How do i know if my laptop has wireless?

[DrR]

was given a toshiba a10 with broken HDD, replaced it, installed xp and it doesn't find anything, but the laptop has a switch for wireless on the front?

any ideas?

 

[MrMark]

do a hardware device search.
right click on "my computer" and then click "manage".

go through the devices and look for networking type devices

 

[MrMark]

chances are you need to download and install the device drivers for windows to recognise that a wirless card is present

 

[DrR]

It finds nothing under network adapters, it's crazy.

 

[MrMark]

this one yours? says under cons: no wireless

http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/notebooks/0,1000000333,10005892,00.htm

 

[DrR]

Yeah but i'm 90% sure it's wireless, don't want to ask person who gave it me cos it only needed a new hard drive

 

[DrR]

Oh a few on ebay with wifi to

 

[MrMark]

then id try getting the drivers somehow.

http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.....do?service=UK&from=http://www.toshiba.co.uk/

theres a support and download section here.

take a look

 

[DrR]

Downloaded some from there but can only install if windows has picked it up as they are not .exe files.

 

[16v_jon]

On the front of it just below the trackpad there should be a wireless on/off button with a small symbol next to it. If it has one of these then it'll have wireless.

 

[DrR]

It does, thats the point, but windows picks up nothing when i switch it on.

 

[MrMark]

How about entering the setup before windows boots up?

there may be settings/hardware configuration options there?

other than that, i'm stumped. Perhpas the wireless card is damaged.


Does it have diagnostic software?

 

[DrR]

Nothing in the BIOS i'll have a further look tomorrow

cheers

 

[16v_jon]

Run sisoft and see if it picks up the wifi device. I THINK its a mini pci card check one of the bays to see if its dislodged etc.

 

[Mike_182]

Probably an option on that model - you would still have the switch for it but the miniPCI card won't be installed. Buy one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Intel-Pro-Min...ryZ45001QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Goes in the random slot underneath it, yes - I've just finished scraping a D600 together for my sister involving a £100 battered D600, a £20 fascia, £40 1.8Ghz 2Mb Pentium-M, £10 wireless card, £15 bluetooth module, £40 120Gb Hard drive and 1Gb memory that I had knocking around.

Job's a goodun!

 

[DrR]

^^ guessing that goes in the random slot underneath it?

 

[Pettsi]

On the front of it just below the trackpad there should be a wireless on/off button with a small symbol next to it. If it has one of these then it'll have wireless.

Companies use the same chasis for different models in the range. (saves them money) It may have the switch, but doesn't necessarily mean it has wireless..

Just my 10pence worth.

Best bet is to buy a PCI wireless card for about £15.

 

[DrR]

would this work?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/54M-WIRELESS-...ryZ74954QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

£7!