after running diagnostics i get this and i think the part it failed is the DNSserver search order1 person needs an answerI do too

The Atheros wireless network adapter has either failed or is missing its drivers. Make sure it is enabled (look in Device Manager). Also some laptops have a switch, button, or need a combination of FN + some key to enable the wireless adapter. Make sure it is on. If the wireless is on and still not working, reinstall the drivers. Get them from the computer mftr.'s website or, if this is a PCI wireless card, from the wireless card mftr.'s website. If none of that doesn't work, perhaps the hardware itself has failed.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

i went to the company website and downloaded the driver for the wireless but it went to a folder and i don't have any idea how to install it ! do i need to go to device manager and uninstall the driver there first? or do i just extract the file and hope it goes to the right pklace? please help !!!

How about giving the name of the "folder" or file you downloaded? Then I can walk you through it. No, you don't normally do anything with Device Manager.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

ok the zipped folder is: wireless LAN ATHEROS_7.7.0.321_XPx....

The file you downloaded doesn't end in .exe? If it does end in .exe (and this is why giving me the full name of the file was important and not ending it with an ellipsis), then just double-click on the file to start the installation process. If the file you downloaded was a .zip file, double-click it and there is a folder inside the archive, drag the folder out to your Desktop. Then look inside the folder for an installer; it will usually be called something like setup.exe. What kind of computer do you have? If you have a branded OEM machine (HP, Dell, etc.) then post the make/model so I can look up the drivers for you. Or give me a link to where you got the drivers so I can check it out for you.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

i have an acer AspireOne D250 and i downloaded the driver from their support webpage and exactly like i put before is what showing up for the file but it has a zipper on it and when i click on it it gives the option to "extract all" is this what i want to do and then look for the set upexe. file? and then what about the driver i already have? will it automatically update? thanks so much for your help

Because you finally told me your computer make/model, I've downloaded the Atheros driver package. Your experience with it may differ from mine because I'm not running Windows on this machine. When I double-click on the folder, OS X automatically extracts the drivers into a folder for me. What you should do is create a folder on your desktop first. Call it "Atheros LAN driver" or the like. Then double-click on the .zip file you downloaded and extract the contents to the folder you just made. One of the files inside is called "setup.exe". Double-click on that to start the drivers installation. You don't need to uninstall the old ones first. If installing these drivers doesn't work then possibly the hardware has failed. Call Acer tech support.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

thank you for your help the wireless device is now passing the diagnostic test although it does not connect to public networks as well as my old laptop that had windows vista even though i have two bars and 54 speed,its very slow and i freeze up a lot, which never happened before. do you think its because the adapter is not as good or could the settings be wrong to connect to a public unsecured network?

It could be that the adapter isn't good or the drivers aren't well-written. I can't answer the question about the public unsecured network because I'm not there to test connectivity to that particular network. It might be worth calling Acer tech support.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!