I just received my Inspiron 1100 a few weeks ago - the manual says that it has a spot for a modem or mini PCI card - "mini PCI card" is even in the index.
Read the manual closer. Then look at this link <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed / replaced from this post by Dell> and try and find the mini-pci slot on the 1100. Believe me, it ain't there!
Actually, the hard copy manual doesn't make the distinction that it's only the 5100 that has the mini pci card - this manual is specifically for the 1100 - it has a diagram showing the compartment, saying it holds the modem and mini pci card. I opened the compartment on my 1100, and it doesn't match the one in the diagram. Obviously it's an error in the manual.
I bought an 1100 last week, as Dell Home was closing out the 1100 in favor of the 1150. One of the options for the 1100, at that time, was the 1300 mini-PCI wireless card. I didn't get it because the laptop was for my mother, but now I'm deathly curious: why was it an option in the first place? To the best of my knowledge (and according to *most* everything I've read), the 1100 has never had the capability to use the mini PCI slot for *any* type of card, let alone the wireless card.
So what's the deal? Is the mini-PCI connector in my 1100 (purchased in April of *2003*) active? If I ran my own antenna, would it work with a 1300 mini-PCI card?
do us a favor, please check if your 1100 has such slot. many 1100 owner reported back with no such slot on their machine. AFAIK, inspiron 1150 _DOES_ have the mini-pci slot. maybe what u have is a 1150 : )
My 1100 does have a slot - from the outside it looks exactly like that picture - but when I remove the cover, it looks like the modem takes up the whole slot, whereas in that picture it looks like there's room for both a modem and mini card.
Unless the motherboard has the mini-PCI connector soldered to the board, it is a moot point to keep speculating. We have had two reports from 1100 owners who looked and the place is on the motherboard for a connector but a connector is not soldered there. And I'm not sure the BIOS would support a mini-PCI slot if you added one - you'd need to move to a 5100 BIOS and hope it worked or you'd have a boat anchor.
[Edit] As to why the mini-PCI was offered when you ordered, that had to be a mistake.
Well, now you've also got a single report from an 1100 owner with different setups.
My old (April 2003) 1100 has a connector,
and my new (April 2004) 1100 does not.
I was hoping to swipe at least the wires and antennae from the new Inspiron for installation in my old one, but I don't see the wires that are visible in the Inspiron manual. I *may* take the bezel off of the LCD to see if the antenna are there (even though I didn't order the wireless mini-PCI card option).
Of course, I still don't know whether it's "active" or not, something which is, indeed, probably part of the BIOS.
And beyond that, I would still need the mini-PCI card *adapter*, which is the bridge between the connector you see in the first picture, and the mini-PCI card itself.
As for the mini-PCI wireless option being a mistake, well, I thought the same thing about the DVD+RW option, too, but danged if it isn't there!
Apologies for the incorrect terminology. But I had the right idea. The interface connector that's present on my old 1100 is not a mini-PCI connector per se, it connects in turn to something that holds the mini-PCI card in place. The connector that your picture illustrates is another piece of the puzzle, but still not the whole thing. I imagine it's a small board about the size of the mini-PCI card that connects the mini-PCI connector you illustrated to the interface connector that is shown in my picture.
As it is, I can't see how your connector is held in place, or how the electronic connection is made between your mini-PCI connector and my interface connector.
Debbie99
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April 12th, 2004 13:00
johnallg
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April 12th, 2004 22:00
Read the manual closer. Then look at this link <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed / replaced from this post by Dell> and try and find the mini-pci slot on the 1100. Believe me, it ain't there!
Debbie99
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April 13th, 2004 12:00
johnallg
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April 13th, 2004 18:00
Nihilator
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April 20th, 2004 14:00
This question is going to be the end of me.
I bought an 1100 last week, as Dell Home was closing out the 1100 in favor of the 1150. One of the options for the 1100, at that time, was the 1300 mini-PCI wireless card. I didn't get it because the laptop was for my mother, but now I'm deathly curious: why was it an option in the first place? To the best of my knowledge (and according to *most* everything I've read), the 1100 has never had the capability to use the mini PCI slot for *any* type of card, let alone the wireless card.
So what's the deal? Is the mini-PCI connector in my 1100 (purchased in April of *2003*) active? If I ran my own antenna, would it work with a 1300 mini-PCI card?
--Chris
m3rs4
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April 21st, 2004 06:00
do us a favor, please check if your 1100 has such slot. many 1100 owner reported back with no such slot on their machine. AFAIK, inspiron 1150 _DOES_ have the mini-pci slot. maybe what u have is a 1150 : )
here is what a mini-pci slot and card looks like.
Message Edited by m3rs4 on 04-21-2004 03:01 AM
Debbie99
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April 21st, 2004 12:00
johnallg
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April 21st, 2004 20:00
Unless the motherboard has the mini-PCI connector soldered to the board, it is a moot point to keep speculating. We have had two reports from 1100 owners who looked and the place is on the motherboard for a connector but a connector is not soldered there. And I'm not sure the BIOS would support a mini-PCI slot if you added one - you'd need to move to a 5100 BIOS and hope it worked or you'd have a boat anchor.
[Edit] As to why the mini-PCI was offered when you ordered, that had to be a mistake.
Message Edited by johnallg on 04-21-2004 05:13 PM
Nihilator
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April 21st, 2004 21:00
Well, now you've also got a single report from an 1100 owner with different setups.
My old (April 2003) 1100 has a connector,
and my new (April 2004) 1100 does not.
I was hoping to swipe at least the wires and antennae from the new Inspiron for installation in my old one, but I don't see the wires that are visible in the Inspiron manual. I *may* take the bezel off of the LCD to see if the antenna are there (even though I didn't order the wireless mini-PCI card option).
Of course, I still don't know whether it's "active" or not, something which is, indeed, probably part of the BIOS.
And beyond that, I would still need the mini-PCI card *adapter*, which is the bridge between the connector you see in the first picture, and the mini-PCI card itself.
As for the mini-PCI wireless option being a mistake, well, I thought the same thing about the DVD+RW option, too, but danged if it isn't there!
--Chris
johnallg
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April 21st, 2004 23:00
That is not a mini-pci connector. This is:
Nihilator
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April 22nd, 2004 01:00
Apologies for the incorrect terminology. But I had the right idea. The interface connector that's present on my old 1100 is not a mini-PCI connector per se, it connects in turn to something that holds the mini-PCI card in place. The connector that your picture illustrates is another piece of the puzzle, but still not the whole thing. I imagine it's a small board about the size of the mini-PCI card that connects the mini-PCI connector you illustrated to the interface connector that is shown in my picture.
As it is, I can't see how your connector is held in place, or how the electronic connection is made between your mini-PCI connector and my interface connector.
Just wish I could see a picture of it. Anyone?
--Chris