wireless network adapter

[Alvin_Kirui]

I am running windows 1903.In HP Customer support-Software and Driver Downloads, the driver listed under Driver-Network for my wireless adapter is Realtek RTL8723BE/RTL8188EE 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Drivers but the one installed in my computer i.e. in device manager under network adapters is Ralink RT3290 802.11bgn Wi-Fi Adapter(version 5.0.57.0). Should  I uninstall the ralink one and install the realtek one or just continue with it.....(I usually have to run troubleshooter every time i boot my pc to resolve the 'default gateway not available' problem)

Your answers are much appreciated.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Drivers are only going to work with the model wifi adapter they were designed to run on.

If you have a Ralink RT3290 wifi adapter, the Realtek wifi driver will do absolutely nothing.

You have the latest driver made for that adapter, which is outdated as is the driver.

I'm surprised it still works on v1903 at all.

If you let me know what model notebook you have (full model number or product number), there may be an other wifi adapter you can upgrade to.

[Alvin_Kirui]

how does one know the type(or manufacturer) of the adapter?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You already know the manufacturer of the wifi adapter. 

It is Ralink as you posted that is what you see listed in the device manager.

[Alvin_Kirui]

I thought it was realtek since in the HP support-(software and drivers) for my model (HP 15-d019tu Notebook PC) under driver-network the listed wireless lan driver is Realtek RTL8723BE/RTL8188EE 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN Drivers. 

So I was wondering why I have the ralink one.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

HP probably ran out of the Realtek cards at the time, and use the Ralink equivalent, or they forgot to put the W10 Ralink wifi drivers on your notebook's support page.

Anyway, I took a look a the specs for your notebook and if there are currently two wifi antenna cables connected to the Ralink wifi card in there now, you can upgrade to this much better dual band AC card with Bluetooth.

Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 802.11 ac 2x2 WiFi + BT 4.0       HP Part # 710661-001.

The card is readily available on Amazon or eBay.

Do your search by the HP part number, not the model of the wifi card.

Before installing the new wifi card, uninstall the old card and driver in the device manager before removing the old card.

Since the card is a combination wifi/bluetooth card, uninstall the Ralink bluetooth driver too.

If there is Ralink bluetooth software installed in the windows control panel>programs, uninstall that too.

Below is the link to the service manual for your notebook. The wifi card R & R procedure can be found in chapter 4.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04341736