Installing an old driver that is older than the Roll Back feature

[MJ]

Hello all!

I've been having wireless connection problems since upgrading my Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG driver from the shipped one (Inspiron 6400/E1505).

I installed 10.5.1.72 today, but still had connection problems on boot up so rolled back to 10.5.1.69, which is more stable. Then I thought I would try the fully stable shipped driver again, 10.1.0.13, but I can't roll back to it because 10.5.1.72 was installed over 10.5.1.69 (silly me, I should have rolled back first) and every time I try to install 10.1.0.13 it just stays as 10.5.1.69, even if I uninstall it first in Device Manager.

Does anybody know how I can now install the older driver 10.1.0.13 without resorting to a system restore?

Thank you in advance!

[VR46]

I'm no expert, but think if you remove the device from the device manager list (right click then uninstall), then remove the driver files, you can then get XP to re-look for the hardware and subsequently install whatever driver version you wish.

[MJ]

I'm no expert, but think if you remove the device from the device manager list (right click then uninstall), then remove the driver files, you can then get XP to re-look for the hardware and subsequently install whatever driver version you wish.

What I tried was the same as the first part of your suggestion, but I assumed this uninstalled the driver too.

How do I uninstall the device's driver after uninstalling the device via Device Manager?

[Mofoman]

Why it is not stable is because you are not clearing the driver files before installing the new ones.

Wireless equipment is extremely picky in this way.Whenever you install new driver files for wireless equipment, always make sure that any trace of the last driver files are gone, the same way you do when updating your GPU(video card) drivers.

If you completely remove the old drivers, with a driver cleaner program then I am pretty certain you should have no problems with the latest and most up to date drivers.The reason I say pretty certain is I don't have experience of that particular product you have.I always reccomend D link to people, as I find there equipment the most stable and compatible with more types of different equipment.

When updating any kind of wireless networks I have ever installed, and I have installed alot, I used to have major headaches when I first began doing it, because I was not clearing the system of the old drivers first.

Hope this helps you a little bro, and good luck with getting your system back to normal.

Oh if you wish an older driver as well, contact Intel and they should be able to supply it to you if none of this helps.Intel are pretty great when it comes to customer service, and I have requested old drivers offf them before for other products I have had to get drivers for.

[MJ]

Thanks Mofoman!

I use a Linksys router and that is stable, I've just been having various drop-outs and connection problems since upgrading the wireless card's driver.

I've got the old one, but can you recommend a driver cleaner program, any free ones?

[MJ]

One way I thought of doing it is to view the driver details in Device Manager and make a note of the files' locations, then uninstall the device in Device Manager, then go to the relevant locations and delete the driver files.

[MJ]

One way I thought of doing it is to view the driver details in Device Manager and make a note of the files' locations, then uninstall the device in Device Manager, then go to the relevant locations and delete the driver files.

I tried all the above, including deleting the registry entries, but it still installs 10.5.1.69.

If I uninstall the device, when Windows detects it it installs 10.5.1.69, if I do the above and don't uninstall the device and try to update the driver to the old one it stays as 10.5.1.69 and if I do the above and run the old driver's EXE file it still installs 10.5.1.69.

[MJ]

After numerous attempts again tonight and deleting some drivers and system32 DLL files I've finally got it to install the old driver.

Note to self: Do not touch.

[Mofoman]

Sorry about not getting back to you here, next time you have this problem, you have a folder for your drivers in the system 32 folder.

All you have to do is replace the old file in place of the one that is in there and it will say to you, do you want to replace this file with the new one, click yes and bobs your uncle.

Contact me via pm if you need more help mate.

I'm sorry about this, I just totally forgot.

Windows automatically backs up the registry, so each time you delete it from the registry it will invariably come back,once you connect the equipment again.I don't advise people messing with registry's unless they know what they are doing.

[MJ]

Despite putting the old driver back on I'm still having wireless connectivity problems. It no longer connects quickly at start up like it used to and sometimes it says no network detected, then within a minute or two it connects.

[MJ]

The no connectivity icon is one of the first to appear at start up, so I assume the wireless network card is quite high up in the boot up driver order, but is there a way to check the order of the boot up drivers?