Wireless Network Adapter not found after reinstalling OS

I've been working on my brother's laptop to try to get it up and running (see this thread for further information: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=149107). After I installed a new hard drive and reinstalled Windows Vista, I cannot connect to the internet. I get the following message: "This computer does not have a wireless network adapter installed and configured." However, when I look in the device manager, it says that the adapter is installed with the latest driver updates. I tried downloading drivers on my computer onto a thumb drive and installing them, but I again got the message that the latest drivers were installed.

Here's the info requested in the sticky:
Gateway PC model W350A (says T-series below screen)
Motherboard ID: <DMI>
Motherboard name: GATEWAY (both taken from Everest--let me know if this isn't enough information)
Wireless Network Adapter: Realtek RTL8101 Family PCI-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)

Please let me know if you need more information. The adapter worked fine before the hard drive crashed, but the computer hasn't been used in almost a year.

 

The actual model number of your laptop is T-1625. Gateway has no info at all on a W350A. The RTL8101 is actually the wired ethernet adapter, not the wifi. You should have 2 network controllers (or ethernet adapters) listed in the device manager; one is the wired ethernet, the other is the wireless/wifi adapter. The wifi driver needed is for the RTL8187 and can be downloaded from Gateway using this link. After downloading it, DO NOT install it by running it. Follow the steps in this thread to install the driver. As mentioned in that thread, you'll use TUGzip to extract the download. The guide is written for WinXP but is very similar for Vista. You'll point the Hardware Wizard to a folder called "Vista x86". It will be inside the extracted folder called "D20125-004-001". Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

 

There are updated RTL8187L drivers for Vista, bare drivers and an auto-install package, available direct from Realtek.

 

Going to try your suggestions now. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Ok, I downloaded TUGzip and the file you provided from Gateway, but when I try to follow the instructions on the link given, I continue to get a message saying that the best driver software for my device is up to date. I installed TUGzip, extracted the driver updates, and tried to follow the instructions from that point on, but when I right-click the device and select "Update Driver," the next window asks me how I want to search for driver software, and there's no "bottom circle" to select. I have 2 options: To search automatically for the updates or browse my computer for driver software. The first continues to tell me that my drivers are up to date. The second leads me to another screen, where I can browse for a location to search for driver software--I'm not sure where to go here. Am I to choose Vista X86 here? If so, where can I find it?

I still only see one device under network adapters--the one previously mentioned.

 

Followed your directions, and I still get the message that the best software for the device is already installed. :S

 

Some laptops have physical switches to enable/disable wireless cards (also Fn+ key combinations and a BIOS setting), can you look over the machine and check whether the wireless card is turned on? When it's turned on, there is usually an indicator light.

You may need to physically check that the card is really still there and making a good connection. If it was stored somewhere accessible to outsiders during the year it was unused someone may have lifted the card for his/her own use.

 

Ok, problem solved! There was a device under "Unknown Devices" without any information about it--took a shot with installing the above updates, and ta-da! Thanks for all the help, guys.

 

need help!wireless adapter not found after reinstall

i have the exact same problem, my pc model is a t-1616 gateway laptop, what should i do?