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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/
Barb's Connected World Blog Reader Windows 8 App -
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.
Additional Information for Surface RT & Surface Pro Owners
While I understand that any company that wants to stay in business needs to make a profit.
Microsoft might be over doing it with their prices.
The Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse:
is actually a cool product and compliments the Surface tablets very well.
Microsoft charges $69.95 on the Microsoft Store website. Amazon charges $38.76.
Wired Fast Ethernet for Surface RT:
The Belkin USB to Ethernet Adapter 10/100 is $24.95 at the Microsoft Store and similarly priced else where. While this product is priced pretty much the same at Amazon, my beef with Microsoft is that it appears that Microsoft has asked at least one manufacturer to pull its drivers for Surface RT that allow the Surface RT to use wired Ethernet.
I say it appears that way because I have no proof. I certainly hope that Microsoft would not intentionally hobble the Surface RT. It's actually a nice tablet.
The chipset for the Belkin adapter is ASIX AX88X72A (I believe it's the same chipset for the Cisco USB300M adapter as well.)
Here is a link to get the drivers for Surface RT, this was working as of Mar 29 2013
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6huq0bVEpNKYWNGNnJ3d3VNRzQ/edit?pli=1
Faster Ethernet for the Surface Pro
The Plugable USB 2.0 to 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Wired Network Adapter
While this adapter does not currently (no drivers) work on the Surface RT it is a great adapter for the Surface Pro. It's $25.00 (only $.05 more than the Belkin adapter but much faster)
This adapter uses the ASIX AX88178 chipset.
I purchased one at Amazon.
Only 1 USB Port Needed for this Optical Drive:
Samsung Ultra Portable Slim DVD+/- RW USB External Drive Black SE-218BB/RSBS
Because the Surface Tablets only have a single USB port it can be hard to find DVD/CD burners that work well with these tablets. The Samsung player/burner only needs a single USB port.
Most external drives need 2 USB ports and come with a USB Y cable
I'm using one on my own Surface Pro.
Amazon $36.95.
Lastly, while it may seem that I am purposely plugging Amazon; the truth is this is where I found what I was looking for. I also tried Newegg and Fry's Electronics.
Microsoft’s Partners are No Great Deal:
I think Microsoft should do a better job vetting their partners.
Strictly from my own experience I do not believe that Best Buy, Staples, or AT&T are very good partners.
Maybe this is the best Microsoft could get.
Again, based on my own experiences, all three of these stores do a poor job of displaying and demonstrating Windows Phones and Surface tablets. They also carry almost no accessories for either.
I asked about cases for my Lumia 920 and my wife's Lumia 900 in a Staples store near our home.
The answer I received was "they're not selling a lot of Windows Phone accessories."
My response was " it's pretty hard to sell what you don't have in the store".
The ATT store where we bought the phone had some accessories but no one appeared to be very energetic to discuss the products. They were happy to sell us the phones and the service plan but it was obvious they knew very little about the products. I noticed the same people got all perked up when another customer asked about other phones. It was like flipping a switch.
Buying a Surface RT for my mother 2 weeks ago was like pulling teeth in the Best Buy store near my mother's house. I could see the display, I could see where the for sale items were stored down below.
Why did it take 3 sales people, 2 walkie-talkie calls and 4 price checks to sell 1 Surface RT with Type Cover?
My mother, who is not a techie by any stretch, but does recognize poor customer service asked me if we could purchase the tablet anywhere else.
I don't know if Microsoft is not investing enough time training their partners, or if they are not providing enough incentives (margin) or what. I just wish the Microsoft stores were franchises and I could afford one.
I'm a self employed contract Cisco Trainer, and I believe I could provide the kind of customer service, product knowledge, and set up the right kind of displays that would show the phones, tablets, Signature Series PCs, Xbox/Kinect/Windows Media Center and software in a way that the products could mostly sell itself.
Microsoft is a huge company and actually offers some nice products; it should not be this hard to buy their products.
