Fix wireless on headless laptop?

[AkumaX]

-- new topic

New keyboard works great! Now, how do I fix the WiFi?
I plan on using the laptop as a headless unit, by removing the display bezel top/lid and using an external monitor just via regular USB cable or HDMI.
I cut off the wires (black and white) from the antennas that were attached to the laptop bezel.

1) Are both wires for the WiFi antenna?
2) Is there something that I can wire to it to boost the signals?


-- old topic fixed

Broken ZIF or Broken Laptop Keyboard? Or both?

In the image above, you can see that a piece of the ZIF latch is broken (along with that bent pin on the ZIF connector)
The keyboard also does not function.
However, I am not sure whether the keyboard is working, but the ZIF connector is broken, or maybe the ZIF connector is fine (and the keyboard is broken).
Or maybe both?!

Can anyone tell if having that missing piece from the ZIF latch (and that bent pin) would affect a keyboard? Should I risk buying a replacement keyboard and seeing if it works? Can I do anything to repair it (assuming I get a replacement keyboard), and tape it? TIA!

 

[denis280]

the broken piece is the one after the 5 pin (the bent one) if so the connector if fine. i guest it was like this before.

 

[AkumaX]

the broken piece is the one after the 5 pin (the bent one) if so the connector if fine. i guest it was like this before.

So in your expert opinion:
- the ZIF connection is fine
- the ZIF latch (cracked) is purely cosmetic
- if I got a new keyboard, it would work fine?

 

[denis280]

the most important is the pin.the latch is more like to fit in tight.and just for one.no big deal.go ahead and change the keyboard.
important don't put hard pressure on.

 

[paul878]

Please post a better picture.

 

[AkumaX]

Please post a better picture.

new pictures!!

open

close

 

[paul878]

The pins still looks good, plug in the kb and tape it down.
Does any of the key work?
I ALL the keys don't work, usually it is not the KB.

 

[AkumaX]

The pins still looks good, plug in the kb and tape it down.
Does any of the key work?
I ALL the keys don't work, usually it is not the KB.

I think the keyboard semi-worked. Oh well, just ordered a new keyboard! Hope it works!

 

[AkumaX]

I think the keyboard semi-worked. Oh well, just ordered a new keyboard! Hope it works!

New keyboard works great! Now, how do I fix the WiFi? I cut off the wires (black and white) from the antennas that were attached to the laptop bezel.

1) Are both wires for the WiFi antenna?
2) Is there something that I can wire to it to boost the signals?

 

[Fardringle]

Yes, the wires that extend up inside the LCD bezel are the antennas for the WIFI adapter. You need those. Or get a USB/PC Card wireless adapter that has internal antennas and disable the WIFI adapter in the laptop.

 

[denis280]

Yes, the wires that extend up inside the LCD bezel are the antennas for the WIFI adapter. You need those. Or get a USB/PC Card wireless adapter that has internal antennas and disable the WIFI adapter in the laptop.

Yeap!:thumbsup:

 

[AkumaX]

Yes, the wires that extend up inside the LCD bezel are the antennas for the WIFI adapter. You need those. Or get a USB/PC Card wireless adapter that has internal antennas and disable the WIFI adapter in the laptop.

Haha, now the question is, wire it to what?

I can't be the only one out there that has done this before.

Best I could find was suggestions to solder it to some copper wire and tape it to the outside of the chassis.

 

[denis280]

can you provide a picture

 

[AkumaX]

can you provide a picture

That little red/black thing's the speaker

The black/white wires are tucked back inside the laptop.

I had to snip them, since they were attached to the lcd bezel (which is no longer there...)

And yes, this "laptop" is fully functional 100%, running Win7 w/ a 64GB SSD and 2GB DDR3 (max)

 

[denis280]

the speaker.no problem.just weld the wires.and are you going to put the screen on it.or just run it the way it is.

 

[AkumaX]

the speaker.no problem.just weld the wires.and are you going to put the screen on it.or just run it the way it is.

No.. No screen because its dead. That's why I have to makeshift an antenna. Any ideas?

 

[Fardringle]

Pull the original antenna wires out of the LCD bezel and splice them back on to the existing wires where you cut them. Then you can wind them under/around the laptop case or just run them straight up the desk/wall and the wireless should work as long as you reconnect the wires cleanly so there aren't any shorts in the wires.

Or, since you have a bunch of cables hanging off of the laptop anyway, just use a wired ethernet connection and forget about the wireless.

 

[Steltek]

Or, spend a few dollars at Newegg and pick up a cheapo USB micro wifi adapter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162037

 

[AkumaX]

Pull the original antenna wires out of the LCD bezel and splice them back on to the existing wires where you cut them. Then you can wind them under/around the laptop case or just run them straight up the desk/wall and the wireless should work as long as you reconnect the wires cleanly so there aren't any shorts in the wires.

Or, since you have a bunch of cables hanging off of the laptop anyway, just use a wired ethernet connection and forget about the wireless.

I was considering that, but in the slightly rare chance that I would decide to put back together the LCD, I wanted to keep the existing antenna's that are attached to the bezel intact.

Does anyone know if the WiFi antenna consists of both the black and white wire?

This is the only thing that I could find on the internet:
http://wireless.gumph.org/content/4/3/011-mini-wireless-antenna.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/51680-35-remove-laptop-screen-external-monitor
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281091974856

I think I might just buy that one on eBay (or similar)

 

[denis280]

the one from http://wireless.gumph.org/content/4/...s-antenna.html is a good exemple.
and the white is the antenna.the black is ground.