You should be able to activate Miracast by holding the Windows Key down, pressing "P" (for "project"), and then clicking "Connect to a wireless display" in the sidebar that appears.  If that's not working, then where exactly is the laptop claiming that it does not support Miracast?  And what WiFi card do you have?  Miracast is a notoriously finicky and ill-supported protocol, but if your system claims it doesn't support it at all, then that's probably your answer, and it's probably related to the WiFi card.  If you wanted to upgrade that, the Intel 7260HMW would fit into that system and probably be a significant upgrade from whatever came with an E6430.  They're about $30 on Amazon, but make sure you get the Wireless-AC 7260, not the Wireless-N 7260, since the latter only supports 802.11n.  I have no idea why Intel used the same model code for two different cards that have vastly different capabilities, but they did.  It's also important to get the HMW, not the NGW in your case.

Hi JP

Well that is a comprehensive answer! Thank you.

FYI I have gone through set up with chromecast one more time today - settings, add a device, clicked choice of wireless display. The black box that appears and scans cannot find. Ran a diag in LAN card utility all ok but discovered the card is a Dell 1504 802.  There appears to be a WLAN 802.11 adapter.

So from this I gather the way forward is your proposed Intel  AC 7260 HMW?

I am handy with tools but is this a user friendly swap out?

The reason for all these shinanigans is my eyesight plus its handy to watch on-line tv on our bigger screen.

My guess is that the issue is that the Dell 1504 doesn't support the Wi-Fi Direct standard, which essentially allows a wireless adapter to establish a point-to-point WiFi connection for things like Miracast while also remaining connected to a router for Internet access.  In terms of performing the swap, yes it's very easy and if you go to support.dell.com, you can find your Owner's Manual, which contains step-by-step guides complete with diagram drawings for how to remove and reinstall every component of the system -- or here is a direct link.  If eyesight is a concern though, the tiny antenna connectors can be tricky to deal with, and it's important to get them firmly connected, since a loose antenna connection can drastically reduce WiFi performance.  I typically recommend connecting the antennas before inserting the new WiFi card into the slot, since that way you can pinch the antennas down onto the card's connectors by placing your thumb over the antenna and your index finger on the underside of the WiFi card directly under its antenna connector.  Then as the directions indicate, the WiFi card needs to be inserted at a 45-degree angle relative to the motherboard and then pressed down along the top edge to lie flush before being fastened with the screw.  But it should still only take maybe 5 minutes to do the swap.

Windows 10 has native support for the Intel 7260, so it should be detected automatically, although you'll need to rejoin your WiFi network(s) since stored WiFi passwords don't carry over to new WiFi adapters.  And you may still want to update to the latest drivers for that card, available here.  Good luck!

Chromecast is not the same as Miracast. Use the chromecast directions instead==

https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6006232?hl=en

Please listen to Mary above Chromecast does not use Miracast...

If you want to miracast you need a tv that includes it (most new ones do) or buy an adapter for it.

If that's true, then I agree that you shouldn't be looking at a WiFi card replacement, at least not for this reason.  However, that then leads me to wonder what directions you were following, since in your original post you mentioned you "followed directions" and had the "correct" Miracast opening screen up on the TV.

Ok, so Doofus of the Week award goes to?.........

What I meant to buy was a Chromecast as my brother recommended. Numpty here clicked before reading the ad properly so it seems I've bought a cheap knock-off version. My LG flat tv is around 5yrs old now. 

It is odd that the first time I hooked this thing up, it appeared in the 'other devices' section with my HTC phone. It was only when having bother connecting, I tried removing and reloading it. From then it disappeared permanently.

By directions I meant that I had plugged it all in as per manual and got their opening blue screen up and was able to switch from apple to android OS. 

So I take it that I ought to send back this offending item and get the Chromecast version? Do we know if that will work with my current wifi card?

I am happy to replace it with the card you mention as it seems an easy swap, but what are the added benefits aside from the above? 

Thank you all for the detailed help!

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@Foxbasswrote:

Ok, so Doofus of the Week award goes to?.........

What I meant to buy was a Chromecast as my brother recommended. Numpty here clicked before reading the ad properly so it seems I've bought a cheap knock-off version. My LG flat tv is around 5yrs old now. 

It is odd that the first time I hooked this thing up, it appeared in the 'other devices' section with my HTC phone. It was only when having bother connecting, I tried removing and reloading it. From then it disappeared permanently.

By directions I meant that I had plugged it all in as per manual and got their opening blue screen up and was able to switch from apple to android OS. 

So I take it that I ought to send back this offending item and get the Chromecast version? Do we know if that will work with my current wifi card?

I am happy to replace it with the card you mention as it seems an easy swap, but what are the added benefits aside from the above? 

Thank you all for the detailed help!

---

Well at least you've figured out where the confusion was!  I don't know whether your current card will work with Chromecast, but since its requirements don't seem to mention specific Wi-Fi chipsets or capabilities like Wi-Fi Direct, there's a good chance it will.  But since you asked what an upgraded WiFi card would offer, your current Dell Wireless 1504 only supports 802.11n and although it has 2 antennas, it only supports 1x1 transmission, which means only one antenna will only ever be used for transmit or receive.  I also can't find any clear information as to whether that WiFi card supports 5 GHz networks.  By comparison, the Intel card I mentioned supports the newer and much faster 802.11ac standard, definitely supports 5 GHz, and supports 2x2 transmission, which means that both of its antennas can be used for transmit or receive when conditions permit.  The net result is that if your router also supports 802.11ac, you'll have much higher maximum throughput, probably better range, and even if your WiFi needs mean that you won't need the higher maximum throughput, you'll have better throughput at longer ranges.  As a frame of reference, I have a 300 Mbps Internet connection.  When I had an 802.11ac WiFi card but only an 802.11n router (although a very good one, namely the ASUS RT-N66U), I could get 300 Mbps when near the router but only 60 Mbps a couple of rooms away.  Now that I've upgraded to an 802.11ac router, namely the ASUS RT-AC88U, I can get my full 300 Mbps from a few rooms away.  It's possible that I can actually get even more throughput, but 300 Mbps is my full Internet connection and I don't do a lot of local LAN file transfers and such.

Thanks again.

It makes perfect sense now to at least start with the Chromecast and see what happens with the current wifi card.

I currently have no discernible problems with speed or range at home, I think due to router siting which is central to house and near ground floor ceiling so we are never much more than 1 room away from it.

Ok, update on this problem!

Firstly, I bought a Mirascreen NOT a Chromecast thanks to deceptive and inaccurate advertising! That is going back.

Soooo.... eventually bought a real Chromecast unit. Connects up just the same, costs 3x the price so should work beautifully.

Er, no.

The picture quality can best be described as like an old CRT tv, slightly furry focus and low res. Tv is an LG that shows HD channels and films really well for a 5yr old unit. Lappy is the Latt 6430 running windows 10 at 64bit. Again I have no criticism of play-back quality.

Before also I send this thing back, is there something I may have missed? My bro thinks the res should be fine. (He is in IT but not much help beyond that).

I mean, connecting it all up is simplicity itself, I even plugged the usb into supplied adaptor to mains outlet not the tv's usb slot with no difference.

We discussed the poss weakness of the wifi card in another post, could this still be the crux of the problem? I would not have thought so as I am watching films quite happily on the 6430 via wifi link to my router (sited one floor below) which itself is a very recent  model from Virign.

An HDMI cable of course produces a brilliant result so I thought the Chromecast would be at least nearly as good. With the tv HDMI linked, I am getting an equally good pic from router on screen as on 6430 simultaneously.

Waddaya think chaps?