Install / Change Mini Wireless Card (1390 to 3945)

I chose door #4 and wasn't greeted by any 2-headed llamas.

Seriously, everything installed but I don't see where the Intel
software is. It seems like everything is Vista-defaulted.

That's OK for me as long as the new card works well, but you've piqued
my interest and now I am wondering what I am missing by not knowing
where the Intel-specific functionality is.

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 01:50:44 -0400, Ben Myers
wrote:

You do want to download the software behind door #4. That's the whole
enchilada, including the wireless connection management software which
supercedes Microsoft's brain-dead wifi built into XP/Vista. The ID tool (#1)
is an ID tool that only tells you what the wifi card is. #2 is drivers only,
essentially what Dell provides... Ben

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:02:00 -0500, Journey wrote:

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 23:31:44 -0400, Ben Myers
wrote:

The Inspiron 600m uses the miniPCI form factor, so you would want the Intel
2915ABG. More or less the same on-board hardware chip and exactly the same
software as the 3945.

Also, DO install the software from the Intel web site, not Dell's. It is
approx 45MB download, but well worth it. Intel's software to manage wifi
connections is among the best I've seen, very intuitive and helpful... Ben Myers

Hi Ben -- I am not sure I was able to find the software you mention. I
downloaded from this link:

http://tinyurl.com/34pu9j

#1, #2, and #4.

I didn't recall anything special about anything I downloaded so I must
be missing something.

Thanks!

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 06:01:14 -0500, RnR wrote:

Thank you Ben for that info.. I probably should take Journey's (and
my deceased dad's advice for that matter) and not replace my network
cards unless there is a problem. In my case there isn't UNLESS I use
Austin's (Texas) public library (at home no problem on wifi) in which
case I can't get on their free wifi. I tried various things then and
except for about 1 minute or less, I never could get on.

Do you know if Austin's free wi-fi requires you to log in? I seem to
recall that I was using a hotel's free wi-fi, and in order to use it I
had to go to a specific web address and enter login information.

Definitely ask the employees there if there's anything specific that
you have to do. Your notebook can appear connected to a free wi-fi
spot (the card can report that it's connected) yet still not work
until you log in.

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:26:40 -0500, Journey wrote:

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 06:01:14 -0500, RnR wrote:

Thank you Ben for that info.. I probably should take Journey's (and
my deceased dad's advice for that matter) and not replace my network
cards unless there is a problem. In my case there isn't UNLESS I use
Austin's (Texas) public library (at home no problem on wifi) in which
case I can't get on their free wifi. I tried various things then and
except for about 1 minute or less, I never could get on.

Do you know if Austin's free wi-fi requires you to log in? I seem to
recall that I was using a hotel's free wi-fi, and in order to use it I
had to go to a specific web address and enter login information.

Definitely ask the employees there if there's anything specific that
you have to do. Your notebook can appear connected to a free wi-fi
spot (the card can report that it's connected) yet still not work
until you log in.


Yes Journey, I had to set up a free account before I could gain access
at the library (not the hotel I used in the parking lot). I don't
remember how often I could get on to their web site now but only once
I could go beyond it. I'm not sure if anyone there can help me as the
ones I saw didn't look too computer literate. It may be a while
before I'm back in that library again tho. If I go back there, I will
have laptop in hand to try again g.

Maybe the software has been supressed by the presence of Vista? Any Intel wifi
stuff in the Start menu? You may have to tell Vista that the Intel software is
taking control of the wifi connection process... Ben Myers

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:04:30 -0500, Journey wrote:

I chose door #4 and wasn't greeted by any 2-headed llamas.

Seriously, everything installed but I don't see where the Intel
software is. It seems like everything is Vista-defaulted.

That's OK for me as long as the new card works well, but you've piqued
my interest and now I am wondering what I am missing by not knowing
where the Intel-specific functionality is.

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 01:50:44 -0400, Ben Myers
wrote:

You do want to download the software behind door #4. That's the whole
enchilada, including the wireless connection management software which
supercedes Microsoft's brain-dead wifi built into XP/Vista. The ID tool (#1)
is an ID tool that only tells you what the wifi card is. #2 is drivers only,
essentially what Dell provides... Ben

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:02:00 -0500, Journey wrote:

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 23:31:44 -0400, Ben Myers
wrote:

The Inspiron 600m uses the miniPCI form factor, so you would want the Intel
2915ABG. More or less the same on-board hardware chip and exactly the same
software as the 3945.

Also, DO install the software from the Intel web site, not Dell's. It is
approx 45MB download, but well worth it. Intel's software to manage wifi
connections is among the best I've seen, very intuitive and helpful... Ben Myers

Hi Ben -- I am not sure I was able to find the software you mention. I
downloaded from this link:

http://tinyurl.com/34pu9j

#1, #2, and #4.

I didn't recall anything special about anything I downloaded so I must
be missing something.

Thanks!

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:48:57 -0500, Journey wrote:

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:24:39 -0500, RnR wrote:

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:29:55 -0500, Journey wrote:

In case anyone else is considering changing their mini wireless card I
thought I'd post about how simple it is to do that.

I decided to switch from Dell's 1390 mini wireless card in my Inspiron
640m to Intel's 3945 because I have been having various problems:


Just to add to my last post, I have 2 of these laptops and only use
one of them when I go to Austin. I might just for the heck buy 2
cards tho to put into both laptops.

Actually I also have a 600m laptop and wonder if it too can take the
same card ? I'll have to do some checking or asking. In that case I
might be wise to buy 3 new cards????

Anyone know if the intel 3945 wifi card can go inside a 600m laptop?

RnR, I would only replace a card if something's not working and you
suspect it is the card. You indicate that you have 3 laptops -- are
things not working in all 3?

If you do replace the card, I would start out by doing it on one
laptop and then see if that fixes any problems.

I will know by tomorrow night if replacing the card fixes my problem
and whether it improves the range. I'll post a short followup
tomorrow.

Short followup as promised...

My problems went away after I replaced my Dell 1390 mini wireless card
with the Intel 3945.

I want to note though that it's only one person's experience.

I am glad that I made the switch, and I am also fairly sure that the
Dell 1390 works just fine for most users, otherwise there would be a
lot more threads about problems with it.

I am just glad to eliminate having to reboot every time I come back to
my apartment wireless network.

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:36:08 -0500, Journey wrote:

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:48:57 -0500, Journey wrote:

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:24:39 -0500, RnR wrote:

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:29:55 -0500, Journey wrote:

In case anyone else is considering changing their mini wireless card I
thought I'd post about how simple it is to do that.

I decided to switch from Dell's 1390 mini wireless card in my Inspiron
640m to Intel's 3945 because I have been having various problems:


Just to add to my last post, I have 2 of these laptops and only use
one of them when I go to Austin. I might just for the heck buy 2
cards tho to put into both laptops.

Actually I also have a 600m laptop and wonder if it too can take the
same card ? I'll have to do some checking or asking. In that case I
might be wise to buy 3 new cards????

Anyone know if the intel 3945 wifi card can go inside a 600m laptop?

RnR, I would only replace a card if something's not working and you
suspect it is the card. You indicate that you have 3 laptops -- are
things not working in all 3?

If you do replace the card, I would start out by doing it on one
laptop and then see if that fixes any problems.

I will know by tomorrow night if replacing the card fixes my problem
and whether it improves the range. I'll post a short followup
tomorrow.

Short followup as promised...

My problems went away after I replaced my Dell 1390 mini wireless card
with the Intel 3945.

I want to note though that it's only one person's experience.

I am glad that I made the switch, and I am also fairly sure that the
Dell 1390 works just fine for most users, otherwise there would be a
lot more threads about problems with it.

I am just glad to eliminate having to reboot every time I come back to
my apartment wireless network.


Thanks Journey. Sounds to me like your router and card didn't get
along well till you made the switch. I don't know what the difference
is between the two cards tho.

thanks again.

Short followup as promised...

My problems went away after I replaced my Dell 1390 mini wireless card
with the Intel 3945.

I want to note though that it's only one person's experience.

I am glad that I made the switch, and I am also fairly sure that the
Dell 1390 works just fine for most users, otherwise there would be a
lot more threads about problems with it.

I am just glad to eliminate having to reboot every time I come back to
my apartment wireless network.


Thanks Journey. Sounds to me like your router and card didn't get
along well till you made the switch. I don't know what the difference
is between the two cards tho.

thanks again.

/Rant
I think that the state of wireless is still in the process of change.
It has advanced at a rapid rate ("a", bang, "b", bang "g", bang and
then what the heck lets release "n", hasn't be approved yet but who
cares) All these cards/companies use what are called standards which
is really a base line spec and there appears to be alot of problems in
interaction between different companies hardware unless it is setup to
mini um standards and even then there are still problems.
Release of hardware/software is done today because we can not because
it is ready for the great unwashed.
/End of Rant.

Art

In response to the rant, stick with equipment that meets currently approved
standards, instead of the bleeding edge with MIMO, SpeedBooster, draft 802.11n,
etc. etc. etc. I have had no problems using or selling STANDARD wifi gear over
the last several years. In the meantime, the newer 802.11g stuff has gotten
more reliable and/or more powerful that the older generation... Ben Myers

On Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:07:55 +1000, Star@*.* wrote:

SNIP
/Rant
I think that the state of wireless is still in the process of change.
It has advanced at a rapid rate ("a", bang, "b", bang "g", bang and
then what the heck lets release "n", hasn't be approved yet but who
cares) All these cards/companies use what are called standards which
is really a base line spec and there appears to be alot of problems in
interaction between different companies hardware unless it is setup to
mini um standards and even then there are still problems.
Release of hardware/software is done today because we can not because
it is ready for the great unwashed.
/End of Rant.

Art