How to Install a Wireless Router Card

A wireless router card, also called a wireless adapter or WLAN card, is a hardware device inside your laptop that lets you connect to your broadband wireless network using your wireless router. Most new laptops are equipped with an internal wireless card. You can remove and replace the wireless card if it malfunctions. If the wireless card in your laptop has malfunctioned or you want to replace it with a better card, there are steps you must follow to ensure that you do not damage your laptop's motherboard or other components when installing the wireless card.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Laptop screwdriver set
• ESD wristband or other grounding device
• Compatible wireless card

1. Turn off the laptop and remove the battery. Power down the laptop through the operating system and wait for the laptop to cool off. Once the laptop has cooled, close the laptop lid and place the laptop upside down on a stable surface. This will allow you to access the battery compartment--and other compartments--located on the bottom of the laptop. Depending on your laptop model, remove the battery by pressing or sliding the battery lock to the "unlock" position and sliding the battery out of its compartment.

2. Disconnect all peripherals and cables. Unplug the AC power cord from your laptop and disconnect any cables or devices you have attached to your laptop. This includes disconnecting network cables, headphones, PC cards and USB adapters.

3. Remove the cover on your laptop's wireless card compartment. Review the user guide that came with your laptop to discover which compartment at the bottom of your laptop is for the wireless router card. After locating the wireless card compartment, use a laptop screwdriver of the correct size to unscrew the screw securing the cover to the laptop. Keep this screw separate from any other screws you remove.

4. Remove the old wireless card. Before you can remove the old wireless card, you must disconnect the two antenna wires that attach the wireless card to the motherboard. To remove these wires safely, simply twist and lift up on the clips found on the end of both wires. Do not yank the wires off as this can cause permanent damage to the motherboard and the antenna wires. After removing the antenna wires, press the two clips that secure the wireless card in its place and push outward to unlatch them. You can now take the old wireless card out of the compartment.

5. Insert the new wireless router card. Before placing the wireless card into the compartment, attach the two antenna wires by gently twisting and pushing the clips onto the wireless card. Once the antenna wires are attached, place the wireless card into the compartment, securing it under the latches inside the compartment. Place the cover back onto the compartment and insert and tighten its screw.

6. Download and install drivers. To complete installation of the new wireless router card, visit the technical support website of your laptop's manufacturer to download the drivers necessary for the laptop to recognize the new wireless router card. You will need to access the Internet via an Ethernet cable on your laptop, as your wireless card will not be able to access the Internet.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are installing a wireless PC card instead of an internal wireless card, simply insert the PC card into one of your laptop's CardBus slots. When your laptop indicates it recognizes new hardware, simply follow the on-screen instructions of the New Hardware Wizard or install the wireless PC card using the card's set-up CD.
• If your laptop is still under a warranty, check to be sure that installing a new wireless card will not void the warranty. Use a grounding device, such as an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wristband or workstation, to prevent ESD from transferring to your laptop and permanently damaging its hardware.

Resources

• CNet.com -- Reviews: Wireless Network Buying Guide
• Repair4Laptop.org --Wireless LAN Antennas for Laptops
• PC Magazine -- Upgrade Your Laptop