Wireless
Participate in insightful discussions regarding issues related to Intel® Wireless Adapters and technologies
7367 Discussions

My Intel WiFi card does not work when put in desktop.

SSi1
Beginner
1,803 Views

I uninstalled a WiFi card from an old IBM ThinkPad T60 and screwed in an adaptor and put it in x16 slot on my desktop PC. I used these drivers https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/22116/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-and-Drivers-for-Windows-7- Download Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software and Drivers for Windows 7* and I do not know what else to do. I can't connect to a WiFi network. Here's a screenshot of my device manager. I managed to install the 77MB file from the site I previously downloaded it but the actual driver that is ~22MB won't run properly. Just shows some waiting and the quits itself. I tried going into safe mode with networking to install it but nothing. I also tried putting it into an actual x1 slot but still the same thing. If anyone can think of a solution i'd appreciate it. The WiFi card pulled out of a laptop is WM3945ABG MOW, my OS is Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit.

aa

0 Kudos
3 Replies
jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
547 Views

Hello Kardinals,

Installing or upgrading the various Intel® Wireless Adapters by end users is not supported by Intel. Intel® Wireless adapter are meant to be installed by computer manufacturers and authorized service providers. In most cases, OEM manufacturers add customizations to the adapters and drivers that may prevent it from working in other systems.

In this case, we recommend you to contact the http://www.intel.com/support/oems.htm Computer Manufacturer Support to know which wireless adapters are supported in your system, or you may use the http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wireless-products/dual-band-wireless-ac-7260-bluetooth-desktop.html Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 + Bluetooth* for Desktop, in stead of a custom integrated adapter.

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-031167.htm Intel® Wi-Fi Products — Why Doesn't My Laptop Recognize My New Intel® Wireless Adapter?

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-011644.htm Intel® Wi-Fi Products — Regulatory Information Regarding Hardware Installation or Upgrade

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/sb/CS-006192.htm Wireless Networking — Installation Error when Installing or Swapping Intel Wireless Adapters

You may confirm that the adapter and antennas are properly connected, other that that there are no additional recommendations we can provide.

SSi1
Beginner
547 Views

My computer manufacturer is unknown. This PC isn't branded but assembled from components. I don't think adapter has any customizations as it is unbranded one. And it doesn't even have an antenna slot nor the two small cables that usually come in laptops, but I assume that's for power and PCIe has 75w so I also assume it's more than enough. Could there be any setting in BIOS for PCIexpress slots that I don't know about? My BIOS had a reset recently and some settings weren't back like they used to be.

jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
547 Views

Hello Kardinals,

As I mentioned, we do not support this type of integrations, since we cannot guarantee that the adapter will work with an adapter in a system that may not be compatible with it. In our best effort, we would like to provide some feedback about adapter installation:

- The power and data connections between the PC and the wireless card is done via the PCIe slot. Cables are not needed for this.

- The Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection requires 2 antennas to work correctly. These would normally be the 2 cables that are in the Laptop chassis, they connect to the round connectors labeled 1 and 2 in the adapter. Wireless connections cannot be established if the antennas are not seated properly.

0 Kudos
Reply