2 hours ago, Furioso said:

You can go through a wide range of troubleshooting but if you're not really computer savvy it's probably best to take the desktop with wireless USB adapter to the nearest computer store and have them troubleshoot the problem. 

Is a Wireless USB adapter the same as a hub?

 

52 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Turn the WiFI OFF on your laptop and plug in the Stick, see if it works.

If it does, it's your PC settings somewhere. If it doesn't the Stick is probably buggered, but I doubt it. How old is the TP Link thing, 

Down at the bottom right hand of the screen there is a small round item that you should be able to see the names of nearby users when you click on it. All I get is No internet access and no connections available.

At the bottom right of the screen there is a button you click on that tells you to turn the wifi on or off, I cannot get that sign. It also gives you the names of other nearby wifi users. If I could just get that to work my problems would be over.

 

11 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

Is a Wireless USB adapter the same as a hub?

 

NO. A USB adapter is a unit which picks up any local WiFi signal, and sends it out to your PC via the USB output. A HUB is a small box with a USB input from your PC, and then several USB OUTPUTS to which you can connect other USB units like a printer, a memory stick etc. Some are powered by the PC while others can be externally powered from a charger or the like.

Did you try the WiFi stick in your laptop?

15 hours ago, ukrules said:

Also when you restart the computer make sure you click 'restart' because it's a little different to a shutdown then press the power button.

It's kind of hidden but there are some 'fast boot' settings which can continue to keep drivers in memory - it's a form of hibernation.

Long story short - just click restart - not shutdown to be sure as you never know what it's up to 'under the hood'

You mean never shut down, just put PC to sleep? I go to UK on Friday for 4 weeks. Should I not shut down then?

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

NO. A USB adapter is a unit which picks up any local WiFi signal, and sends it out to your PC via the USB output. A HUB is a small box with a USB input from your PC, and then several USB OUTPUTS to which you can connect other USB units like a printer, a memory stick etc. Some are powered by the PC while others can be externally powered from a charger or the like.

Did you try the WiFi stick in your laptop?

Did you try the WiFi stick in your laptop? Not sure what wifi stick actually is. but I got it fixed, man came to my house, something to do with USB adapter. Man cannot speak English.

16 hours ago, connda said:

If the Op was computer saavy, he'd been using the built in Ethernet interface and not bothering with a USB Wireless adapter at all - no less buying and installing a PCI card - IF - he even has one available.  And? Wireless USB dongles work just fine as do range extenders. 

I admit I am not computer savvy, but I have no other farang friends to ask about anything, they have all died or moved away, I am not exactly computer unsavvy when it comes to entertainment, like movies and music. When it comes to photography, screenshots etc, I don't bother learning as I don't see the need.

19 hours ago, sandyf said:

On the basis that your desktop didn't come with a wi-fi adapter installed, it should have an ethernet port available. As suggested if  you have an ethernet cable availble you could try connecting directly to the router.

Re-installing the usb adapter may work  so worth a try.  A visit to the Device Manager may give a clue but may be a step too far.

 

I think there actually was a wifi adapter installed but it was in the wrong place, I don't know if there was an ethernet although I noticed my PC did have an on/off button.

1 hour ago, NoshowJones said:

You mean never shut down, just put PC to sleep? I go to UK on Friday for 4 weeks. Should I not shut down then?

Shut it down. If there is a power cut while you are away, it will restart anyway unless you do it the clever way and take the bloody plug out of the wall.

5 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

You mean never shut down, just put PC to sleep? I go to UK on Friday for 4 weeks. Should I not shut down then?

No, what I mean is when there's a problem you should do a 'restart' as it's more complete than a shutdown.

If that doesn't fix it then it's not a stubborn driver living in the hibernation part of the accelerated boot.

So do the restart just once, then continue with normal shutdowns.

21 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

I think there actually was a wifi adapter installed but it was in the wrong place, I don't know if there was an ethernet although I noticed my PC did have an on/off button.

There are 2 different ways to connect a computer to the internet. The most common these days is by a wireless signal from the router. As the name suggests it wire less and the other method is by using a wire. With computers this is known as "ethernet" and a cable is used to connect the PC to the router. The ethernet port looks a bit like large telephone point. Obviously you need the ethernet cable and one usually comes with a router. If you have a cable, taking the PC somewhere near the router and connecting should give you an internet connection.

For a static arrangement ethernet is a better option than using a usb wi-fi connection. These days the cabling issue can be overcome by using ethernet over power line adaptors.

In the event your USB adaptor is faulty an option worth considering.

 

On 9/2/2025 at 4:45 PM, NoshowJones said:

I have installed a sound bar, it is plugged into a USB port, I wonder if it is no coincidence the problem started with that.

 

1. Ok, first remove the usb connection to the sound bar, reboot PC and see if the problem still exists.
2. Go to the TP Link website, if have internet somewhere else, and download the latest drivers for your adapter, and install, reboot and try again.
3. If not very savvy, let a shop take care of the problem for you.

30 minutes ago, sandyf said:

There are 2 different ways to connect a computer to the internet. The most common these days is by a wireless signal from the router. As the name suggests it wire less and the other method is by using a wire. With computers this is known as "ethernet" and a cable is used to connect the PC to the router. The ethernet port looks a bit like large telephone point. Obviously you need the ethernet cable and one usually comes with a router. If you have a cable, taking the PC somewhere near the router and connecting should give you an internet connection.

For a static arrangement ethernet is a better option than using a usb wi-fi connection. These days the cabling issue can be overcome by using ethernet over power line adaptors.

In the event your USB adaptor is faulty an option worth considering.

 

Thanks a lot Sandy, my local engineer came to my house and fixed it, I hope it stays OK this time. I used to have problems by being not sure about leaving the pc in sleep mode when overnight or unused for hours.

I found out that doing this sometimes, not always, had no internet when switching it back on so had to fiddle about with it to get it back.

I was told by another poster that putting it in sleep mode overnight was the best method, so I will watch it and hope everything is OK now.

9 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

Thanks a lot Sandy, my local engineer came to my house and fixed it, I hope it stays OK this time. I used to have problems by being not sure about leaving the pc in sleep mode when overnight or unused for hours.

I found out that doing this sometimes, not always, had no internet when switching it back on so had to fiddle about with it to get it back.

I was told by another poster that putting it in sleep mode overnight was the best method, so I will watch it and hope everything is OK now.

Glad to here it.

Personally, in the 35 years I have been working with computers I have always shut down when not in use, never been a problem. Of course there will be those that disagree for one reason or another.

On 9/2/2025 at 3:35 PM, NoshowJones said:

I cannot get internet on desktop. It is not the internet itself, I can get it on my laptop.

i cannot get internet on my dektop, Laptop OK.

I have found this notice.

The TP -link wireless USB adapter is experiencing Driver- or Hardware related problems.

Anyone know  what I can do?

 

I am assuming you are using a internet service like True or AIS... Call them to come fix the problem. You can check your phone for WIFI and make your phone a hotspot until they fix the router problem. That way you will be able to use internet on computer until they replace or fix the problem. IF you have AIS, they do not charge to come check why your router is not working. 

11 minutes ago, thesetat said:

Call them to come fix the problem

Read better! A little bit late. above you can see the problem already fixed. 😂

2 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Read better! A little bit late. above you can see the problem already fixed. 😂

ok

20 hours ago, thesetat said:

On 9/2/2025 at 3:35 PM, NoshowJones said:

 

I am assuming you are using a internet service like True or AIS... Call them to come fix the problem.

You obviously missed the part where the OP had said the internet was ok on his laptop.

Just saying I had prob with new laptop TOT came and connected for me using the Ethernet cable... nice free service  👍