Gateway Parts

Can you install wireless card in a laptop on your own?

I've got a Gateway W340UI with a faulty wireless card. I have been using a USB wireless adapter, which works quite well, but I have been thinking about opening the laptop and replacing the card myself. If I bought the right parts, would it be possible for someone with a somewhat high understanding of computers to replace it without using tech support? The company that sold me the computer has been giving me the run around, so I want to try to fix it on my own.

Public Comments

1. Sure ... on the bottom of the laptop there are one or more panels, beneath one of which you will find the old wireless card, which looks like a small ram-like board, with two wires attached to it and an edge with metal contacts inserted into a slot. It will probable have a set of screws holding it down. Remove the screws and the wires (do a search to find the best way to remove the wires without damage, I have never actually removed them from a working system) and you should be good to hook the wires to a new card, insert it into the slot, and screw it down. Follow included directions as to whether to install the driver before or after actual installation.
2. Yes you can ! If your laptop has the PCMCIA slot ( on the side of your laptop), you can buy a PCMCIA wireless LAN card, and just insert it and install the driver for it !