M4500 / Intel AC7260 Upgrade Question

Hello.  I have a pretty old M4500 laptop that is still running well enough after upgrades.  I would like to upgrade the wireless card from an Intel N 6200 to an Intel AC 7260 HMW to improve wireless performance around my house. The cards are both half height mini format.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Currently, I have wireless performance issues when upstairs.  My ASUS AC3100 router does N and AC.  Another computer does much better at distance using AC.  I did some research and determined an AC 7260 "should work" with the M4500 but doesn't.  After installing it and spending way too many hours upgrading firmware and trying various steps to get it to work, I gave up with an code 10 in device manager.  I am running Windows 10 Pro version 10.0.19041 Build 19041.  The laptop firmware is the latest at A16 (5/12/2017).  At one point in my efforts, I did briefly get it to work to see networks and connect but never more than seconds.  But I never documented the steps or configurations.

Can anyone advise if it is possible to upgrade an M4500 to an AC 7260 wireless card?  Thanks.