Cut the cords with a Wi-Fi network

If your wireless systems won't connect to the Internet just yet, you may need to take another step or two. On a Windows XP system, try disabling the Windows wireless-configuration feature to establish a connection. This step is also necessary if you want to use the bundled utilities. To disable this feature, click the XP Networking icon (it looks like two computer monitors) in the system tray at the bottom right of your screen. When the Wireless Network Connection dialog appears, click the Advanced button and select the Wireless Networks tab. Uncheck "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings" and click OK to accept the change. Now reboot your system to bring the connection to life.

For operating system versions other than Windows XP, a simple reboot may be all it takes to get your Wi-Fi adapter running correctly after driver installation. Move on to the next steps even if you still can't connect after rebooting. They should solve the problem.