What checks should I go through if my laptop can't connect to the internet through tethering? I need to connect my laptop to the Internet by tethering through my smartphone, I'm using a Galaxy GT-S7270 with Android 4.2.2, a laptop with Windows 7 and a tablet with Windows 8.



Whenever I try to use the WIFI hotspot, while I can connect and access the internet with my tablet the laptop gets a limited access after connecting to the smartphone.

This behavior stays the same of I try to tether form another device, like for example my roommate's I-Phone or a WIFI signal coming from it laptop through a certain software (which in fact doesn't work for my tablet either).



If I try to use USB tether, as soon as I activate it from the menu in Android, the file manager of Windows doesn't list my device anymore, if I deactivate the USB tether the device is listed again.

This happens for both MTP and PNP protocols, in addition the PTP protocol trigger a warning saying that there are problems with the drivers of the dev
ice.



The laptop doesn't have a Bluetooth transmitter.



I won't have access to any other access point but the smartphone for a while, what can I do to connect my laptop to the internet?



EDIT: I had success downloading some unofficial drivers from the Internet and using them to make a USB tether.

Still, the same drivers don't work on the tablet and the whole process has been a series of random attempts.

Since I still don't have a "method" and the reasons of a certain connection working on a certain device and others not working, I will leave the question here.
Having a limited connection is a common issue in Windows 7/8/10. The only good method I've seen that works is doing a system restore to a earlier restore point (not a full wipe of the laptop). It'll be under Backup and Restore in Control Panel. Every time Windows updates it creates a backup which you'll want to use to undo any issues that may have caused the limited WiFi bug.