Laptop wireless card replacement

[corwin]

So I bought myself a new laptop and attempted to change the G mini-pci wireless card with an intel 5100 N card, only to get a lovely message that it was an "unsupported wireless network device"... WTF? When did companies start restricting what we can install on devices that we own? Anyone know a way around this?

 

[TheStu]

What brand of laptop?
What OS?
Did you install the intel drivers?
You got a new laptop and it had MiniPCI? I thought they were all using MiniPCIe now.

 

[corwin]

It's a Compaq, running Vista x64...but none of that matters. It won't even boot with the card installed, apparently the BIOS is hard coded with "approved" devices and if it doesn't match it won't boot.

ANd my bad, it is mini-pcie

 

[TheStu]

Call the manufacturer. Ask them what is up. This is the first that I have ever heard of something like this.

 

[corkyg]

Yes - call HP/Compaq. This is not necessarily a new problem as evidenced by a lot of queries and answers when you Google the problem. Use <Change Wireless Card in Laptop>

Query

Read the thread on the HP laptop. It's the 8th one down.

 

[corwin]

I've spoken with them, even got the part number of an"approved" card I could install, well if you trust the idiots that you talk to. I even did a quick test on a Lenovo T400 and received a similar message on boot, "unauthorized network device detected", only way to boot is to remove the card. Apparently the only way to use any card is to hack the bios-basically void the warranty-and hope you don't brick the whole thing in the process.

 

[FleshLight]

I was able to use both an Intel and Dell wireless card on my Latitude.

 

[corwin]

From what I can tell this is fairly new, the last year or two maybe, and it's possible not all companies are doing it. But for sure Lenovo and HP/Compaq are....

I just can't believe I can "buy" something and not be able to do what I want with it, if I own something I should be able to do as I please with it.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Does your laptop have anti-theft or security features? Blocking unknown hardware may be needed to enforce that.

 

[corwin]

Well that's a thought but no...if you're curious the model is CQ60-212US (linked to specs) I wonder if anything else is restricted? Hard drive? Processor? Memory?

 

[RalfHutter]

IBM started doing this with the T43 Thinkpads a while back. BIOS would pop up a warning if you replaced the HDD with an "unsupported/unapproved" model.

 

[corwin]

GREAT!!! Guess I should do some more checking before I buy a 7200 rpm HD to replace the one currently in it, it's bad enough we have never had real control of the software we "buy" but now we don't even get control of our hardware:disgust:

 

[corkyg]

HDDs are no problem, nor is RAM. Those are all classed as "User Replaceable." Motherboard components such as wireless cards are not. I keep my T60 built-in wireless OFF most of the time and use either a PCMCIA or USB wireless unit depending on where I am.

Laptops have always had limited user component changeability because they are so tightly designed and proprietary.

 

[corwin]

Originally posted by: RalfHutter
IBM started doing this with the T43 Thinkpads a while back. BIOS would pop up a warning if you replaced the HDD with an "unsupported/unapproved" model.

Sounds like not all HDD's are considered "user replaceable" to me....and the wireless card in this laptop is under a single door on the bottom of the laptop, just like the memory, and just as easily "user replaceable". I did finally get the part number of an "approved" wireless N card-$60