The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Dell Latitude E6420 wireless card

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by manarius13, Jun 17, 2011.

  1. manarius13

    manarius13 Newbie

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    So I just got an E6420 from the Dell Outlet. Love it, but there is one problem. Evidently it has no wireless card. I didn't know they even made laptops without wireless cards anymore, but here I am.

    What I need to know is which wireless cards will fit in the E6420 (under $30 if possible), and maybe a few pointers on installation.

    If you guys could help, that would be awesome.
     
    manarius13, Jun 17, 2011
    #1
  2. GKDesigns

    GKDesigns Custom User Title

    Reputations:
    115
    Messages:
    1,080
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Buy one of the cards Dell offers (Intel), but from newegg.com or other. Read the Dell.com online manual to install it (insert and connect wires). Boot and install the most recent driver from the OEM website (Intel). Configure a Windows wireless connection for your AP. That should do it.

    GK
     
    GKDesigns, Jun 18, 2011
    #2
  3. edit1754

    edit1754 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    1,475
    Messages:
    5,145
    Likes Received:
    71
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Are you sure it's not just a driver issue?

    Or maybe the card is just disabled.

    Go into the Device Manager and see if you can find it.

    The E6420 isn't actually available to order without a wireless card, so have Dell fix that for you instead if it really doesn't have one (assuming you have the onsite warranty).
     
    edit1754, Jun 23, 2011
    #3
  4. pitz

    pitz Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    1,034
    Likes Received:
    70
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Practically any half-sized miniPCI-E wireless card will work, as Dell does not have blacklists in their BIOS'.

    I think you could even put a full-sized one if you used the WWAN slot.

    Plenty of examples on eBay for as little as $10.

    And yes, Dell sells plenty of units without wireless. Some customers don't want wireless, especially if the units are for an office environment in a government agency.
     
    pitz, Jun 26, 2011
    #4
  5. JOSEA

    JOSEA NONE

    Reputations:
    4,013
    Messages:
    3,521
    Likes Received:
    170
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Latitude E6420 Product Details | Dell
    From these specs, it may have one. First thing I would check is enter the BIOS (I believe you must press F2 short after power on to access the BIOS)
    and see if it is disabled.
     
    JOSEA, Jun 26, 2011
    #5