This tutorial explains how you can install internal wireless card into an older laptop. I assume that your laptop is “wireless ready” which 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 which antenna cable connects to which 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 which 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.
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December 20th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
How do I install a internal antenna wire connector on a Gateway 450 sx4 for my mini pci .Gateway did not install one on the laptop.Do you know the right wire I need to install?Need help.Thank You
December 19th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Hello,
I fixed solder problem with DC.jack in my toshiba with your help, thank you. But now my wireless cards connection signalis too weak. I tested in different areas and modems, far from 3-5 meters modem but the signal is too weak. I checked the antenna cables but they are connected properly. What is the problem ? Do i need to replace my wireless card ?
October 25th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
[...] Removing wireless card: 1. Disconnect both antenna cables. Grab the antenna cable connector with your fingers and unsnap it from the connector on the wireless card. 2. Spread latches on both sides of the wireless card same way as you did with RAM modules. 3. When the wireless card pops up at a 30 degree angle, pull it from the slot by the edges. Remove wireless card. [...]
October 24th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Thanks for this helpful webpage. I was able to muddle through after a couple of trial and errors this evening.
Just a thought… maybe a more in-depth instruction at this point: “1. Download and install the driver…”
The “install” part could use some expanding.
I know that for many who have done this before it may seem obvious, but for those of us who never installed a driver before (this was my first time) it might be nice to be walked through the steps opening the download file, finding the install file (which wasn’t obvious as the “install” file – 32bit and 64bit were both given in my XP download) and proceeding to the conclusion.
Overall, this was great help. It certainly made it easy finding the right place to get the driver and buying the right card off eBay – would have been fantastic with the added info, though.
October 18th, 2008 at 2:12 am
the above tutorial is a very useful tutorial for the many, the only problem is: should anybody upgrade such an old laptop that doesnt have a wireless network card integrated within? would your money not better be spent onto a new laptop system since they all have wireless capabilities and the prices have gone down dramatically year on year since the time wireless wasnt included within.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pm
[...] I had to add an internal wireless card to my older Dell Latitude C840 laptop and it works [...]
August 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am
I downloaded the device driver and the intel connection software and I’m not getting anything. It says that the driver was installed, but when I try to complete the install with the connection software it says driver not found. Any ideas?
July 30th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Hey make sure that the router that you are using isn,t password protected, Ifso it may require that password.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
dware,
Are you logged in as a user with administrative rights?
July 25th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
thank’s for your reply, the manufacturer is intel ceO336 wifi card but was still unable to download the drivers,i use my other laptop and download the drivers on a disk,then try to download on to my c840 latitude but it ask me for a password, what now? this make you want to give up on it .Help me out if you can.