BSOD after installing LinkSys adapter

After finally getting my computer onto my wireless network by using drivers downloaded through Windows (and not the ones provided on the disc by LinkSys), I keep getting the "Blue Screen of Death", sometimes with this message: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL and then something about a physical memory dump and win32k.sys... also, a bunch of numbers:
Address BF802F94 base at BF800000 DateStamp 4344958
STOP: 0x0000008E (0xC0000005, 0XBF802F94, 0XF782EACC, 0X00000000)

There was more text, I just didn't know what was important to write down and I only had a little post-it note to write on.

It's a little distressing, to say the least.. I have googled ad infinitum but haven't found any solutions that I could understand.. help would be MUCH appreciated!

 

What you didn't say was when you're getting the BSOD. If its on boot, try taking out the adapter. If it still won't boot, hold down F8 just as if you were going to boot into Safe Mode, but instead choose "last known good configuration". This should boot you into Windows without loading the MS-supplied drivers for the Linksys adapter. Then uninstall the drivers from Device Manager. Download the latest drivers from Linksys's website; its always best to download them rather than use the ones from the CD, because the ones on CD could be months old. You REALLY don't want to use the MS supplied drivers, as those could be even older. Load the new drivers on the system and then reboot. I'm also assuming youre using Windows XP SP2. If not, install that. It has better Wireless support.

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Chalkspray
CCNA/MCSA/MCP/A+/Net+

 

I get it completely randomly, when I'm in the middle of doing anything. Unfortunately the adapter I have is new or something because LinkSys doesn't have drivers or firmware or anything for it on their site (in fact I can only find 2 references to the product at all, and the ones that came with it were complete garbage. I am using Windows XP SP2 (home edition, if that makes any difference)

 

What adapter do you have?

 

The model # is wusb54gsc

 

If I was you, I'd probably try the driver for the devices with similar model numbers and features... but you may want to call Linksys and ask them which driver you should be using. They might even mail you a current copy on CD if you want. Its possilble that the wusb54gs driver will work, but its also possible you could run into problems if you use it. Don't you love it when companies start selling something and don't post the docs or support files for it first?

 

Didn't a CD come with the device?

 

A CD did come with the device but I couldn't even get onto the internet at all using the drivers they gave me, plus it disabled all Windows wireless functionality.. basically, it was a big pain in the ass. I tried to download drivers for similar models on the LinkSys site but it was the exact same program as came on the disk.

Gah, should I just return the adapter and get a NetGear one or something?