Installing internal wireless card into an older laptop
This tutorial explains how you can install internal wireless card into an older laptop. I assume that your laptop is “wireless ready” witch means it has a slot for the wireless card and equipped with wireless antennas, but missing the wireless card. Why did I make this tutorial for an older laptop? Because all new laptops are sold with the wireless card.
I’ll take as an example my Dell Latitude C840 laptop. As you see on the picture, it has a slot for the wireless card and one antenna cable. That’s strange, most laptops have two antenna cables, white and black. One cable goes to the main connector on the wireless card, another cable goes to the auxiliary connector. Probably you’ll ask me witch antenna cable connects to witch connector? I think it doesn’t really matter because both antenna cable are identical.
My main concern was finding the right device driver for the wireless card I plan to install into my laptop. As you know, without correct driver it will not be recognized by the operating system and will not work at all.
Likely, I have a spare wireless card from another not working Toshiba laptop and this card worked perfectly.
You can find this wireless card by the model number: WM3B2200BG. Just search by the model number here and you’ll find one for about $20. It’s a 802.11 b/g wireless card, so you’ll get a 54Mbp/s connection as I did.
In order to install the wireless card into the slot, just push it into the slot at a 30 degree angle (step 1) and then press on the card (step 2) until it’s locked.
After the card is locked in the slot you can connect the antenna cable. In my case, I snapped the antenna cable on the main connector. If you have two antenna cables, snap one of them on the main connector on the wireless card and another one on the auxiliary connector. As I mentioned before, I don’t think it matters with cable goes to witch connector. Both antenna cables are identical.
Finally, you’ll have to download and install the wireless card driver. If you use the same card as I did (WM3B2200BG), you can download driver from the Intel website here.
Use this link: Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection. Select the operating system, download and install the driver.
You have a couple of different options:
1. Download and install the driver only. Use this option if you want to use Windows wireless connection utility. That’s what I did because I prefer using Windows tools.
2. Download and install both the wireless card drive and the connection software. Use this option if you want to use Intel’s software application. It’s totally up to you.
As you see on the picture above, the wireless card successfully connected to the wireless access point at 54Mbp/s.
Entry Filed under: Laptop Tips and Tricks
July 24th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
dware,
Who is the manufacturer? Maybe you can download the driver from their website?
For example. If the Wi-Fi card is made by Intel, you can download this driver form intel.com
July 24th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I have tryed to download drivers to my Latitude C840 Dell latop.to connect the wireless card # CEO336,can’t find the download device drives
, please HELP !!! i would like to see it work waiting for your reply !!!!!!!!!!!.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Please may you send free download dell latitude network adapter drive?
Waiting for your reply soon
July 20th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Ok I have a ibm think pad n a wireless notebook adaptdor how do I connect that
July 7th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
chris,
I think you can use this wi-fi antenna cable.
July 7th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I need to find the cable that hooks on to the wifi card. mine broke off on the ends. so I need to replace it and I cant find a site that carrys it. where do I go?
June 26th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Scott Macnchester,
Not sure what’s going on with your wireless connection. I had this card in my Dell Latitude C840 for over a year and never had any problem. The connection is stable all the time.
Test your laptop with another wireless router. Try upgrading firmware on the router.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I just puchased this same card and installed in my C840 (yes one grey wire only!). I replaced a Truewireless B card that recently has been performing only at 2 Mbps, My problem is that though the Intel connect to my outer at 54, it will not talk to internet. The ony time it will talks is sporadically when I am across house and then only whn signal drops to 2 to 6 Mbps. I’m sure this is providing clues to the problem but not sure what that problem is. Do you suspect bad card? Or possible compatibility with driver or Netgear Wireless G router?
June 5th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Thanks, got my dell on wi-fi. only $5 for the card on ebay.
March 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
If memory serves, the signaling standard requires two antenna’s; one sends the normal signal and one sends a NOT normal signal. Meaning, one antenna sends 101010 and the other sends 010101. on an ever so slightly different frequency; this way the receiving antenna knows when it’s getting garbage and can request a new packet; it’s the same hardware method DDR uses to double signal speed or some ethernet standards use to keep signal loss low.
Older standards use an older scheme so you just plug it into MAIN. It’ll read as a 54MBPS connection or whatever the wifi drivers tell it to read as, but in the end, it’ll downgrade the signaling speed and standard (from G to B then from B to A, etc) until it gets a reliable connection.