Which Card to Buy, Please.

I have a Dell Latitude C840, under PCMIA adapter I have found 2 lines that say "Texas Inst PCI-4451 CardBus Controller". I think that means I have 2 card slots. I have Windows XP Prof.

I will be going to Orlando and wanting to use free wireless at some of the hotspots and I have a new wireless router for WI-FI at our rental condo. I have not been there since it was installed. I want to use wireless at both of these places.

What would be a card that I could use? Can I get one at Walmart? I don't have time to order one before the trip.

When I get it, do I just plug it into the slot on the side of the computer?

Thanks so much for you help!

 

Here's a list of wireless adapters I found at Walmart.com, but what they have in-store may vary of course. You would probably be better off going somewhere like Office Depot, CompUSA, Staples, etc. Installing it should be a fairly simple affair if you follow the instructions that come with it. It should most likely be a matter of plugging in the card and installing the drivers.

EDIT: Didn't the C840 come with 802.11b wireless built in? Just asking because it lists it in some old specs I found for your machine.

 

I thought I checked to see if there is a built in wireless, but I may not have done that correctly.

Is there an easy way for me to check?

Thanks

 

Right click on "My Computer", click on the "Hardware" tab and then click the button that says "Device Manager". You should be presented with a list of hardware on your computer. Now go down to the list labeled "Network Adapters" and expand it by clicking on the plus sign. If the wireless adapter is present it should show you something similar to what's in this picture (using mine as an example).

 

I did this, thanks by the way, and all I have is the:

1394 Net Adapter
3COM 3C920 Integrated Fast Ethernet Controller

So, I take it this means that I do not have a wireless card.

I do a slot on the side of the laptop that has a plastic placeholder in it.

I am at my condo now and the router is a Belkin Wireless G Router.

My laptop is as described in the first post on this page. I have had it for 4 s years (it has been great, by the way) so that may be why it does not have a wireless card.

 

Yeah, looks like you don't have one. Just thought I'd ask since the specs on Dell's web site listed it as an option on that model. That placeholder is more than likely covering your PCMCIA slot(s). Should be pretty simple to get a card in there and working.