New Half-WiFi card issue...

Right, so this post has been edited, it used to contain a question asking HOW to get a WiFi module to work in my P-7805u's Mini PCIe Half Slot. With the research I did, there was no clear answer because the card/software just complained that the hardware switch was set to off, well, it wasnt, and FN+F2 didnt work either!?!

SOOOO after a few maddening hours, and some more google searching, I managed to find a few guides from years ago about how to BYPASS the hardware switch, GREAT I thought, this is for the OLD style, but since standards really dont change too drastically, there should be one for the new Mini PCIe cards (half and full sized cards), and poof, searching for the specific verbiage led me to a few guides on how to do it for the new Mini PCIe cards!


TL;DR: In order to get your WiFi module to work in the Mini PCIe Half-Size slot, you must use a sliver of tape to block off Pin #20 on the backside of the card!...

THATS IT, its that simple... nothing else... just block off one pin!

Ill post a picture here of it done (or ill just take one from google, you can search yourself if you want to see it right now) tomorrow.



Thanks to anyone who looked, and to Tan who gave me an unsatisfactory answer, and make no mistake its not his fault really, not blaming or calling him out, but if he wouldn't have said it wasn't possible and tried to help me get it working in the regular slot (dunno whats up with that, dont care now however), I wouldn't have been upset with myself for the purchase and inability to get it to work to be desperate enough to dig to find a solution... Its actually pretty sad on my point... being driven to the brink of madness and all :X

 

you can't wifi from the 1/2 slot, this has been tried before. The solution is to use the full height slot with an adapter that makes the 1/2 height a full height..........

pci express half size adapter | eBay

 

ok, used a cc for the moment... but intel wifi manager still says the hardware switch us off... fn+f2 and the actual switch do nothin to change this...

 

since you have a new card it needs the cmos reset to get the DMI to properly recognize the new card. You can do this by either pulling the cmos battery and with the AC and regular battery out press and hold the power button for apr 30 seconds. The other way is to power on and real quick hold the power button to get a dmi post failure. To properly see there is a failure you have to have in bios quiet post off.

Also the switch or FN+F2 can take 30-60 seconds to get the card to register. Especially it can take a while when there is a new card and resources etc. have to be assigned for the first time. It can take a bit of patience to say the least.................

 

Tried the battery+cmos batter pull, didnt work..

also, dont know if you realize it but pressing and holding the power button does nothing but force shutdowns any machine, so no dmi in post poasible there...

and fn+f2 has only ever taken a max of 5sec, but i gave it 20 count...



EDIT: WiFi in the HALF PCI-e slot WORKS!!! So, I tried it in 2 other systems and it worked... ok thats great!, so while scratching my head again, I looked at the card again, and realized that my pin 20 piece of tape, had slid over! Re-did the pin20 block with the tape and made sure it stayed through a few plugin/unplugings, and put it in the half slot! Fired the system up, and SURE ENOUGH! IT WORKS!!!!

HUZZAH! Going to edit the first post to just put the information in about how to get the half-size slot to work with WiFi so you can have the full slot free for whatever!

 

Great to hear all is well. Also that with the card wifi works. Does the on off switch along with FN+F2 work as well? I imagine something does not as this seems to be a hack blocking off pin #20 so as is, from when I remember people doing this, the card working is not possible (again without a hardware hack)

I am wondering now though if the newer msata drives will work? even if they are not bios bootable and the mbr has to go else where it would be nice to have that as a drive where the OS could be installed too.

 

Yeah, the FN+F2 and Switch will no longer work ( I never used them before anyways, Never saw the point of them, novelty maybe)...

Pin 20 is just the low level off switch for the WiFi...

With Windows, you could possibly put the boot partition (or move it afterwards) to a non mSata bootable drive just make sure to repoint it to the mSata... however this is all playing on POST-POST and not POST... play on words har-har!


I cant afford an mSata to test, but If I ever can/do, Ill let you know

 

The WI-FI off is for security when out and about. Like we take these DTR's all over the place. While I have yet to use them on purpose I have sued them by accident .

 

I know what its "supposed" to be for, but I still think its pointless... Disable the device, quit being lazy... and yeah... this DTR doesnt travel far

Yeah, havent even used mine on accident, I actually removed the plastic switch portion last time I opened up my unit, no need for accidents