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Wireless Mini-Card

Dell™ Inspiron™ N7010 Service Manual

  Removing the Mini-Card

  Replacing the Mini-Card


WARNING: 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.
CAUTION: 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.
CAUTION: To avoid electrostatic discharge, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface (such as a connector on your computer).
CAUTION: To help prevent damage to the system board, remove the main battery (see Removing the Battery) before working inside the computer.
CAUTION: When the Mini-Card is not in the computer, store it in protective antistatic packaging (see "Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge" in the safety instructions that shipped with your computer).
NOTE: Dell does not guarantee compatibility or provide support for Mini-Cards from sources other than Dell.
NOTE: Depending on the configuration of the computer when it was sold, the Mini-Card slot may or may not have a Mini-Card installed in them.

If you ordered a wireless Mini-Card with your computer, the card is already installed.

Your computer supports:

Removing the Mini-Card

  1. Follow the instructions in Before You Begin.

  2. Remove the battery (see Removing the Battery).

  3. Remove the module cover (see Removing the Module Cover).

  4. Follow the instructions from step 4 to step 6 in Removing the Hard Drive.

  5. Remove the optical drive (see Removing the Optical Drive).

  6. Remove the keyboard (see Removing the Keyboard).

  7. Remove the palm rest (see Removing the Palm Rest).

CAUTION: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its pull-tab, not on the cable itself. Some cables have connectors with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before you disconnect the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
  1. Disconnect the antenna cables from the Mini-Card.

  2. Remove the screw that secures the Mini-Card to the daughter board.

1

antenna cable connectors (2)

2

screw

3

Mini-Card

  1. Lift the Mini-Card out of the connector on the daughter board.

Replacing the Mini-Card

  1. Follow the instructions in Before You Begin.

  2. Remove the new Mini-Card from its packaging.

CAUTION: Use firm and even pressure to slide the card into place. If you use excessive force, you may damage the connector.
CAUTION: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion. If you feel resistance, check the connectors on the card and on the system board, and realign the card.
CAUTION: To avoid damage to the Mini-Card, never place cables under the card.
  1. Insert the Mini-Card connector at a 45-degree angle into the connector on the daughter board.

  2. Press the other end of the Mini-Card down into the slot on the daughter board and replace the screw that secures the Mini-Card to the connector on the daughter board.

  3. 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

WLAN, Wi-Fi, WiMax (2 antenna cables)

Main (white triangle)

Auxiliary (black triangle)


white

black

  1. Secure the unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve.

  2. Replace the palm rest (see Replacing the Palm Rest).

  3. Replace the keyboard (see Replacing the Keyboard).

  4. Replace the optical drive (see Replacing the Optical Drive).

  5. Follow the instructions from step 5 to step 7 in Replacing the Hard Drive.

  6. Replace the module cover (see Replacing the Module Cover).

  7. Replace the battery (see Replacing the Battery).

CAUTION: Before turning on the computer, replace all screws and ensure that no stray screws remain inside the computer. Failure to do so may result in damage to the computer.
  1. Install the drivers and utilities for your computer, as required. For more information, see the Dell Technology Guide.

NOTE: If you are installing a wireless Mini-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.

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