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It must've been keen foresight on the part of my folks to have nicknamed me "Blogie" when I was still in diapers. Now, I'm a Web warrior living up to his name!

Windows 7 and SmartBro

SmartBro Plug-ItSo far, I’ve been quite happy with my SmartBro Plug-It USB modem — in several areas in Davao City, I do get sustained download speeds of up to 60-70kbps. (Only certain areas have cellsites that are enabled with HSDPA.) At a charity concert where I volunteered as amateur videographer, I used SmartBro as my Internet connection for the video streaming, and the Webcast was fairly decent.

However, when I upgraded my system to Windows 7 (64-bit) a couple of days ago, I found that the drivers bundled with the device wouldn’t install properly. I have an Acer Aspire 2930, and the Plug-It model is a ZTE HSDPA USB Modem MF627.

Windows 7 is simply superb. It installed much faster compared to my experience with earlier versions of Windows, and I had no problems with drivers at all. Some drivers didn’t install automatically — for the AuthenTec biometric device and for the multi-card reader — but Windows 7′s improved Internet driver search took care of that.

And that’s what solved the problem for the ZTE modem as well. I searched the Web for solutions to the problem, because the SmartBro Plug-It wouldn’t work on Windows 7, but there were no real solutions. In one forum, someone advised that one should enable the ZTE drivers to run in Windows-2000 compatibility mode. But that won’t work for the Windows 7 Home Premium edition, because it doesn’t have compatibility mode. But that’s a rather dirty approach to the problem.

What finally made it work for me was Windows’ Device Manager. I went there, and saw the warning flags on the devices labeled ZTE. What you should do is right-click on each one and click on Install driver software (or something to that effect), and let Windows 7 do the rest! Once that’s done, you’ll see a new item under Modems: ZTE Proprietary USB Modem; and three new items under Memory technology driver (the Plug-It has a slot for a microSD card).

I’m using my SmartBro Plug-It right now to post this article!

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106 Responses to “Windows 7 and SmartBro”

  1. ivan #

    my smart bro did not detict the sim

    18 June 2010 at 1:55 pm Reply
  2. AMIT KUMAR MISHRA #

    SIR, I HAVE A SMART BRO INTERNET USB DEVICE .I UPGRADE MY PC FROM WINDOWS XP TO WINDOWS 7(32 BIT) ULTIMATE,BUT THE DEVICE DRIVER IS NOT SUCCESFULLY INSTALLED.NOW WHAT I DO? PLEASE HELP ME.
    IMEI NO.OF THE DEVICE IS-358066028770369

    30 June 2010 at 8:54 am Reply
  3. Miguel Arique #

    mabagal ang smart bro. sana gumawa sila ng solusyon, sayang ang usb-modem ko.

    3 September 2010 at 3:40 pm Reply
  4. coolflame #

    It works in my win7 OS by following this one….

    ZTE MF627 Driver Issue on Windows 7
    PROBLEM:

    Issue about no signal and unable to detect sim card in the bundled program in the SMARTBRO USB MODEM MF627 when running it on Windows 7. Upon checking it out in the device manager, a (!) sign

    was present. This is an issue about compatibility with the ZTE drivers on Windows 7 platform. However, there seems to be no problem to the earlier versions of SMARTBRo prepaid when running in Windows7.

    MY DIGITAL FIX:

    1. First, unplug the SMARTBRO device and uninstall completely in the Windows Program Manager (located in the Control Panel) the previously installed SMARTBRO program. (If you have installed it earlier and it failed to detect signal or having other problems).

    2. Plug-in the SMARTBRO Modem Device. Wait for the AUTOPLAY DIALOGUE BOX to appear.

    3. Do not click AUTORUN, rather click OPEN FOLDER TO VIEW FILES.

    4. Once the window appears, go inside the INSTALLER FOLDER by double clicking it.

    5. Right-click SETUP and click TROUBLESHOOT COMPATIBILITY just below Run as Adminsitrator.

    6. Allow it to detect issues, it would take about 10-30 seconds. If it takes longer, be patient.

    7. Click TRY RECOMMENDED SETTINGS, then it will proceed to RESOLVING ISSUES activity and finally it will recommend a setting that best suits the program.

    8. Click START THE PROGRAM. Follow-on the installer's regular commands to complete the install.

    9. After installing, you may now test the SMARTBRO plug-in device software to connect to the internet. There should be no more problems detecting the signal and the sim.

    10. Click NEXT in the COMPATIBILITY DIALOGUE BOX and click YES, SAVE THESE SETTINGS FOR THIS PROGRAM.

    7 September 2010 at 9:13 am Reply
    • Ann M #

      I had a problem using my smart bro plug it. Through this site i got the idea how to resolve it and I did. Thank you cool flame for sharing your experience.

      26 February 2011 at 10:19 am Reply
  5. ramie #

    i have smart bro. i cant connect to the internet but my files setup is not there anymore. it cannot even open to the mycomputer

    15 November 2010 at 2:47 pm Reply
  6. ramie #

    correction. i have smart bro. but i can connect to the internet. but the problem is i cant see files setup on it. and i cant even detect and open it to the mycomputer.

    15 November 2010 at 2:50 pm Reply
  7. jashe #

    thank you so much. Coolflame instrucitons worked for me.

    21 December 2010 at 10:43 pm Reply
  8. dong #

    wwaahhhh ayaw gumana ng smart bro ko! i updated to windows7 hoping bumilis ang connection… my driver problem daw… echos… any one solved this?

    30 December 2010 at 9:14 am Reply
    • Dong, did you try the steps outlined here?

      30 December 2010 at 10:06 am Reply
  9. got the same issue here.. had my OS upgraded to Win 7. i installed all the drivers and necessary softwares to make my system up and running. unfortunately upon installing smartbro got the error "device not successfully installed". i got furious but i tried to be patient. I tried to install it manually instead of choosing the auto run option but it didn't work. i did even try to do OSRI again, no go still. XP service 3 option didn't work for me.. so i tried Vista. In just one attempt.. it worked! Btw, pahabol lang. I've heard from a friend na u can ask for a win 7 driver at smart wireless center. :)

    11 January 2011 at 8:29 pm Reply
    • Hey, thanks for that info!

      11 January 2011 at 10:44 pm Reply
  10. Karen #

    Hello,

    I just recently bought a Smart Bro Broadband Kit (Black – MF100). Kaso, my problem is that walang signal. No service daw. I tried to update the drivers thru Device Manager, kaso updated naman daw. I also tried to do the "Patch for MF100 Modem Upgrade" from smart bro website kaso no luck talaga. I also tried to install the software manually, no luck.

    Btw, I'm using windows 7 home basic (netbook) and windows xp (desktop — ayaw din dito, no service daw)

    PS: Malakas po ang signal ng Smart sa area namin.

    Here's a screenshot: http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g94/bbycake/sma
    Anyone had the same experience as mine? Help please?

    23 January 2011 at 3:36 am Reply
    • Hi Karen. I think the problem is not with the drivers anymore. I do believe it's a problem with Smart. I haven't been able to connect via my SmartBro broadband dongle for several days now. My Smart cellphone's still OK, though. Have you tried calling customer service? (Good luck, though!)

      23 January 2011 at 3:48 am Reply
  11. redline #

    hi po pa help naman po.. y po hindi ako maka connect susing may smart bro modem.. nakaka connect po ako pero once na i-click ko na ung internet connection ko nag browse cia but after that ndi naman cia maka connect.. please… for some advice pls naman po paki txt nalang sakin kc po bihira ako maka pag net wala pa ako net sa house tnx alot po.. here my no.09398721255 tnx again

    4 February 2011 at 9:37 pm Reply
  12. alex #

    where could i find that windows device manager?pls help me…

    2 March 2011 at 6:06 pm Reply
  13. alex #

    do i need to plug in the smart bro?before fixing the problem?

    2 March 2011 at 6:12 pm Reply
    • Hi Alex,Yes, you'll need to plug it in to fix it. The Device Manager can be accessed by right-clicking on the Computer item on your Start menu. Then, click on Manage. In the window that'll open, you'll see the Device Manager on the left.

      2 March 2011 at 6:54 pm Reply
  14. Indie #

    thank u coolfame! it workedfor me! thanks for the instruction.

    9 April 2011 at 4:24 pm Reply
  15. Mark #

    hi.. thanks sa mga infos nyo.. pagdating ko sa bahay try ko ung suggestions dito..
    kasi kagabi di ko din mapagana ung smartbro kit..walang signal saka di madetect ung (U)Sim..napabili pa nga ako ng bagong smartbro na sim card kasi akala ko sa sim lang.. thanks po ulit..

    19 April 2011 at 4:08 pm Reply
  16. verge #

    its a great fix sir…. thanks

    22 April 2011 at 7:41 pm Reply
  17. Medz #

    http://hubpages.com/hub/SMARTBRO-Prepaid-Incompat… , try the solutions posted in this page, it work on me

    4 May 2011 at 3:19 pm Reply
  18. blogiddy #

    thanks a lot bro!! ur my hero!

    7 May 2011 at 9:51 am Reply
  19. coolzero #

    ur my hero coolflame..ur genius bro!

    10 May 2011 at 1:29 pm Reply
  20. prettyclover #

    only helpful blog on the net… my smartbro now works like a charm… KUDOS

    19 May 2011 at 9:56 am Reply
  21. Thanks for the info, now, i used better my braodband

    1 August 2011 at 1:24 pm Reply
  22. onah #

    eow.. i have the same problem po. but i don't know how to fix it. p help nman po..
    plss.? tnx po. Godbless

    2 August 2011 at 10:31 am Reply
  23. onah #

    eow.. i have the same problem po. but i don't know how to fix it. p help nman po..

    2 August 2011 at 10:51 am Reply
  24. Robert Garcia #

    Outdated fix.. ^_^

    You can simply visit this site: http://smart.com.ph/bro/support/downloads.htm

    and download the patch for MF100 modem..

    http://smart.com.ph/smartbro/shared/resources/SMA

    9 August 2011 at 11:00 am Reply
  25. Gerald #

    tried your suggestion (uninstall then troubleshoot then save settings) but i'm still encountering same issues (no signal, device /sim not detected). Am using windows 7 of acer aspire 4750. help please. :(

    1 September 2011 at 12:40 am Reply
  26. Joselito G. Ruto Jr. #

    ito ung tmang pag gamit ng smartbro plug-in click nyo lang po^_^
    http://geekyfaust.info/tips-and-tricks/troublesho

    9 October 2011 at 5:32 am Reply
  27. taytots #

    thanks! kelvin it works

    25 October 2011 at 10:37 pm Reply
  28. Devee #

    None of these instructions worked for me.

    29 October 2011 at 1:26 pm Reply
  29. nobriel #

    pano po pag terminated by the remote computer????

    9 December 2011 at 10:08 pm Reply
  30. Nikki #

    I tried the troubleshoot suggested by coolflame but it didnt work. then I tried updating the device manager. It was actually easier.just make sure you have an internet connection to let your system search for installers itself

    20 December 2011 at 12:57 am Reply
  31. Thanks for this tip. I’ve been having this spot of problem since the Upgrade.

    Hope this works. :)

    24 December 2011 at 8:38 am Reply
  32. macoi #

    WALANG option ng Modem MF190 jan mga sir? patulong nman oh..

    26 December 2011 at 4:14 pm Reply

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