Toshiba A15-S1292 notebook-Wireless card?

I have my girlfriend's mother's old laptop to look at and I was wondering if I could install a WL-LAN 802.11 B/G card in order to have wireless functionality. I have opened the covers and there is definitely a slot just for the card, but it says directly on the cover: "This system is not configured to support wireless functionality. The computer cannot be upgraded for wireless operation." Does it need an antenna along with the card?

 

There are a few things at play here.

Since it didn't come with a wireless card from the factory, it likely isn't equipped with antennae. Is it a miniPCI or miniPCI-E slot?

Second, it may lack the proper switch for the wireless card ... this would all depend on if the pci/pcie slot gets power without needing the switch. I am sure you have seen laptops with a "wireless" switch on them.

USB adapters are a bit more money, but it would be guarateed to work.

At the minimum you are going to need antennae - this is going to be the hardest part. Running the wires through the bezels, monitor, etc is going to be a project.

The internal wireless cards are cheap on ebay. Might be worth spending $8 for a used wireless card for the laptop and seeing if it is picked up. If it is picked up by the OS, try to get some sort of Antenna going for it!

Hope this helps!

 

Thank you very much for your reply so quickly.
It has a PCI slot & no external switch for the card. If there was power to it, and windows XP picked it up, could it run at the "always on" state? Which is better than nothing. hah.

 

mini-PCI or mini-PCI Express as millermagic pointed out but not a PCI slot.
Make sure you know which one is it before making a purchase.
Some notebooks don't have physical switches but there's a combination (like Fn+F3) that turns the Wi-Fi on/off.

 

Yes I meant mini-PCI, I apologize. Yes that is very true, there is a wireless symbol on F8 which leads me to assume that there once was a card in there. lol. This card Toshiba Wireless Board WL-LAN (802.11B/ G) - P000384920 is supposedly compatible under the model listing.

 

I personally would just go on eBay and buy a wireless card, it'll be 1/2 as much as the one you posted.

 

Alrighty then, I will do my research on eBay. I might just get a refurbished one, it's not for my laptop. haha.

Thank you PCWorld and tHE J0KER, appreciate your input.