RT2500 for WMP54G BSoD

I have Linksys WMP54G (v4.1) and I got repeated BSOD (across multiple PCs) with the default drivers from Linksys. After pulling my hair out trying to fix it (and not finding any solutions on Google), I finally got my Linksys card working 100% stable. So now that I figured it out, I am posting this solution on multiple sites hoping no one will ever have to go through this again.

(these are steps to get it working on Windows XP. Don't ask me about Vista...I don't have it).

1) If you tried installing Linksys drivers already, you have to completely remove it. Uninstall the software first and uninstall the drivers. Maybe that will be enough for you but that wasn't enough for me. I also had to boot into Safe Mode, execute this command under c:\windows: "del /f /s /q RT2500.*", open up regedit, find all instances of RT2500 and remove all traces of Linksys driver.

2) Download and install Ralink RT2500 Driver version 3.2.0.10 released in 2009 (I installed mine from http://driverscollection.com/?file_cid=410099446353e5b327a2d97a64c). Select use Windows Zero Config while installing.

3) Refresh hardware in Device Manager and try installing with "Connect to Windows update" turned off. If it works, great....move onto step four. I wasn't so lucky. Goto install driver, advanced, don't search, select Radlink, select Radlink 2500 Wireless and click ok. Windows will warn you that it doesn't know if this driver will work with your hardware. Select ok.

4) Goto device manager->network adapter-> Radlink. Right click and select properties. Goto driver. The driver date should read 09/02/2009. If it reads xx/xx/2005 or something else, you didn't uninstall the linksys drivers as I stated in step 1 or you didn't turn off Connect to Windows Update in step 3.

Enjoy your (working) linksys card.

Forward any comments to brumeux@mail.com. I won't be checking this site or any other site I posted this to.

-Andrew

 

I'm assuming you could download the same RT2500 driver direct from Ralink...
http://www.ralinktech.com/ralink/Home/Support/Windows.html

Maybe the above info should be forwarded to Linksys if it's such a pervasive issue. But considering the original post is 3 months old, I'll assume that the problem was solved for the member that started this thread....