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Mini PCI Wireless card recommendations
I have a C640 with a Dell TrueMobile 1150 card installed , since this only supports B standard I want to upgrade to a card that supports 802.11G standard . Does any one know if Dell offers a card that fits my laptop .
- I already own several 802.11g pcmcia cards , I just wanted to replace the internal one as a first options . It Mini-PCI seems to be an industry standard and was looking to source one from Dell before ordering one from another source especially since they seem to be priced competitively with pcmcia ones . (P.S. I use the Motorola WN825G one in an older Toshiba 440CDT along with a Belkin F5D7010 in my Toshiba 2545XCDT)
Dell TM1350 will fit and work but you need to modify the setup.ini file in the Dell driver package otherwise the drivers won't install. Dell made the driver package to only work on NEWER notebooks but yet they sell the card to anyone through there website. I use one on a C610, works very good with a Linksys WRT54G router in WAP mode and modified firmware to boost the output signal.
If you do a search on this forum or the Inspiron forum or the Wireless networking forum you should come up with either a download link for the modified Setup.ini file or the instruction on how to modify it yourself so the drivers will install.
Also the intel MiniPCI cards work in your model but I have had both and I like the Dell branded card better. You won't find many other makers, Linksys, NetGear and the like, selling MiniPCI cards. Why I'm not sure because most of the desktop PCI WiFi cards are just a circuit board that plugs into a full size PCI slot with a MiniPCI card mounted on it under a metal shield.
Did you remove the drivers for the old card and delete the card in device manager before you physically removed the card. Also while the old card is installed, and after you have removed the drivers and deleted it in device manager, go into the BIOS and disable the MiniPCI slot. Then shut down and physically remove the card and install the new one. Go back into the BIOS and enable the MiniPCI slot. Reboot back to the BIOS and the MiniPCI slot should now say "Enabled" and "Unknown". Boot to Windows and cancel out of the "Found New Hardware" wizard that pops up. Then install the drivers.
OK myabe this should of been at the top. What exactly do you mean it won't boot?? Won't POST?? Or won't boot to Windows?? What happens when you hit the power button.
- By not booting I mean the power on indicator light comes on but thats it , no hard drives spin up and nothing comes up on screen . I'll try the steps you indicated ( BIOS and disable the MiniPCI slot. Then shut down and physically remove the card and install the new one. Go back into the BIOS and enable the MiniPCI slot. Reboot back to the BIOS and the MiniPCI slot should now say "Enabled" and "Unknown". Boot to Windows and cancel out of the "Found New Hardware" wizard that pops up. Then install the drivers.) later today and let you know
- Sounds like either a bad card or you didn't seat it correctly. I have used one of the Dell MiniPCI cards in all of my notebooks, 2-C610, 1-C640 and 1-i8200 and never had any problems like yours, although I never had one of the b only 1150 cards installed. The only problem I ever had was I overheat one of them using the notebook on a soft surface and it wouldn't connect to my AP. Changed out that card for another one and got a connection.
Flooby
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Posted July 15th, 2005 10:00
I don't know if Dell does, but the Linksys WPC54G works very well on those, as does the Motorola WN825G. Both are available at a variety of locations, including CompUSA, Best Buy, Staples, etc.