Took computer apart, wireless no longer works

[Syringer]

So my main laptop broke so I got an identical laptop and put my hard drive in there. Everything works finely as it did before, but I can't get my wifi to work.

Under device manager I see "network controller" with an exclamation point next to it, but when I tried to d/l the drivers for it it wouldn't install.

Was there something I could've missed in putting the laptop back together? Where is the network adapter located?

Laptop is a Dell N5010.

 

[Jabrono]

Did you double check the the antenna connections?

 

[stlcardinals]

You might have to try every single driver listed under the Network drivers to find the one that matches your wireless card. It's also possible that the replacement laptop doesn't have a wireless card in it all. The wireless cards are usually located in a mini-pcie slot under a panel on the bottom of the laptop. Usually in the same compartment as the memory.

 

[Dahak]

Well if there is a item in device manager with the yellow ! point, it means the driver is missing. That would be the first thing you have to do. It should work if you are close enough.

It looks like there could be two or there different cards in there. You many need to try each one

 

[Slacker]

Swap the wireless card from the old one

 

[Ketchup]

Swap the wireless card from the old one

This, or look at the card and get the model info. It is not terribly uncommon for two identical models to have slightly different components like this. They only care if the specs are the same and the manufacturer can deliver.

 

[Syringer]

You might have to try every single driver listed under the Network drivers to find the one that matches your wireless card.

That actually did it, thanks! Dell's website had 3 wireless drivers for this model and after trying two I got discouraged, but the third one worked.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Well if there is a item in device manager with the yellow ! point, it means the driver is missing. That would be the first thing you have to do. It should work if you are close enough.

It looks like there could be two or there different cards in there. You many need to try each one

This guy has it right. You dont have the right drivers installed

 

[Ketchup]

This guy has it right. You dont have the right drivers installed

Well he does now, lol. Good job Syringer. Since Dell offers the same model in so many difference configurations, finding the right driver can be a chore with them.