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Hello,
I am looking for a way to remote debug on my Surface RT tablet using the Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi.
MSDN says here that it should be possible ("If the device does not have an Ethernet port, you can use a USB to Ethernet adapter to connect to the cable").
However, this typeof adapter I found at Amazon, seems not to be compatible with Surface RT.
Could anyone point me to an USB/Ethernet adapter that has been tested and is working please?
Thank you.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Hello francisco javierlopez nolasco,
Thanks for stopping by the Microsoft Community. We understand you have a question regarding the devices compatible with Surface RT. Rest assured we'll do our best to help.
Please take a look at this page, it will provide you with all the information you need to know in regards to device capabilitywith your Surface RT.
We hope you find the information to be useful.
Please keep us posted.
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-gb/accessories/browse
it says it is only supported on pro models, but there are workarounds to get them working, which usually envolve manually selecting a driver from windows' built-in list.
check this post http://winsupersite.com/mobile-devices/surface-tip-connect-surface-2-or-surface-rt-wired-network
Greetings Scottmoffitt John Deere,
The Surface USB to Ethernet adapter is not currently supported on Surface 2 or Surface RT. Our top priority is for customers to have the best possible experience on their Surface device. We are aware of the issue and working on an update that will be distributed through Windows Update in the coming months.
Greetings Scottmoffitt John Deere,
Our top priority is for customers to have the best possible experience on their Surface device. The driver for the Surface USB to Ethernet adapter is not yet available for Surface 2, or Surface RT with Windows RT 8.1. We are aware of the issue and working on an update to be delivered through Windows Update in the coming months.
For information on Surface updates, visit http://www.microsoft.com/surface/updatehistory.
Microsoft pulled support for this and asked third party vendors to pull drivers. Not sure why.
--
Barb
Windows Entertainment and Connected Home MVP
My Blog - http://digitalmediaphile.com/
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Please mark as answered if this answers your question
Hello BruckTesfaye,
The Surface RT isn't designed to connect to the internet via Ethernet, it is designed to connect wirelessly. Here's a link:
I'm not aware of any companies that currently offer a USB/Ethernet adapter driver for Windows RT.
Hello there JohnSmith82VP.
Thank you for your question. I'd recommend checking out the Surface Warranty for details relating to warranty exclusions.
Please let us know if you have any further questions we can help you with!
Kindest Regards.
Someone else had success with this adapter:
http://plugable.com/2012/11/16/usb-ethernet-microsoft-surface
I bought that one, installed it with the Asix Windows RT driver, and it works.
So, if anybody's still looking for a USB-to-Ethernet adapter, the adapter from
Plugable works with this driver:
http://www.asix.com.tw/download.php?sub=driverdetail&PItemID=97
Hope this helps,
Kate
You can connect a USB-to-Ethernet adapter to your Surface RT, but the Surface is picky about the adapters it works with.
Currently, only one USB-to-Ethernet driver works with the Surface RT. And, that driver only works with USB-to-Ethernet adapters using the AX88x72A chipset.
That chipset is found in several brands of 10/100 USB-to-Ethernet adapters. It's not found in any 10/100/1000 adapters, however.
A website named Plugable lets you download the free driver and buy their adapter.
However, if you already own an adapter that uses that AX88x72A chipset, you can just download the driver and install it yourself.
As the question states: Can Microsoft Surface connect to internet through a USB to Ethernet adapter?
Yes. But so far, only one USB-to-Ethernet driver works with the Surface RT.
And, that driver only works with USB-to-Ethernet adapters using the AX88x72A chipset.
That chipset is found in several brands of 10/100 USB-to-Ethernet adapters. It's not found in any 10/100/1000 adapters, however.
A website named Plugable lets you download the free driver and buy their adapter.
However, if you already own an adapter that uses that chipset, you can just download the driver and install it yourself.
The compatibility list now shows:
So the Cables 2 Go product 39998 works on the Surface RT.
<BUT the 39998 product is not available in the UK... are there any other products that have been proven??>
The Surface design team has said that the Surface RT does not support USB to Ethernet adapters: "We are not offering an ethernet to USB bridge solution for wired scenarios"
Pavan Davuluri mentioned that on Reddita few weeks back.
If you search their site, they actually do have drivers:
http://asix.com.tw/download.php
Here's the direct link:
http://asix.com.tw/FrootAttach/driver/AX88772B_772A_772_WinRT_Driver_v3.16.0.1807.zip
Greetings,
We are aware that the website does not always reflect accurate information. Voting does help though.
Also, USB to Ethernet adapters do not work, and we are aware of the issue.
Hello JuhlieCuratolo,
Thank you for contacting us! There are some USB to RJ45 connector adapters. Here is a list of compatible devices that will serve that purpose. I hope this helps!
-Javan
Hey Edmund,
Have you had any luck? As one of the replies here states, this link will get you to a webpage that can give a list of USB Ethernet adapters that are compatible. Let me know if this helps.
Hi Frank,
For a list of devices compatible with Windows RT please visit this website: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/winrt/CompatCenter/Home?Language=en-US
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Thanks!
Only drivers that DO NOT require a separate driver installation will work on Surface for Windows 8 RT. There isn't a "master drivers" list of available USB device support for Windows 8 RT, but over 420 million USB devices are supported. A newer device should work, but is not guaranteed.
Plugable is a company that talked in depth about support for Windows 8 RT USB devices, unfortunately it doesn't seem like any of their USB network cards currently work. You can certainly try other USB network devices, if it installs in Windows 8 Pro without a driver it will probably install on Windows 8 RT just fine.
Right now, we simply don't have a list of these supported devices. The list of supported devices will grow with future updates as manufacturers work with Microsoft to have their drivers included with Windows 8 RT.
MB_999
Here is the skinny (or at least what Microsoft is alleged to have offered on the subject).
Microsoft is supposed to have discouraged peripheral drivers that do not conform to their driver model.
Drivers that don't support features that get the best battery life for example or wake the tablet from sleep or allow the tablet to go into and out of power saving modes and so forth.
From that point of view then that would be actually not only a good thing, but a very good thing.
Drivers that don't meet their (Microsoft's) published criteria would cause the tablets to not achieve the published specs.
But here's the problem:
If Pluggable's claim is true that Microsoft forced them to remove the drivers because the drivers did not meet the driver model then Microsoft could have done any of several things to prevent so much gnashing of teeth and anguish in this community, such as:
1). Informing Surface RT purchasers of what the criteria is for drivers and why Pluggable's drivers were taken down.
2). Microsoft could provide generic drivers that all vendors build to. This is what AMD and nVidia do with their reference video cards. Vendors then use the video cards as a reference and either build copies (for a fee) and/or expand on the reference materials to offer customized cards.
3). Because wired Ethernet is considered such a staple in modern compute devices, Microsoft should have included at least one USB to Ethernet adapter (with certified drivers) in their list of compatible accessories. How many compatible USB to Ethernet adapters can you find in the list for Surface RT?
As far as the information I provided months ago on how to get wired Ethernet to work with the current version of the Surface RT ( new versions are expected to be announced Sep 23 2013), that information is still good if you can download the driver files.
There is a caveat that I have not tested, and that is, the updated version of Windows 8, Windows 8.1 is supposed to disable the currently working drivers. This may not be as bad as it sounds if Microsoft makes sure to provide wired Ethernet drivers or makes sure that at least one of their vendor partners provides an adapter with certified drivers. If USB adapters with certified drivers are available then we should be able to have that connectivity option and still get the power saving features.
Let's keep our fingers crossed that Microsoft is listening to something that should be so common sensible. Come on Microsoft, do the right thing.
Finally, and as an aside, Microsoft (at the time of this writing) has a trade-in offer that lets various Apple equipment owners trade in their stuff for a Microsoft Store credit to purchase Microsoft devices. Not a bad marketing ploy.
I would suggest that Microsoft also throw a bone to their own early adopters.
For Zune, Window Phone 7.x, and Surface RT & Pro customers, (pre discount), we should be offered some kind of discount or bonus. After-all we voted for Microsoft, not with lip-service but with our wallets. It's fine to compete with Apple and Android for their customers, but how about rewarding your own customers that put their trust Microsoft? How about a reward of some kind for sticking with Microsoft while they worked out the bugs, while they try to build market share, while they upgrade and refine their offerings.
Microsoft, think about the signal that you'd be sending to early adopters and potential customers down the road? I actually believe that the strategy of uniting the user interface, look-and-feel, and user experience across all Microsoft devices is a winning strategy not just for private individuals but especially for corporations.
In this era of BYOD, to be able to manage desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones with Group Policy Objects in Active Directory has to be huge. The same must be true, to be able to give developers a set of APIs that allow them to develop their programs for all device models and screen sizes.
So Microsoft, give your early adopters a nod, and yourself a better shot a winning more customers by showing your appreciation for people that buy your early products. Like uniting the interface on all of your devices is a good idea, appreciating your early customers would also be a wining strategy!!!
