Adding wireless minipci

Question

I have an Inspiron 8200 with stock 3com 10/100 3c920 NIC and an AC97 Softv92 modem. I bought and installed a Dell p/n 0F6749 (Intel 2915ABG) Wireless NIC. The 8200 doesn;t see the Wireless, and I can't access Minipci in BIOS setup.

Is there a jumper that needs to be set, or do I have to take out the 3Com or what?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Jerry Park · Answer

There should be a setting in the BIOS for the mini-pci device.

I'm running version A11 of the BIOS. On page 4, at the bottom of the page:

Mini PCI device: UNKNOWN (not changable), the BIOS doesn't know this device.
Mini PCI device: Enabled

Other than making sure it is enabled in the BIOS, Windows should see the device and ask for drivers.

I wish you luck with the Intel 2915ABG. I bought one to replace the Truemobile (broadcom) 1180 that came with my system. Worked with it for several months before giving up on it. The drivers Intel provides have major problems causing connection issues.

jswalls110 · Answer

I have the Minipci in the BIOS, however it is set to Disabled, and I am not able to access it. There is only one Minipci setting there. Do you have the 3Com wired built in NIC also?

Jerry Park · Answer

Yes I do. That should not affect your mini-pci setting in the BIOS.

You can't highlight (select) it? If you can, do the arrow keys not change the setting?

Can't imagine why you can't change the setting in the BIOS. You do have the card installed?

jswalls110 · Answer

I can't select it at all. Yea, the card is in, and I reseated it several times. I was just making sure there was nothing else I needed to do to activate the slot. I will return it to the seller, and get another one.

Thanks for your help!

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Adding wireless minipci

Was this post helpful?