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Atheros WLAN Driver for Windows 8.1 and Windows 10

This was a difficult driver to find so I have made it available on my blog so others in the future don’t have to go through the same hassle of finding it (it’s not even possible to download it from the Atheros website).

The driver is designed for Windows 8.1 32/64bit but I am using it just fine on Windows 10.

Driver version: 10.0.0.308

Driver date: 11/12/2014

The driver will work with the below hardware:

  • Dell Wireless 1502 802.11b/g/n
  • Dell Wireless 1506 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz)
  • Dell Wireless 1515 Wireless-N Adapter
  • Dell Wireless 1525 802.11n
  • Dell Wireless 1601 802.11 a/g/n Adapter
  • Dell Wireless 1702 802.11b/g/n
  • Dell Wireless 1703 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz)
  • Dell Wireless 1705 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz)
  • Dell Wireless 1707 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz)
  • Dell Wireless 1901 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  • DW1525 (802.11n) WLAN PCIe Card

Download the driver here [atheros-driver-win8.1.zip]

 

23 replies on “Atheros WLAN Driver for Windows 8.1 and Windows 10”

Hello!
Go to device manager (either do a start menu search for it or go to Run and type devmgmt.msc) and select the network device under the network adapters section. Double click it (in my case it’s called DW1525…) and click the ‘Driver’ tab. Click ‘Update Driver’ and ‘Browse my computer for driver software’. Browse to the location where you extracted the Atheros drivers to and select it. Click ‘Next’ and it should just install it.
Hope that helps.

By Post Author

Hey thanks so much for explaining how to install it, the Atheros driver fixed the limited connection problems I was getting with the Dell Driver on Windows 10.

Hi Mikail,
I’ve tried to install the driver but, when i do the last step (‘Next’), it says that my PC installed the best driver software for my device which is the last one, Dell Wireless 1705 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz). At this point I don’t know what to do, I already downloaded and extracted the Atheros driver.
Thank you

Okay so it looks like it installed it successfully – does the wireless work now? If not, try uninstalling and deleting the driver by right clicking it in device manager and selecting ‘uninstall’ and check the box ‘delete the driver software for this device’. Reboot and try installing the new driver again.

By Post Author

Thank you for helping but it does the same thing… installs the previous driver, the one that doesn’t work. I still can’t get Wifi.

hmmm… you’re installing the correct version of the driver (32 vs 64bit)? Can’t think of anything else you can try if that doesn’t work.

By Post Author

Interesting!! I am having a battle between Microsoft and Dell Techies. I upgraded to Win 10 Pro but then found that I could not get online. My machine is a Dell XPS AIO One 2710 barely 3 years old which has Win 8.1 Pro. MS tell me if I download a Win 10 network adapter driver then upgrade will work. However, Dell say that my particular model is not compatible with MS Win 10 and I should have to buy a new PC with Win 10 already installed!!! My Dell Wireless Network Adapter is a Dell Wireless 1703 802.11b/g/n (GHz). Would it be worth downloading/installing the driver listed on this page, even though it is an Atheros??

The driver listed on this page is compatible with your card so I would say there is no harm in trying it out.
First uninstall the current driver (and make sure you delete the driver as well when given the option), reboot then try to install the driver I have provided.

Let us know if it works!

By Post Author

Hi Mikail

Thanks for your advice. Unfortunately, downloaded Win 10 and when attempted to install I got a Windows update failed notice! So obviously couldn’t discover if your driver would work. Seems that Dell and Microsoft are right that my particular Dell model won’t accept 10 upgrade…so I’m off to buy a new PC tomorrow. Not happy but nothing it seems I can do about it.

Thanks for your help anyway.

Barry

Do you remember what the error was for Windows Update? I’m thinking it’s unrelated to the driver issue. You could always try a fresh install of Win 10 if you’re willing, otherwise like you said, look for a replacement which is annoying!

By Post Author

On my current Dell Windows 8.1 Pro Update file history page: “Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro This update failed to install on 11/08/15 at 21.15 with error code 8024000B”. I thought I’d try to upgrade one further time (whilst I am typing this reply) and see what happens. Will get back to you, but free to let me have any further thoughts if you have them.

AMAZING!! Further to my last post…Finally… fully installed Windows 10 Pro upgrade! No problems at all, notably got on line unlike before. Thanks for your help and advice. (:

Having real problems with a Toshiba Satellite L750D-14R which has the Atheros AR9002WB network adaptor. Have completed the upgrade to Win 10 with no problems or messages of conflicts etc, but now obviously the network adapter is not working. I’ve downloaded your drivers from this blog and still no joy – any advice as I can’t afford to go out and buy a new PC!!

According to the Microsoft compatibility center, your network card should work.

The only thing I can suggest is to completely uninstall and delete your WLAN driver (from device manager), reboot and try to install the driver again (use the link above for the download – it says the driver version is 10.0.0.308). Lastly make sure you are installing the correct driver… i.e., 32bit vs 64bit.

By Post Author

Works good on my dell 1601, although the driver that came with W10 did not show any issue I just don’t like having a 2006 driver 😀

I have the same problem as Carlos earlier. It says “Your driver is already up to date” but I cant turn on the WiFi, it just goes from off to on and back to off in a millisecond. When I uninstall the driver, on device manager “Dell Wireless 1702…” disappears and nothing happens, when I restart it installs the same driver as before and I still got the problem. Anyone knows anything else that I might be missing here? thx

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