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    Has Anyone Upgraded The Wireless Card on the 61xx?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by Shawna, Jun 29, 2011.

  1. Shawna

    Shawna Notebook Enthusiast

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    Is it possible to replace the intel 1000 wireless card in the DV6-6100 series with a higher end wireless card? More specifically, the one that I'm interested in replacing it with is the Intel 6230.

    Has anyone actually successfully done this? Because I keep hearing things about the bios locking it out or something...
     
    Shawna, Jun 29, 2011
    #1
  2. kurosawa79

    kurosawa79 Notebook Consultant

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    From what I understand it's not possible as the bios is locked. I may be wrong so perhaps someone else can comment.

    Seems a bit stupid but if you go into the bios on your laptop absolutely nothing of worth can be changed. In HP's attempt to make this laptop idiot proof they've made the bios idiotic in return.

    Seems like the only way to upgrade your wireless is to use a USB one, which is not a good option at all. I'd like to upgrade too as I think the one built is is a little flaky and temperamental.
     
    kurosawa79, Jun 29, 2011
    #2
  3. sav

    sav Notebook Consultant

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    While the bios is locked, I believe 6230 card is listed as the standard part in the service manual for 61XX series, so it might be supported out of the box without changes in bios. Nobody has confirmed this yet, however.
     
    sav, Jun 29, 2011
    #3
  4. JunkStory

    JunkStory Notebook Consultant

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    I do recall someone trying a Intel 6 series card in the 60xx (not 61xx) and it didn't work.
     
    JunkStory, Jun 29, 2011
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  5. otacon

    otacon Notebook Evangelist

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    It doesn't work...the BIOS is locked to the one your laptop was manufactured with.
     
    otacon, Jun 29, 2011
    #5
  6. Falco152

    Falco152 Notebook Demon

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    I remember someone got it working with the 6230 but that was I think it was the dv6 6000 with f06? bios.

    Maybe he got his work cause he got a genuine version of the 6230?
     
    Falco152, Jun 29, 2011
    #6
  7. ArDarsh

    ArDarsh Notebook Consultant

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    Guess, you can email the HP CEO. Complain about why they don't even offer the upgrade themselves.

    HP Executive Team: CEO email
     
    ArDarsh, Jun 29, 2011
    #7
  8. scy1192

    scy1192 Notebook Consultant

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    just wondering, why would you upgrade your wireless card?
     
    scy1192, Jun 29, 2011
    #8
  9. cbragwel

    cbragwel Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the email link. I purchased the DV7T-6000 because it showed that I could upgrade the wireless adapter to the Intel 6230 and use 802.11a (which I prefer). However, this adapter does not work in the laptop even though the Maintenance guide says it does. I have called and chatted with HP about this to no avail. I have emailed the CEO (for what good that does).
     
    cbragwel, Jun 29, 2011
    #9
  10. Falco152

    Falco152 Notebook Demon

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    They stopped offering dual band HP shop option in CTO models since the dv6t 3000 release.


    The advantage only applies to those who have access to high end content, otherwise it would be a wasted investment :)
     
    Falco152, Jun 29, 2011
    #10
  11. shasta7

    shasta7 Notebook Evangelist

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    This is not entirely true in my case the 2.4 ghz spectrum is flooded by neighbors like 15 or so within my reach, single family home.

    dual band would allow me a better stronger more consistent signal.
     
    shasta7, Jun 29, 2011
    #11
  12. Shawna

    Shawna Notebook Enthusiast

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    Is it at all possible one day we may be able to put in a dual band wireless card?
     
    Shawna, Jun 30, 2011
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  13. otacon

    otacon Notebook Evangelist

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    Unless you install a modded BIOS (if there is one) or HP becomes generous and unlocks it in the BIOS no.
     
    otacon, Jun 30, 2011
    #13
  14. Falco152

    Falco152 Notebook Demon

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    You can mod a dual band card to look like a intel wifi 1000 but works with dual band.
     
    Falco152, Jun 30, 2011
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  15. ebolavirs

    ebolavirs Newbie

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    Why does HP care what wireless card you put in? Any ETA for a bios update that will allow additional cards? Or info on how to mod a dual band to look like a wifi 1000?
     
    ebolavirs, Jun 30, 2011
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  16. otacon

    otacon Notebook Evangelist

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    I do find it silly that they put the wireless card under the service panel but you can't do anything with it.
     
    otacon, Jun 30, 2011
    #16
  17. Falco152

    Falco152 Notebook Demon

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    It's funny that the HP stock wifi driver for both the 6000 and 6100 contains info about the 6230

    [Devices]
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0084="Intel WiFi Link 1000"
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0083="Intel WiFi Link 1000"
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0089="Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6250"
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0087="Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6250"
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_008B="Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 1030"
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0090="Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6230"
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0886="Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 6150"
     
    Falco152, Jun 30, 2011
    #17
  18. Shawna

    Shawna Notebook Enthusiast

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    What are the possibilities of us seeing a bios that will work? How would you mod your 6230 to look like a 1000?
     
    Shawna, Jul 3, 2011
    #18