CAUTION: Before working inside your computer, read the safety information that shipped with your computer. For additional safety best practices information, see the Regulatory Compliance Homepage at www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
NOTICE: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as the back panel) on the computer.
NOTICE: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer. Damage due to servicing that is not authorized by Dell™ is not covered by your warranty.
NOTICE: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see Before Working Inside Your Computer) before working inside the computer.
NOTE: Dell does not guarantee compatibility or provide support for Mini-Cards from sources other than Dell.
If you ordered a wireless Mini-Card with your computer, the card is already installed.
Your computer has three Mini-Card slots:
two Full Mini-Card slots
one Half Mini-Card slot
The types of Mini-Cards supported are:
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) — Half Mini-Card
Mobile broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) — Full Mini-Card
Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) or Internal Card with Bluetooth® Wireless Technology — Full Mini-Card
NOTE: Your computer can only support two Full Mini-Cards and one Half Mini-Card at a time.
NOTE: The WLAN slot supports a half Mini-Card.
NOTE: Depending on the configuration of the system when it was sold, one or more of the Mini-Card slots may not have Mini-Cards installed in them.
NOTE: If you are removing a WPAN Mini-Card, disconnect the blue antenna cable from the Mini-Card.
1
Mini-Card
2
screw
3
antenna cable connectors (2)
Remove the screw that secures the Mini-Card to the system board.
Lift the Mini-Card out of the system board connector.
NOTICE: When the Mini-Card is not in the computer, store it in protective antistatic packaging. For more information, see "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety information that shipped with your computer.
Replacing the Mini-Card
Remove the new Mini-Card from its packaging.
NOTICE: Use firm and even pressure to slide the card into place. If you use excessive force, you may damage the connector.
Insert the Mini-Card connector at a 45-degree angle into the appropriate
system board connector. For example, the WLAN card connector is labeled
WLAN and so on.
Press the other end of the Mini-Card down into the slot on the system
board.
Replace the screw that secures the Mini-Card to the system board.
Connect the appropriate antenna cables to the Mini-Card you are
installing. The following table provides the antenna cable color scheme for
the Mini-Card supported by your computer.
Connectors on the Mini-Card
Antenna Cable Color Scheme
WWAN (2 antenna cables)
Main WWAN (white triangle)
Auxiliary WWAN (black triangle)
white with gray stripe
black with gray stripe
WLAN (2 or 3 antenna cables)
Main WLAN (white triangle)
Auxiliary WLAN (black triangle)
MIMO WLAN (gray triangle)
white
black
gray
WPAN (one antenna cable)
WPAN
blue
Secure the unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve.
Slide the battery into the battery bay until it clicks into place.
Install the drivers and utilities for your computer, as required. For more
information, see the Dell Technology Guide.
NOTE: If you are installing a communication card from a source other than Dell, you must install the appropriate drivers and utilities. For more generic driver information, see the Dell Technology Guide.
