I have a 2-3 year old Acer laptop and I need to make it wireless capable. How do I go about it? I believe I need a wireless card? Do I just take the laptop into a computer store and ask them for a card? Approximately what's the cost?
Wireless Card for Laptop?
- Thread starter Keebler Elf
- Start date
when my daughters wireless died in her laptop, I picked up a USB wireless for her. Works great and runs 50 to 70 bucks.
O
OnTheWayOut
Most USB 2.0 devices are backward compatible. They might not be as fast but not that you'd notice for wireless LAN. If his laptop is 2-3 years old it should be 2.0. I have a lower end Acer (Aspire 3000) from that timeframe and it's 2.0.
Mine has built in wireless ..... is the original poster sure he doesn't have it too? Check the manual (and BIOS settings). I don't think they made a cheaper model at the time (2.5 yrs ago) so it may very well be ready to go. You may not need anything but to enable the device in the BIOS. Unless it's older than you think, then everything I just said is worthless (except USB 2.0 being backward compatible).
Mine has built in wireless ..... is the original poster sure he doesn't have it too? Check the manual (and BIOS settings). I don't think they made a cheaper model at the time (2.5 yrs ago) so it may very well be ready to go. You may not need anything but to enable the device in the BIOS. Unless it's older than you think, then everything I just said is worthless (except USB 2.0 being backward compatible).
Note, I'm going to be using this on the road so I won't have my own wireless system at home that I'll be using. It'll be hotel systems and what not.
If the USB will work fine with that (I believe it's 2.0 compatible but I'll check to make sure) then it sounds like the perfect solution for me.
If the USB will work fine with that (I believe it's 2.0 compatible but I'll check to make sure) then it sounds like the perfect solution for me.
slurp said:
I have the same model! Now that I think about it, maybe I do already have wireless capability. I remember it sometimes seeking out a wireless network but failing to connect (since I don't have a wireless network at home).
Update...
My Device Manager shows the following two items:
1) Broadcom 802.11g Network Adapter
2) SiS 900-Based PCI Fast Ethernet Adaptor
Is this wireless? If so, how do I enable it or hook up to a wireless network when I'm in the field?
O
OnTheWayOut
asn said:
yep, it's the orange button immediately to the left of the audio jacks. There's 2 bottons, it's the one one the right, closest to the audio jacks. Not sure what the other one is, not active on mine. (Most likely for optional bluetooth card) When pressed it will light up and flash while searching for a wireless network and will light up solid when it finds one. When you see one unsecured in the connection window click on it and if it gives a message saying it's unsecured and anyone can see it, click ok to connect.
good luck
