TL-WN851ND on Windows 8.1

[willielikesmonkeys]

For archival purposes:

 

I had trouble getting my TL-WN851ND PCI legacy wireless N adapter working on windows 8.1 but found a fix.

 

Manufacturer: http://www.tp-link.com/lk/products/details/?model=TL-WN851ND#over

Driver for Atheros chipset: http://www.atheros.cz/atheros-wireless-download.php?chipset=33&system=8

 

Windows 8 claims plug n play functionality but the default driver did not work for me and the manufacturers driver gave me an error along the lines of an unsupported version of windows. Begin by downloading the Atheros chipset driver:

 

 

Extract the contents of the archive to a new folder and open Device Manager:

 

 

Under Network Adapters >right click "TP-LINK 300Mbps Wireless N Adapter" and left click "Update Driver Software..."

 

 

Select "Browse my computer for driver software"

 

 

Choose "Browse..." and browse to the folder you unpacked the zip containing the driver to.

 

 

Hit okay and wait while Windows installs the driver and you're done. Your wireless card should be functioning properly. If not consider returning the card.

[PillowSmoke]

wow, even though I don't use a wireless adapter. This little guide you made is pretty neat for the others out there!

[sohsoh35]

i have this exact same problem! installed the driver however it still freezes

[The_Strict_Nein]

I've had to that before with my Buffalo Wireless N USB Wireless adapter, seeing as I lost the original driver disk and it wouldn't work driver less.

 

Still, a useful guide to those not adept with Device Manager.

[.:MARK:.]

This isn't just for WiFi, I'd say it's a decent guide to installing drivers manually, regardless of the hardware.

[sphax1999]

it did not change a thing for me

[Sembwag]

Tried this and it froze before I even finished installing the driver, I tried again and it froze as soon as I finished installing. Seems it doesn't change a thing. 

I'm a bit pissed off seeing as I read somewhere it was compatible with Windows 8 so I bought it with my new pc.

I guess I'll have to just buy a new adapter unless I get any suggestions from anyone else.

[Guest]

@willielikesmonkeys I bought a new wireless adapter because my tp-link didn't work. It would seemingly have range issues and disconnect and reconnect, not to mention horrendous speed, do you think this could fix that?

 

[willielikesmonkeys]

 

@willielikesmonkeys I bought a new wireless adapter because my tp-link didn't work. It would seemingly have range issues and disconnect and reconnect, not to mention horrendous speed, do you think this could fix that?

 

 

it depends on the model, not all wireless adapters have the same chipset, youll need to research to find out what chipset is in the specific model you have.

[Guest]

tp-link wn781nd

802.11b/g/n

@willielikesmonkeys

[willielikesmonkeys]

tp-link wn781nd

802.11b/g/n

@willielikesmonkeys

one thing you can try just to be sure is if you can do a wired connection then run updates and it may have the driver in the optional updates

[Akolyte]

I have the same adapter.  The default driver worked fine for me on Windows 8.1

[Timmy-P]

I have the same adapter.  The default driver worked fine for me on Windows 8.1

For me, the signal would drop constantly no matter what driver I tried.

 

And it also caused my computer to crash and restart at random.

[raphaelc]

Thanks a lot man, you just saved me bying a new wifi card !

Have a great day and be blessed