Wireless doesn't work after clean Vista install VGN-NS w/ Artheros AR5009

I am a new member and have searched the archives but haven't found a solution for this particular problem.

I bought a VGN-NS110E/W from Bestbuy a couple of weeks ago. I did a clean install of Vista Ultimate because I wanted the bloatware off the machine.

I deleted the hidden EISA partition after overriding the lockout with partdisk. I refomatted the drive and created a 15gb C: partition for Vista. The install of Vista Ultimate (now done twice) went fine.

I installed the device drivers from Sony for this model using Sony Download taxi. This model has an Artheros AR5009 Wireless card. I have since deleted (using system restore) the Notebook utilities because when installed I received a popup every 15 seconds or so that there was a problem with the battery. There was no such message before the new Vista install.

There is no light on even when the switch for Wireless is in on position. There are no error messages during the install, but under device manager, it still shows the yellow ! for network adapter (not the ethernet - that works fine and I am posting this through an ethernet cable to my wireless router).

Sony support chat tech recommended installing shared library, installing driver again, and said because the core or nucleus of home premium and ultimate are the same, it should work... but still no luck. I have tried letting Vista search online for driver, nothing. I have directed the autoinstall to look at the directory where the driver install executable is, nothing. I have done the driver install both before and after loading Vista updates. Nothing.

Anyone else have this problem or have any idea what it could be? I am to the point of considering slipstreaming a copy of XP Pro with SATA drivers and trying that. I have no prior Vista experience and am very frustrated.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I think I will try Vista Home Premium instead and then install Windows updates, then drivers, and then see what happens.

Should it make any difference if I don't install notebook utilities? Every time I do I get some message about the battery that repeats endlessly... so I would rather leave it out.

 

hey, have you solve the atheros ar5009 problem with vista? I am having trouble with it. Even though the device manager list it as "working properly", I still having trouble connecting to router with limited connection. let me know thanks

 

Go into Device Manager and uninstall the entry titled "Network Controller." Then install the drivers for your wireless card. During the installation, Vista should start installing the drivers for wireless.

 

Wireless doesn't work after clean Vista install VGN-NS w