Using Vodafone Smart Prime 7 to tether laptop to internet

[juliewhiley1606]

Hi, I do not have wifi at home therefore use my phone to tether my laptop to the internet. My previous phones have been a Samsung S2, S3 and S3 mini. All have connected to the pc with no problems. I attach the USB lead and all required drivers are installed. Within minutes I can use my laptop.

On the advice of a Vodafone sales person I recently purchased a Vodafone Smart Prime 7, explaining to him that my prime reason was to use it's internet connection for my laptop.

However, the laptop and phone connect but with 'no internet access'. I get a message saying no drivers found. I have trawled the forums/Vodafone site and tried to download the drivers.  I have also been to 2 vodafone shops. The assistants did connect their phone to mine and said it is ok.  I explained that yes it would connect and data can be transferred but it will not let the laptop see the internet. The advisor at the second shop said I need to install the ABD drivers on my laptop and directed me to the correct download. This I have done and still no success.  I still get the message - drivers not installed.

I called the vodafone helpdesk and explained the situation who said I needed to download the Vodafone PC Suite as it woulod have the correct driver..  Again I have downloaded this today and still the SP7 will not let laptop accesss the internet - either through the USB lead or portable wifi hotsopt (To do these downloads I have to put my sim card back in my old Samsung S3 mini -which only works when plugged in - hence needing a new handset).

I get an error message when installing driver from PC Suite.

I am sure it should not be this complicated as other handsets connect no problem. I would like to ask if anyone else has had this issue and have a solution as Vodafone do not seem able to solve this problem. Could it just be a rogue handset?

Many Thanks

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi,

I can see the instructions on Page 49 in https://www.vodafone.com/content/dam/group/devices/downloads/smartprime7/VFD-600-ZA-English-User-Man...

You may need to double check with Customer services that Tethering is still activated on your Vodafone Account. 

[juliewhiley1606]

Hi

Thanks for the link to the manual, however I did read this in the very beginning to ensure I was doing everything correctly. 

Your second point - is tethering still active on my account - it must be as I have swapped the sim back to my old phone and connected no problem....

Just seems that there could be a setting on the phone which may need activating or deactivating??

[BandOfBrothers]

You're welcome.

I've not used a Pc for a number of years now.

I left when Windows 7 hit to a MacBook Air and OS X so unless the Pc self diagnosis and works after downloading the needed drivers, and No Firewalls or Security Suite is hindering I can't help.

Other than that I tether using the phone and wireless connection to the Mac or iPad Air.

I'm wondering if you could get further information and assistance from a specific forum for your model of Pc and Operating System.

That is of course if another member is unable to help from here.