSB54GC is made by Ralink. I was able to locate a driver from Ralink’s site that will work with this device.
So here are the steps:
Download the USB(RT2500USB) driver from ralinktech.com.
Launch the executable and when prompted choose to install the driver only.
Plug in device.
Wait for windows to tell you installation has failed.
Click Start; OK the Windows logo button thinger. What does MS call this now?
Right click on “Computer” and select properties.
Open Device Manager.
Locate the failed device in the Network adapters list.
Right click on the device name and select “Update Driver Software”.
Select “Browse my computer for driver software”.
Select “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer”.
Select “Network adapters” and click next.
From the list of Manufacturers select “Ralink Technology Corp.”
From the list of Network Adapters select “RT73 USB Wireless LAN Card”.
Click Next
You will receive a warning, Click Yes.
Proceed to connect to a AP as normal with the built in Windows utility.
20 Responses to “Installing WUSB54GC on Windows 7”
Great advice but there’s an easier work around. Download the wusb54gc vista driver. After the install, go to device manager and select the network adapter. Same steps as yours thereafter but the not a huge download like RT25000USB (33mb).
By Michael on Jan 19, 2009
From Admin: With my install of windows 7, the linksys driver install continually crashed explorer.
By Michael on Jan 19, 2009
Michael – I can’t get the wusb54gc driver to install in Windows 7. Are you sure?
By JDS on Jan 22, 2009
Further – I can’t ever got the USB adapter to how up in device manager!?
By JDS on Jan 22, 2009
This driver works for my installation which is in the 64-bit version of 7. I have not tested this within a 32-bit install. My understanding is that it is a 32-bit driver though and would leave me to believe that it would work in 32.
Is the device mounting in the unknown devices section of device manager? If so, just follow the steps above once you have located the device. If it not showing at all try a different USB port or from the Action menu within device manager, click “Scan for Hardware Changes”.
Another thought, kind of a stretch i think, is that you UAC settings may be to high to allow your account to install new hardware. You can try to lower these by click start, typing UAC into the search box, and going through the User Account Settings wizard.
Best of Luck,
Michael
By Michael on Jan 23, 2009
the ralink fix worked well for me. thanks
By nanker phelge on Jan 29, 2009
i have the beta x64 7000 build, and can’t get this method to work….i get it to see the usb in device manger, but it only lets me install the rt2500 driver not the 73 driver
By William C Boehm Jr on Feb 27, 2009
William, I would first try removing any RA-link drivers you have installed. Do a quick reboot, scrub the registry with something CCleaner (available from the link below), reboot again, then try the RT73 installer again.
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
By Michael on Feb 27, 2009
Interesting.
I’m using the drivers included on the in-box will no problems at all. Might somebody correct me with an error?
By Dan on Jun 14, 2009
What is the error you are receiving Dan?
By Michael on Jun 14, 2009
Update – sorry.
I’ve tried downloading the driver multiple times, but it keeps timing out. “This operation timed out because the timeout period expired.”
It’s really odd because I don’t have anything else running, perhaps a firewall issue? I have McAfee Security Center Beta for Windows 7.
By Brian on Jun 22, 2009
I have wusb54gc v3 and had the same issue with windows 7 rc x64.
To resolve this issue i did the following.
Download the latest drivers from the linksys website. Extract the file.
plug the adaptor into a usb port
browse to device manager (right click on computer – and click manage then click device manager)
The device should be listed under “other devices” as a 802.11g WLAN – right click this device and select update driver software
select browse my computer for driver software. In the search box type in the path for the updated driver you downloaded. i.e. c:\temp\linksysdriver
the last step is to install the wireless manager – you can do this by running setup.exe (x86) or setup64.exe (for x64 duh)
By semicon on Aug 15, 2009
I tried this with my WUSB54GSC, only difference is speedbooster….
and i keep getting a “code 10″ error and it says that “This device cannot start”
I’m becoming frustrated as i can’t even connect to the internet with my new version of windows, any suggestions or help??? pleaseeee.
By Grant on Oct 23, 2009
Looks like linksys’s official response to installing this device is to use the generic broadcom driver found in 7’s official release. Link to there official response is below. Pretty much mirrors mine except for the usage fo the RALink driver.
http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/linksys.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5470
By Michael on Oct 24, 2009
I tried semicon’s suggestion and it worked. Thanks
By robert paulsen on Nov 6, 2009
I have tried everything. None of these seem to work. I have the black WUSB54GC (ver 3?). I plug it in when the CD says to and it detects it. Then, I get an error msg after it shows it is installing the driver. I have tried to delete it, plug in the USB card, and in Device Manager change the driver. Nothing works. ANY help. I have Windows 7 Home Premium and a 64 bit system. ANY HELP out there?
By Jerry on Nov 7, 2009
Hi,
If Ur Installing Wusb54gc On Windows 7 Then U Don’t Have Download Any Driver … The All What U Have Do is Manually Install The Driver For The Adapter From The Disk..& While Selecting the Driver …Select the Vista Driver….
By Shashank on Nov 10, 2009
i installed it and it was successful. what do i do? im running x64 win 7
By Justin on Nov 14, 2009
Can you elaborate? if the install was successful all should be well and working? what exactly is your question Justin?
By Michael on Nov 14, 2009
HELP!! Ready to return my computer. Bought a new ASUS Cm5570 with Windows 7. Also, bought a new WUSB54gs adapter. Can not connect. Adaper device not being recognized.
By Debbie on Dec 30, 2009