How To Install Network Adapter Driver On Windows 7 Without Internet?

Are you trying to install your network adapters and facing problems? Windows doesn't allow computers to PnP enumerate the devices until the operating system is fully loaded. It can be very difficult to track down your network adapter driver problems in case you don't have access to internet / any external resources. For this purpose, in this article you will learn how to fix network adapter driver problems on Windows 7 without using any resources.

If you ever encounter issues with your computer, performing a clean installation of your Windows operating system can resolve most, if not all, of these issues.

However, doing so can also pose another issue for Windows PC users: they can’t connect to the internet because their PC doesn’t have the necessary network adapter drivers. This can be tricky since most users rely on an internet connection to search for and download these drivers.

In that case, how can you install the necessary network adapter drivers on your new Windows 7 PC without having an internet connection?

Ways to Install Network Adapter Drivers Without Internet

There are several ways you can install the necessary drivers on your PC without needing to connect to the internet. Check some of them below.

Copy the drivers from another PC

The easiest way to install the necessary drivers for your PC is to copy them from another computer connected to the internet. For this, you need to identify your PC’s details, such as the network card’s model or your PC’s model.

Then, you can use the other computer to search the internet for the compatible drivers and copy the downloaded driver files onto a separate USB flash drive.

After this, you can plug it into your PC and install the copied files as you usually would. Once you’re done, you should be able to connect to the internet.

Use driver installer software

Another convenient way to install the necessary network adapter drivers on your PC is to use driver installer software.

You can find a few of these software solutions online. Still, many of them require you to buy the software or an internet connection to find the needed drivers.

Fortunately, some programs, like Snappy Driver Installer, are available for free and allows you to install the necessary drivers even without an internet connection.

Using Snappy Driver Installer to Install Network Adapter Drivers

Snappy Driver Installer, or SDI for short, is a free software solution that allows you to install missing drivers or update outdated ones even without an internet connection.

While you’ll need to connect to the internet to download the program, once you have it installed, you can easily and quickly update your computer’s drivers even while offline.

There are two versions you can choose from – the SDI Full package or SDI Lite. The former requires you to use a torrent client to download it, but it contains all the drivers needed for your PC and can be used offline.

Meanwhile, SDI Lite is ideal if you’re not going to use the program often or have a slow connection. With that said, the following steps will be based on the SDI Lite.

1. After downloading the ZIP file from SDI’s website, you need to extract the file to access the program. After this, you need to open the .exe file. Once it’s open, you can opt to download all driver packs or choose what drivers to download.
2. However, since you only need your network adapter drivers, it’s best to choose the “Download Network Drivers Only” option.
3. After downloading the drivers, you can close the program and open the SDI folder on your offline computer. Doing so will open a prompt, giving you the option to install your network adapter drivers. This includes both your ethernet and wireless LAN drivers.
4. To install them, you just need to check the necessary drivers then click on the “Install” button to start the process.
5. After the installation process is done, you should now be able to connect to the internet using your Windows 7 PC.

Final Thoughts

Performing a clean install of your Windows OS can solve many of the common issues you encounter with Windows PCs. Still, it can leave you unable to connect to the internet due to the lack of network adapter drivers.

In this case, you can opt to copy them from another PC that can connect to the internet or use driver installer software to do so.

Summary: Install Network Adapter Driver on Windows 7 Without Internet

• Download network driver offline install file and extract it to your USB.
• Click Start and type device manager in the search box and hit Enter.
• Click Network adapters to expand it, right click your wireless or wired network adapter and choose Update Driver Software.
• Choose Browse my computer for driver software.
• Click Browse, navigate to where you extract the offline install package and click Next.
• Wait for the installation to complete, restart your laptop and hopefully your network adapter will be ready to use.