The driver that enables certain USB Ethernet adapters like the Plugable USB2-E100 to work with new Windows RT devices like the Microsoft Surface has been pulled from the chipset manufacturer’s site (ASIX). Microsoft is requesting that it be pulled from all downstream sites also. Microsoft did not intend for this driver to be distributed.
We’ve found that this driver works well and have posted full instructions for getting wired Ethernet working on the Surface. Customer feedback has been positive, but we want to comply with the request, so the driver has to be removed from our website.
On the other hand, we want to support those of you who have already purchased the Plugable adapter and want to use it with their Microsoft Surface (or Lenovo Yoga 11 or Samsung Ativ or Asus VivoTab RT or Dell XPS 10).
Amazon Super Saver shipping can take up to eight business days, so giving an extra day or two for people to install the driver yields a takedown date of December 23, 2012. After that point, Plugable will not be able to distribute this driver to you.
We at Plugable really like our Surface (this post was written on one), and think that supporting third-party device drivers could make it even more useful. We hope that Microsoft and ASIX can find a way to bring back official driver support for the Plugable USB2-E100 Ethernet adapter soon. If you want to get word to Microsoft, the Surface Community Forums are one good way.
In the meantime, we will keep the installation instructions up and continue to do our best to support our customers. Email support@plugable.com anytime, and we’ll do everything we can to help you.
Comments and questions below are welcome. Note we can’t speak for Microsoft, so there are lots of “why” questions and details that we don’t won’t have answers for, sorry.