x31: WLAN upgrade b->a/b/g

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Zeitgeist · #1 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 2:45 pm

I intend to buy a x31 with the b-card. Is it possible to replace this mini pci card by a a/b/g-card?

From the hardware maintenance manual it appears that the two cards are fixed differently to the notebook.

ychandrani · #2 Post by **ychandrani** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 4:00 pm

Yes, its possible.
But why not get an x31 with the IBM a/b/g already in it?

Zeitgeist · #3 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 3:24 am

ychandrani wrote:Yes, its possible.
But why not get an x31 with the IBM a/b/g already in it?

Thanks for the reply. The price difference between a b-model and an a/b/g- model is much bigger than the a/b/g-card.

GpsPasSion · #4 Post by **GpsPasSion** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 8:54 am

Is it just a "take out and replace job"? Where would one find such a card?

ychandrani · #5 Post by **ychandrani** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 11:03 am

GpsPasSion wrote:Is it just a "take out and replace job"? Where would one find such a card?

Here: http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... &storeId=1

paddi · #6 Post by **paddi** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:54 pm

Would an upgrade be possible with each a/b/g card?

#7 Post by **tomh009** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 5:20 pm

paddi wrote:Would an upgrade be possible with each a/b/g card?

With any card type? Yes ... you can also find cards on eBay. However, the BIOS checks for compatible cards, and if it finds one it doesn't know about, it will display the dreaded 1802 error. At that point you can either upgrade your BIOS (which may have the new card listed) or patch the BIOS to skip the check by using the no-1802 utility.

dmar · #8 Post by **dmar** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:06 pm

Zeitgeist,

If you find out the answer to your questions, can you post a detailed step-by-step... or something to that effect? I should let my x31 join the a/b/g party.

Danny

#9 Post by **tomh009** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 7:52 pm

dmar wrote:If you find out the answer to your questions, can you post a detailed step-by-step... or something to that effect? I should let my x31 join the a/b/g party.

Quite simple ... assuming that you buy a non-supported card or don't want to mess with wireless card BIOS modification ...
1. Purchase an Intel or Atheros a/b/g Mini-PCI card
2. Download the no-1802 ISO image
3. Burn the ISO image onto a CD
4. Boot from the CD to remove the 1802 error

Alternately ...
1. Purchase an Intel or Atheros a/b/g Mini-PCI card
2. Download the no-1802.com utility
3. Boot into DOS using a CD or floppy
4. Run the no-1802 utility to clear the wireless card check from CMOS settings

In either case ...
5. Shut down the X31
6. Remove the keyboard (four screws on the bottom)
7. Remove the old wireless card
8. Install new wireless card making sure to connect antenna leads
9. Reinstall keyboard
10. There is no step 10!

paddi · #10 Post by **paddi** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:51 am

So there are no problems with space or so with any of the available cards? What's about MiniPCI cards from other notebooks? Do they also fit?

#11 Post by **tomh009** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:05 pm

paddi wrote:So there are no problems with space or so with any of the available cards? What's about MiniPCI cards from other notebooks? Do they also fit?

I think that the MiniPCI form factor is fixed. But given how inexpensively you can pick up an Atheros or Intel card from eBay, why risk it?

#12 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:17 pm

The 124 pin Mini-PCI (type III) in the X31 should follow the industry standard pinout. However, there appears to be differences in the "height" of the card allowed. If you are replacing the factory card be sure to first measure the existing card to determine the maximum permitted height.

x31: WLAN upgrade b->a/b/g

x31: WLAN upgrade b->a/b/g

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