Wireless driver for Dell laptop

Install a Wi-Fi card in your new Dell Laptop.

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A functioning internal wireless card in your Dell laptop provides several services to your business environment. The wireless or Wi-Fi card sends and receives the WLAN signal that connects your computer to the Internet, lets you send and receive emails on the fly and even connects you to video conferences from any location in range of an Internet portal or hotspot. If you ordered your new Dell laptop without a wireless card installed or the on-board wireless card suffered some damage and needs replacement, mounting a new card requires little more than a screwdriver and half an hour of your time.

Unplug your Dell laptop from all power sources. Remove the AC adapter/charger connector and battery and set aside.

Look for the wireless card. Turn the Dell laptop over and look for the compartment labeled WLAN, C, or Wi-Fi. If you cannot find a label, look for a compartment to the right of the battery compartment. Wi-Fi antennas are generally located in the screen portion of the laptop; look for a compartment nearest that part of the underside of the laptop. In some Dell laptop models, the Wi-Fi card is located under the keyboard. In this case, open the laptop to 180 degrees and use a flat head screwdriver to gently pop open the tab at the top-right of the keypad. Lift the control tab up and away from the laptop and pull the keypad up from the top. Look for the Wi-Fi card slot situated in the top center of the base.

Unscrew the one or two Phillips screws holding the plastic lid covering the Wi-Fi card and lift it off using the edge of a fingernail or a screwdriver. Set it aside with the screw(s) on the top of the lid.

Disconnect the black and white antenna wires by putting your fingernail under each and gently lifting. Move each wire to one side.

Lift up the Wi-Fi card connectors, which can be mounted on either side or on the top of the card opposite the PCI socket into which the card is plugged. Lift the card from the end opposite the PCI slot to about a 45-degree angle to the chassis and gently pull out the old card. Dispose of properly.