Most users who work with the Internet or with networks are constantly confronted with the concept of a network controller. True, users who are beginners or do not have the appropriate level of training may not even know what this device is and what it is intended for. Let's try to find out what a network controller is for Windows 7 or any other computer system. At the same time, we will consider a method for eliminating some of the most common problems associated with the fact that such a device on a computer or laptop for some reason does not work correctly or does not function at all.
What is a network controller for Windows 7 or any other system and what is it used for?
Typically, a network controller means the most common network cards, which, together with the drivers installed for them, and sometimes with additional software, are responsible for connecting computer systems to local and virtual networks, and also provide Internet access. Thus, the network controller for Windows 7 or any other OS (optionally Windows) can be represented in the form of two main types.
The main types of network controllers
Firstly, all devices can be divided into two main types - iron and virtual. The first, as already understood, are equipment that is installed most often directly on the motherboard. The second type includes special software components, which are also a kind of intermediaries for accessing local and virtual networks or the Internet, but are made exclusively in the form of special software (for example, virtual tunnel adapters). Network cards of the "iron" type can be wired and wireless.
On the wired there are special sockets for connecting network cables. Wireless modules include all kinds of modules that allow network access from a computer or to a computer without direct connection with other devices (for example, Wi-Fi modules). Both that and others can be both built-in, and external type. The first, as already mentioned, are installed directly on the motherboard, and the second can be connected via additional interfaces like USB. Sometimes you can find combined type devices.
Installing a network controller driver for a laptop or desktop PC
Usually, even when you first install the operating system on a new PC or laptop, you do not need to install the drivers of such devices yourself. All the well-known Windows OS of the latest generations determine network cards and modules themselves, and then install drivers for them from their own database. Manual installation of control software may be required only if the system driver has not found a suitable driver. Quite often, this can be found when using network cards of little-known manufacturers, for which there is no declared support for Microsoft.
In this case, you can install the network controller driver for Windows 7 or any other well-known operating system manually using the media with drivers, which is supplied without fail when purchasing an assembled PC (laptop), or the device itself separately.
What to do if the network controller does not work?
If the driver disk is not at hand (for example, when you buy a hand-assembled PC from your hands), you can use the driver download directly from the official website of the manufacturer of such equipment.
But you can determine the type of controller directly in the operating system, using the “Device Manager” in which you need to go to the properties for the selected device and display the ID-equipment display on the details tab, although this is not always necessary. For example, if you need a network controller driver for Acer laptops, it is not necessary to look for it on the manufacturer’s website. To get started, you can use some automated program like Driver Booster, which without your participation will identify the device and install the latest driver for it.
If this does not help, by the VEN and DEV identifiers defined in the “Device Manager”, search for the driver on the Internet, download it and install it yourself (from an EXE file). If the driver will be downloaded as an INF file, install it through the RMB menu. If an error occurs, enable the driver update in the “Device Manager” and indicate to the system the location of the downloaded file.