Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport Adaptor Driver Issue

Question

Hi,
Got a brand new Windows 7 PC. Experienced one BSOD when searching network for other devices, and another flat out freeze when Windows Update asked me to restart. My PC under devices and printers showed that it needed troubleshooting. Windows identified the Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport Adaptor as the problem, suggesting a reinstall of the driver- to which it attempted, and failed. I have thus simply uninstalled this device from device manager. I expect Windows will find it again on reboot.
What is this adaptor, and do I need to worry about it? I'm connecting through Wifi with no problems, but I do plan to connect through a wire soon, once I can get hold of one long enough..
This is 64bit Windows 7, Core 2 Quad, 6gb RAM. I have added no new hardware.
Thanks
Ashley

Answer 1

I'm having an adapter issue too.
My 11 year old Dell laptop running WinXP easily connected to any wireless network even if it was 3 blocks away or further.  And that is with a cheap Airlink101 usb wireless adapter I found online for 12.00 USD.
Now I purchased a Dell Inspiron 15R, running Windows 7 64bit, 4 gigs of ram, 500gb hard drive, with an intel wirless adapter and I am lucky if I connect to anything.
Now I will not throw my credentials out there and say "I am smart and you are stupid so this should just work" but I will say this:  I started tinkering with computers back when the only choice for a home pc was a Radio Shack TRS-80, Atari 400 or 800,
or the Commodore 64, and some others.  (I owned the Atari 800xl)
While I was not fortunate enough to attend a 4 year college, I did learn the ropes and ultimately attended a computer 'school' to get my professional diploma so I could get a job in some field.  I started on the help desk and worked through different
departments, ultimately ending up in Information Security. 
I will not pretend to be an expert but I do consider myself a skilled power user, or more specifically, a professional - paid - highly experienced - computer Ninja - of all computer areas.
So I will leave everyone with this, the WiFi functionality should simply work.  Yes, there are hundreds of adapters and hundreds of millions of lines of code from thousands of manufacturers that work against this but this is not curing a disease. 
I will not buy an Apple computer but this is why many folks jump the Windows ship, because they tire of banging their heads against the wall after paying 500, 600, 700, 800+ dollars for something that should at the very least get them on the internet. 
This leads me to another question, how much should we consumers with our "grimy hands" spend to get something that works?  Which laptop or home pc comes with a different/better wireless adapter then what we have?  My understanding was that most peripherals
while manufactured by dozens of companies, still rely on a handful of common chips/chipsets.
I don't care how cheap the technology is, or how expensive.  I have used cheap components and I have used expensive components.  When running Windows 3.x, Windows 98, Windows XP, and Windows 7, and even Ubunto, or Sabayon linux distros, you always
find issues.  Hence one reason why Apple likes to control their software by only installing on their hardware.
I don't see anyone on here blaming Microsoft.  I am a proponent of Microsoft.  Maybe even a die-hard, being a Zune HD owner and a Windows Mobile phone owner (crazy, right?).  But people are here looking for a solution not a lecture.
So if somebody - be it Microsoft, Intel, or the driver signing authority, Dell, or whomever, can help then please do so.  Please figure out why the 1 commonality here - Microsoft Virtual Miniport Adapter, seems to be related to this issue in some way. 
We know it may not be your fault Miniport, but you sure aren't a poplular fella here!
Removing tongue from cheek...Done.