Some older mobile broadband cards are locked to a specific service provider while many modern cards have hardware, firmware, and apps that support numerous providers. We need more info: what model laptop, what broadband adapter, and who is your current service provider?

Its a 7400.  I just bought it on ebay and have not received it yet so I dont have the info tag numbers.

It is configured with a 4g lte card.  That is all I know.  The seller assured me that it could be configured with any provider.

I want to get it on a Sprint plan.  (T-mobile now)

Thank you.

I don’t know about “any provider”, but the US big 3 certainly work. The card is a DW5821e which is a modern card. You can use your service tag to find the drivers. You’ll have to call Sprint with the DW5821e IMEI to setup service and obtain a SIM card. You should be able to do a walk in and get service/SIM card that same day.

So, I just got the laptop, the Dell 7400.  It has the sim card slot, so it is set up for ltc.

Can you help me find the IMEI or the ESN.  

T-Mobile wont send me a sim card without that and we could not find it.  

Thank you,

Michael

There needs to be a WWAN card in the system, and the IMEI number will be on the card's label.

If there's no WWAN card in the system, you will need to purchase one.  If there is, you can read the IMEI from its label.

Service manual:

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/latitude-14-7400-laptop/docs

Note:  the presence of a SIM socket does not mean the system has the required WWAN card.

Thank you.  I did just that this morning.  I found the IMEI on the label.

You guys are great.  Thanks.

Let me ask you this.

Does it make any sense to partition the 1 Terabyte hard drive and run the OS from a portion that I dont put anything else on?

One of the things I run into, no matter how big the hd, it gets full and the os gets bogged down.

Thanks,

Michael

Welcome to the Dell Community @zubenal 

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@zubenal wrote:

One of the things I run into, no matter how big the hd, it gets full and the os gets bogged down.

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 Since you can have only one drive, partitioning would be counterintuitive.

Unless you want to run a second OS???

Partitioning a smaller drive to run the OS would as you say "Get bogged down" faster.

What does your partition table look like know???

Would it not be better to just create separate folders???

Remember a "Folder" is like a partition, but it is expandable.

What is the model number of the WWAN???

Best regards,

U2

So, I found the IMEI on the card itself.  

When I spoke to Sprint they told me that they dont support this system.

I called Dell Sales to ask what the Sprint contract on the system is.  He didn't know.

I am on hold with T-Mobile to ask them the same question ...again.  There has to be someone there that can address this question.  

If I were to purchase one directly from Dell, configured with an LTE card, what is the process for activating it?  Does it come activated?  I am aware that during the purchasing process I have to select a service provider.  When I look at the customizing options I see the option to go with one of the big three.

I did see that the one I have was originally set up with Verizon.  

ibmarc, I really appreciate your help on this.  The information you have been sharing has been super helpful.  

So, I do know that the lte card was originally set up for Verizon.

I dont know what a Broadband Adapter is.  I suspect you are asking the model of the lte card???

And, how do I find the model of the laptop?  I tried going into settings and About. It did not provide a model number.

Can i upload a screen shot of the Info section of About?

Thanks,

Michael

In my first post, I asked 3 questions: what computer, what (cellular hardware) broadband adapter, and what service provider. You answered questions 1 and 3, and I used Dell’s website to fill in the blank about question 2. The cellular hardware (broadband adapter card, is one of several names for the cellular hardware). According to Dell, it is the Foxconn T77W968 that Dell has rebranded (renamed) the DW5821e.

Try looking in Device Manager > Modems, Device Manager > Network Adapters, and Device Manager > Ports. DW5821e Snapdragon X20 LTE; should be listed in all three categories.