I noticed that very often they are looking for a driver for distributing Wi-Fi. Everyone wants to download this driver for Windows 7, Windows 8, and for Windows 10. If you also want to download this driver, then you've come to the right place. No, I will not give you a download link, this is not necessary, but I will just tell and show you what's what. What is this driver that allows you to distribute Wi-Fi, where to get it and what is it for.
I'm sure that you want to configure the distribution of the Internet from your computer (laptop) over a Wi-Fi network. Most likely, you have already tried to do this, but you did not succeed. You read somewhere that you need a special driver, and now you are looking for it. Did you guess right? I think yes.
If you have not tried to configure anything yet, then try it, perhaps all the necessary drivers are already installed. Here are the instructions:
- We distribute the Internet via Wi-Fi from a computer on Windows 7
- Instructions for setting up an access point in Windows 10
If you do not have the correct driver installed, then on the command line you will most likely see an error: "The hosted network could not be started. The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the required operation."
If you configure through some program, then there may be another error. For example: "Unable to start virtual router plus" in Virtual Router Plus. I wrote about this error here.
If you are faced with such a problem, then there are several options:
- You do not have the Wi-Fi adapter driver installed.
- Disabled (not used) adapter "Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter", etc.
- Wi-Fi is completely disabled on the laptop.
- The driver is installed, but it does not work correctly. You need to update / reinstall it.
- There are other reasons as well. For example, the adapter does not support launching a virtual network (but this is rare).
Let's start in order to make it clear, and we don't get confused.
Why do you need a driver for distributing Wi-Fi, and where to download it?
I will explain. We have a special Wi-Fi adapter installed in our laptop. The same adapter can be connected to a stationary computer. Its main task is to connect to Wi-Fi networks, which we most often do. But, these adapters also have a reverse function that allows you to share Wi-Fi, not receive it. This all happens through the same adapter.
Therefore, there is no special driver for distributing Wi-Fi... All you need to do is install the driver for our adapter. That would work on a laptop Wi-Fi. And the virtual adapter, which allows you to run the distribution of the Internet, will be installed automatically. Therefore, this problem most often occurs due to the fact that the driver for the wireless adapter is not installed. Or installed but not suitable. This also happens.
How do I check for a driver for a wireless adapter?
The easiest way is to go to the device manager and see everything. This must be done first. If the driver is not installed, we will see it. It happens that the virtual adapter is simply not involved, if so, then we will enable it.
It doesn't matter if you have Windows 7 or Windows 10, we need to check everything in Device Manager. Open it in any way convenient for you. You can press the keyboard shortcut Win + R, copy command devmgmt.msc and press Ok.
We immediately find and open the tab Network adapters... You must have at least two adapters in this tab. This is a regular network card and wireless adapter. In its name you will most likely see the words "Wi-Fi", or "Wireless".
If you don't have a wireless adapter there, and only one network card, then you just need to download and install the driver on Wi-Fi. You can download it from the website of your laptop manufacturer. Strictly for your model and Windows installed. Here's a guide for an example: how to install drivers on a Wi-Fi adapter in Windows 7.
Checking the virtual Wi-Fi adapter
If you have a wireless adapter (the name may differ from the one in the screenshot), but you cannot start the access point, then you also need to check the presence and operation of the vital adapter.
As a rule, it is called: "Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter", "Virtual Hosted Network Adapter (Microsoft)" (in Windows 10), and in my Windows 7 it is signed as "Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter" (maybe with a number ).
You should also have it. He is responsible for distributing Wi-Fi. It can be disabled and there may be an arrow icon next to it. To enable, right-click on it and select "Engage".
In Windows 10, it looks like this:
If this adapter is not displayed, then enable the display of hidden devices. Like this:
The result of this whole check. If you do not find the driver for the wireless adapter and the virtual adapter, then you need to install / update / reinstall the driver on the wireless adapter that is installed in your computer.
If you still can't start Wi-Fi sharing
Let's look at a few more options if everything is ok with the drivers:
- Wi-Fi must be turned on. Airplane mode must be disabled. It would be nice to check if your computer is connected to Wi-Fi networks and if it sees them. If you have Windows 10 then check out this article. If Windows 7, then check if Wi-Fi is enabled according to this instruction: how to enable Wi-Fi on a laptop with Windows 7.
- At the beginning of the article, I gave links to detailed instructions for running a virtual Wi-Fi network on a laptop. Try to configure everything according to the instructions. And if it does not work out, then write in the comments at what stage you have a problem, and which one.
- If your network starts up, but the Internet simply does not work, then this is a completely different problem: they distributed Wi-Fi from a laptop, and the Internet does not work "Without access to the Internet."
I tried to make this article as simple and understandable as possible. If you still have questions, then ask them in the comments.
