laptop will not install driver for USB wireless adapter

[makedoandmend]

I have resurrected an old Advent 7086 laptop as an additional family machine for email use etc - it doesn't have an in-built wireless function.  I ran system restore, bought and installed a WLAN USB wireless adapter that came with an installation CD, and everything was fine for about a year.  It started running slow(er than usual) recently so I ran system retsore again.  Now, when I try to re-install the WLAN driver, it looks like it's gone OK, but the laptop tells me it doesn't have any software when i plug in the adapter. 

I only know a bit about computers, but i can't find an .exe file on the driver downloads...is this the bit that's missing? and if so, any ideas why?  The laptop still runs ok and works fine online through a wired connection.

all suggestions welcomed!

Thanks

[jason2074]

Welcome to Computerhope.
Please post the wifi adapter brand and OS you are running next time. Did you restore the system using the HDD Recovery System? How about the CD that came with the wifi adapter, did it run properly and install the necessary icons and control panel settings?

[makedoandmend]

thanks Jason,

The OS is Windows XP, the adapter is a 'TRIXES Wireless Internet USB Adaptor WiFi Dongle 150Mbps For Windows 7 / XP / Vista'.

I used the system restore in XP (presumably), accessed through the start button, then programmes.  The CD appears to run properly and goes throughg the install process, an icon installs on the desktop, but when i click on it, a small window appears for a split-second at the bottom of the screen then dissappears again.  When i plug the USB adapter in, windows tells me it can't find any drivers.  I had a look in the drivers folder - everything seems to be there except for a .exe file.

[Computer_Commando]

TRIXES Wireless Internet USB Adaptor WiFi Dongle
Is it listed in the Windows Device Manager?  It might say something different depending on the chip used inside the dongle.

[makedoandmend]

OK, thanks - the adaptor isn't listed in the device manager 

[Computer_Commando]

As I suspected, it's dead.

[makedoandmend]

OK, thanks...time for a new adapter then.

any idea what would have killed it?

[Computer_Commando]

Many of these devices are Chinese copies of other Chinese copies.  Even so-called name brand devices may actually be copies of the originals.  There are an awful lot of counterfeits out there.  There is no quality control & none are tested.  I recently got an Asus bluetooth dongle & on every machine it showed in the Device Manger with a yellow exclamation, after drivers were installed.