neophyte needs wireless help

I have an Inspiron 5100 laptop and will be traveling to Florida next month. The motel has wireless access but I don't have a wireless card. I have a slot for that on the left side of my laptop but don't know what I should buy to access the internet at the motel. I called Dell but their reps weren't very helpful. Could anyone suggest what compatible wireless cards should work for me? I am terribly paleolithic with technology and basically want to "stick something in the slot" and be over with it. Once I get that in the slot, is there anything that I have to do to configure it or is it a case of just opening my computer and I'm connected to the internet??

Thanks,
Pete

 

I've read two different reviews of the 5100: one had built-in wireless; the other didn't. From this review, it sounds like you need to buy a wireless card. Dell's website should have them for sale:

If the hotel has Wi-Fi access, you won't need the network adapter.

Are you sure your 5100 does not have built in wireless access? You can find out buy going to: Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Info. On the left side of the window that comes up, expand the "Component" section by clicking the plus sign next to it. Then expand Network.

If Adapter is present, click on Adapter and post back here with the Adapter Type, Product Type, and Installed information.

 

Thanks for your help Brent........I did as directed and discovered that I have an Ethernet 802.3 adapter.......type:Broadcomm 440x 10/100 integrated controller.
Sorry it took so long to reply, but I was watching Jack Bauer save the earth.

Pete

 

The Broadcomm driver controls your wired connection, so it sounds like you do need to get the 802.11b/g Mini-PCI adapter mentioned above.

If you go back into the network components and scroll through the window on the right, are there any references to "wireless".

I apologize for the duplicative work. I just looked at some reviews and it sounds like all the 5100s have built in WiFi, so you may not need the card.

Or you could contact Dell and order the 802.11b/g Mini-PCI adapter for the Inspiron 5100. They seem to offer several, but none of them were listed as compatible with the Inspiron 5100.

 

Hi Brent........I copied everything under the network tag and am pasting it below. I hope that helps you, but I don't see any reference to what you are asking. In summary, if I need the part that you suggest above, that should solve my problem, correct?? Again, thanks for your assistance.

Name [00000001] Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
Adapter Type Ethernet 802.3
Product Type Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4401&SUBSYS_10284401&REV_01\4&3B90381F&0&08F0
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 1
Service Name bcm4sbxp
IP Address 192.168.1.46
IP Subnet 255.255.255.0
Default IP Gateway 192.168.1.1
DHCP Enabled Yes
DHCP Server 192.168.1.1
DHCP Lease Expires 1/16/2007 11:29 AM
DHCP Lease Obtained 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
MAC Address 00:0B B:98:61:EE
Memory Address 0xE0204000-0xE0205FFF
IRQ Channel IRQ 10
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\bcm4sbxp.sys (3.51.0.0 built by: WinDDK, 41.38 KB (42,368 bytes), 1/1/1980 12:00 AM)

Name [00000002] Packet Scheduler Miniport
Adapter Type Ethernet 802.3
Product Type Packet Scheduler Miniport
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID ROOT\MS_PSCHEDMP\0000
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 2
Service Name
IP Address Not Available
IP Subnet Not Available
Default IP Gateway Not Available
DHCP Enabled No
DHCP Server Not Available
DHCP Lease Expires Not Available
DHCP Lease Obtained Not Available
MAC Address 00:0B B:98:61:EE
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\psched.sys (5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158), 67.50 KB (69,120 bytes), 8/29/2002 6:00 AM)

Name [00000003] RAS Async Adapter
Adapter Type Not Available
Product Type RAS Async Adapter
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID Not Available
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 3
Service Name AsyncMac
IP Address Not Available
IP Subnet Not Available
Default IP Gateway Not Available
DHCP Enabled No
DHCP Server Not Available
DHCP Lease Expires Not Available
DHCP Lease Obtained Not Available
MAC Address Not Available

Name [00000004] 1394 Net Adapter
Adapter Type Ethernet 802.3
Product Type 1394 Net Adapter
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID V1394\NIC1394\A4E0861C04F44
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 4
Service Name NIC1394
IP Address Not Available
IP Subnet Not Available
Default IP Gateway Not Available
DHCP Enabled Yes
DHCP Server Not Available
DHCP Lease Expires Not Available
DHCP Lease Obtained Not Available
MAC Address 82:4D:C1:04:B3:55
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\nic1394.sys (5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158), 60.38 KB (61,824 bytes), 8/29/2002 6:00 AM)

Name [00000005] 1394 Net Adapter
Adapter Type Not Available
Product Type 1394 Net Adapter
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID Not Available
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 5
Service Name NIC1394
IP Address Not Available
IP Subnet Not Available
Default IP Gateway Not Available
DHCP Enabled Yes
DHCP Server Not Available
DHCP Lease Expires Not Available
DHCP Lease Obtained Not Available
MAC Address Not Available

Name [00000006] WAN Miniport (L2TP)
Adapter Type Not Available
Product Type WAN Miniport (L2TP)
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID ROOT\MS_L2TPMINIPORT\0000
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 6
Service Name Rasl2tp
IP Address Not Available
IP Subnet Not Available
Default IP Gateway Not Available
DHCP Enabled No
DHCP Server Not Available
DHCP Lease Expires Not Available
DHCP Lease Obtained Not Available
MAC Address Not Available
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\rasl2tp.sys (5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158), 50.13 KB (51,328 bytes), 8/29/2002 6:00 AM)

Name [00000007] WAN Miniport (PPTP)
Adapter Type Wide Area Network (WAN)
Product Type WAN Miniport (PPTP)
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID ROOT\MS_PPTPMINIPORT\0000
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 7
Service Name PptpMiniport
IP Address Not Available
IP Subnet Not Available
Default IP Gateway Not Available
DHCP Enabled No
DHCP Server Not Available
DHCP Lease Expires Not Available
DHCP Lease Obtained Not Available
MAC Address 50:50:54:50:30:30
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\raspptp.sys (5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158), 47.25 KB (48,384 bytes), 8/29/2002 6:00 AM)

Name [00000008] WAN Miniport (PPPOE)
Adapter Type Wide Area Network (WAN)
Product Type WAN Miniport (PPPOE)
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID ROOT\MS_PPPOEMINIPORT\0000
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 8
Service Name RasPppoe
IP Address Not Available
IP Subnet Not Available
Default IP Gateway Not Available
DHCP Enabled No
DHCP Server Not Available
DHCP Lease Expires Not Available
DHCP Lease Obtained Not Available
MAC Address 33:50:6F:45:30:30
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\raspppoe.sys (5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158), 40.50 KB (41,472 bytes), 8/29/2002 6:00 AM)

Name [00000009] Direct Parallel
Adapter Type Not Available
Product Type Direct Parallel
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID ROOT\MS_PTIMINIPORT\0000
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 9
Service Name Raspti
IP Address Not Available
IP Subnet Not Available
Default IP Gateway Not Available
DHCP Enabled No
DHCP Server Not Available
DHCP Lease Expires Not Available
DHCP Lease Obtained Not Available
MAC Address Not Available
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\raspti.sys (5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148), 16.13 KB (16,512 bytes), 8/29/2002 6:00 AM)

Name [00000010] WAN Miniport (IP)
Adapter Type Not Available
Product Type WAN Miniport (IP)
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID ROOT\MS_NDISWANIP\0000
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 10
Service Name NdisWan
IP Address Not Available
IP Subnet Not Available
Default IP Gateway Not Available
DHCP Enabled No
DHCP Server Not Available
DHCP Lease Expires Not Available
DHCP Lease Obtained Not Available
MAC Address Not Available
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\ndiswan.sys (5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158), 89.63 KB (91,776 bytes), 8/29/2002 6:00 AM)

Name [00000011] Packet Scheduler Miniport
Adapter Type Ethernet 802.3
Product Type Packet Scheduler Miniport
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID ROOT\MS_PSCHEDMP\0002
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 11
Service Name
IP Address Not Available
IP Subnet Not Available
Default IP Gateway Not Available
DHCP Enabled No
DHCP Server Not Available
DHCP Lease Expires Not Available
DHCP Lease Obtained Not Available
MAC Address 14:2D:20:52:41:53
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\psched.sys (5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158), 67.50 KB (69,120 bytes), 8/29/2002 6:00 AM)

Name [00000012] 1394 Net Adapter
Adapter Type Not Available
Product Type 1394 Net Adapter
Installed Yes
PNP Device ID Not Available
Last Reset 1/15/2007 11:29 AM
Index 12
Service Name NIC1394
IP Address Not Available
IP Subnet Not Available
Default IP Gateway Not Available
DHCP Enabled Yes
DHCP Server Not Available
DHCP Lease Expires Not Available
DHCP Lease Obtained Not Available
MAC Address Not Available

 

The section dealing with Broadcomm should be the wireless adapter. Most laptops have a switch to turn the wireless adapter on. Your laptop manual should say where it is if there is one.

As for the hotel, some require an access code to use their wireless even though it is free. Some do not.

 

Thanks for all your inputs......talked to Dell and they suggested a Netgear wireless card.....went to Radio Shack and purchased it......worked like a charm!!
You folks have made this easy........thanks.

Pete

 

Congratulations! Glad it worked out.