CF-74 WiFi card not present in BIOS or Device Manager

I recently purchased a CF-74KD (mk-3?) and discovered that it did not include a WiFi module, so I purchased and installed an Intel card like the one that has been recommended here in the threads for adding A/B/G support - unfortunately, I can't now remember for the life of me what the actual model was, but I matched from other threads.

At any rate, I can't find anywhere in the BIOS to enable the card and it's not present in Device Manager (Win 7, 32-bit, all Panasonic drivers loaded & no warnings in Dev Mngr) and the WiFi switch under the handle is in the On position.

I'm afraid this might be a custom BIOS issue since the BIOS reports as V4.02L12 and V4.00L13 for the Embedded Controller, but I can't find anywhere on the Panasonic site or on the web where to find newer or older BIOS files.

Does anyone have any experience with this or can point me in the right direction?

Thanks

 

Have you tried setting the bios back to defaults then a couple of restarts? I have seen that needed to be done sometimes.

 

Thanks for the quick reply - nope, it didn't produce any changes.

 

full model number???


thanks

 

CF-74KDMBZAM

 

You need an Intel 5100 card for that model,anything else won't work just like the CF-52G model. Make sure it is a Panasonic card also or you are wasting your time,ask me how I know.

 

Model Number: CF-74KDMBZAM
Status: DISCONTINUED
MSRP: $3,349
Description: No Wireless, WinXP (Vista COA), Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.40GHz, AMT, 13.3" XGA Touch, 160GB, 2GB, DVD Multi Drive, No WLAN, No Bluetooth

 

http://www.bobjohnson.com/panasonic-toughbook-cf-52-intel-wifi-5100/

 

safn1949 - Do you know if the BIOS will pick it up when it's installed? I don't see any mention in my BIOS for enabling/disabling a WLAN device.

Update - I found my invoice from the card I installed: Intel 3945ABG. That's depressing.

 

Yes,I have sold several 74K's in the past but they are fussy about cards just like the CF-52. I beat my brains out trying to get a 52F wifi running.

 

Many thanks. I'll get the card and see what happens.

 

I finally had a chance to install the card and YES - I now have wifi, but the range is greatly limited, so I can surmise that this means the antenna(s) are missing (unfortunately).

How can I tell for sure if the antennas are present? If not I can't seem to find any mention on this site or the web on how to install. This seems to be what I need:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Grade-Panas...203?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20f1e18903

Sorry for the never ending stream of questions - I somewhat know my way around the CF-30s, but this model is new territory to me.

 

See the attached photo...The photo is a CF30 but you will get the idea.....
The 2 black cables/wires going to the bottom of the wifi card....
Those black cables are the cables for the antennae...
The cables may be white , black or grey
Did you attach those cables?

 

Looks like I'm getting pretty good a opening this thing up...

I removed the card and noticed some wires taped to the motherboard so I pulled of the tape. Looks like I've found the antennas! Now I guess my last question is to whether it matters which antenna wire goes to which connector. The gray wire is about 3/8" longer than the black so I assume it goes to the 2 Aux connector on the wifi PCB. I'm assuming there's no voltage what so ever present, so it wouldn't matter if for some reason the wires required specific placement.

 

no big deal on which one goes where.

Connect them where ever the cable fits best

You really should screw that card down

 

Success! And I did lock down the card, I just had it loose so it was easier to pop on the connectors.

Big thanks to those that helped get this up and going - the free virtual beers are on me tomorrow!