I have a Toshiba Satellite P75-A7200, with Intel Centrino N-2230 wifi adapter card. I want to upgrade (replace) it with an Intel AC-7260 2x2 dual band wifi adapter card. Any suggestions on whether this is the best option?

[DBald3]

I'm running Windows 10 64-bit OS, with a Crucial 1TB SSD, and I upgraded from 8- to - 16gb RAM. My Wifi router is a TP Link AC1900 Smart Gigabit - Archer C9

[Diego_S_Intel]

Hello DBald3, Thank you for joining our Intel ® Community. I understand that you are looking to perform a wireless integration in your system. In this case, the installation or use of Intel® Wireless Adapters is subject to country-specific legal regulations. Some countries require the Intel® Wireless Adapters to be certified with the antenna that is intended to be used together in the system, while some countries require the Intel® Wireless Adapter to be certified at the full system level. For example, in the US, the official rules governing the use of antennas with certified modules is covered under rule parts 15.203, 15.247 and 15.407. These can be accessed and/or downloaded at the FCC site: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f378ac605ec63a23eac3829e490a85a5&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title47/47cfr15_main_02.tpl An Intel® Wireless Adapter installed in a system that is being sold on the market doesn't necessarily mean that same wireless adapter can be used or installed in any other systems for the above mentioned reason. As each country may have different regulatory requirements, before you install/change the Intel® Wireless Adapter in a system, you must contact the system manufacturer to determine if the Intel® Wireless Adapters you plan to install is approved for use in your system and country. You are required to follow the manufacturer's post-approval requirements. If the manufacturer doesn't have the necessary approvals, the party installing the device is responsible for approvals. Installing adapters in an unauthorized system may be illegal. The end user is not authorized to install the Intel® Wireless Adapters (except the retail products below). Only the manufacturer or its authorized representative can install the adapters. If you have already performed the integration, it is also important to understand that it may not work due to hardware or software compatibility issues or dependencies. Intel® is a supplier of laptop components and does not manufacture or sell complete laptop systems. Your system manufacturer may have altered the features, incorporated customizations, or made other changes to the software or hardware packaging they provide. The only retail wireless adapters currently supported by Intel are the Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 + Bluetooth® for Desktop, and the Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 Desktop Kit. These retail products are intended to be installed in Desktop PC with the antennas bundled in the box. They are not intended for wireless adapter upgrade in laptop PC. I hope this helps. Diego S. Intel (R) Customer Support Technician Under Contract to Intel (R) Corporation

[DBald3]

Diego,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I appreciate your assistance.

I have already contacted Intel AND Toshiba, by phone, and here's what I wrote to an online seller:

copy/paste:

".....Thanks for the reply, regarding the Intel adapter. After 3 days of "research", I am still unsure of which one to use in my Toshiba P75-A7200 w/ Intel Centrino N-2230. I've called both Intel AND Toshiba, and they were not much help. Intel told me to call OEM, and Toshiba just kept telling me my laptop was 4-5 years old and out of warranty.

I've found 8-10 Intel 7260 AC mini's, but there are many variations, with different letters following the "7260" part #.....

Do you have any tips or suggestions, for me to find/purchase the correct wifi adapter card?

I appreciate all your help.

Thanks again,

Dale .................. "

Another copy/paste:

" ..... I have a Toshiba Satellite P75-A7200, with an Intel Centrino N - 2230 wifi adapter card, mini ( OEM -.pic attached )

I want to replace it with an Intel AC 7260 dual-band wifi adapter card.

I wand to avoid any "whitelist" issues, and want the Bluetooth to continue working.

Any suggestions? .... FYI: I'm running Windows 10 - 64 bit .... if it matters.

I will purchase from you, if you have a 100% compatible replacement/upgrade.

Thanks, Dale ....... "

So, Diego,

This is my dilemna..... I want to upgrade my Toshiba Satellite P75-A7200 with a new AC wireless adapter card. What INTEL and TOSHIBA is doing, is an insult to loyal consumers !! Whitelisting is a marketing ploy... let's face it !! All manufacturers/OEMs are doing it

I spent $1,000 on this laptop (when new) with mouse, software, carrying case, etc.... and recently installed a 1TB SSD, and 2 RAM sticks, which doubled my RAM capability. Now, for about $20.00, I can speed up my laptop, even further.

I WILL find a suitable wifi card.... WITH or WITHOUT your help.

How would YOU like to buy a car, and be told you can't get new tires.... you have to buy a new car ?!? SERIOUSLY ?

Telling me about "unathorized approvals", "certifications", "alterations", etc., are a waste of time.

Whitelisting, or as your email said: Your system manufacturer may have altered the features, incorporated customizations, or made other changes to the software or hardware packaging they provide., .... is rediculous. !!

Other than a MOTHERBOARD/CPU, there is NO excuse, for OEMs to block replaceable parts, from being interchanged/upgraded. This includes memory, HDD/SSD, RAM memory, batteries, wifi cards, etc.

Why does Intel sell wifi upgrades to DESKTOPS, but NOT LAPTOPS ?!

Wifi, cell signals, etc are improving everyday..... we should be able to upgrade our equipment, WITHOUT having to buy a whole new device.

Regards,

Dale

[krzemien]

Hey Dale,

Ignore this nonsense and have a look here:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Wireless-and-Networking/Replace-Centrino-2230-with-7260/td-p/6232759

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2641879/replacing-intel-centrino-2230-7260.html

https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/pcs-accessories/sony-vaio-svf1531c5e-bcm43142-wireless-network-adapter-issue/td-p/2032133

(last one presents my solution in repsonse #2)

Definitely worth trying - but it's important that you get the right model of this card.

Tad

[DBald3]

Tad,

Thanks for the comments, BUT..... the 1st & 3rd of the links are for HP & Sony..... I have a TOSHIBA. The middle link (Tom's) deals with whitelisting & BIOS, which is a whole new layer of headache !!

[krzemien]

Forget about this whitelisting nonsense - the only thing you risk here is $20 (I assume you should be able to return the card if it does not fit though. Buy it from Amazon, as per the link in my SONY thread: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N7474CS; HMW version is what you need) and 10 minutes of your life.

If you read information contained in these links plus watch some videos available on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksHrm7dz9Ik

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zablv1vS1CI

you should be able to get into the inside easily and replace the card without any problems and in no time: just swap the cards and all will be well.

Card reference: https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/product-briefs/dual-band-wireless-ac-7260-bluetooth-brief.pdf

Old one: https://www.mouser.co.uk/datasheet/2/612/centrino-wireless-n-2230-brief-1215708.pdf

[DBald3]

I have done all the research, watched many videos, and read-between-the-lines on various websites..

I already know how to dismantle my laptop, having installed an SSD and RAM memory sticks.

There is, quite literally, only 2 screws to remove, to replace the wifi adapter card..... I know everything I need to know.... EXCEPT:

WHICH Intel 7260 ac card to use ?! ..... there are 8-10 variations.

[DBald3]

Seems that since INTEL is the host of this site, and all the parts I'm asking about, they could simply ( SIMPLY ) answer my question ...?

QUESTION: Which INTEL 802.11 AC dual-band wifi mini card is the BEST option for replacing my N single-band INTEL Centrino 2230 ?

My question doesn't get any simpler than that !!

[krzemien]

Dale,

in all this excitement you ommited to spot this information in my previous post above:

HMW version is what you need

And an example off Amazon UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N7474CS

[DBald3]

Thanks, but that item is "A" & "N". I'm looking for dual-band AC

[krzemien]

What do you mean by 'dual-band'? It can't be more dual-band than this?

https://ark.intel.com/products/75439/Intel-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC-7260

(you did browse the specs, correct? https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/product-briefs/dual-band-wireless-ac-7260-bluetooth-brief.pdf)

Can you clearly specify what you're after exactly?

[DBald3]

I was referring to the link you sent: .....https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N7474CS. Here is the description: This item Intel Wireless-N 7260 (7260HMW AN) Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 Plus Bluetooth 4.0*

And yes, I read the product brief(s), 2 weeks ago, on Intel's: 3160, 3165, 7260, and 7265.

Also read Intel's internal documentation on all the LABEL changes:

http://qdms.intel.com/Portal/SearchPCNDataBase.aspx?mm=936131

http://qdms.intel.com/Portal/SearchPCNDataBase.aspx?mm=923252

Model: 7260HMW

The label of the adapters has other numbers, some are unique between product codes. Please review the following document as it has pictures of the labels from these and some other versions of the ac 7260:

http://qdms.intel.com/dm/i.aspx/E66C4970-EDA3-4726-B602-CD0B2ED105F2/PCN113523-00.pdf

http://qdms.intel.com/dm/i.aspx/E66C4970-EDA3-4726-B602-CD0B2ED105F2/PCN113523-00.pdf

Please keep in mind that the label design may vary between adapters of the same model, however, major changes are included in the Product Change Notification documents for the 

http://qdms.intel.com/Portal/SearchPCNDataBase.aspx?mm=923252 7260.HMWG

http://qdms.intel.com/Portal/SearchPCNDataBase.aspx?mm=936131 7260.HMWG.R.

[krzemien]

If I may be so bold: too much theory, not enough practice. Just get this card of Amazon as per the link I provided and give it a go.

[DBald3]

Thanks for all your input.

[Acom0]

If you can remove your network card, you should be able to buy a card.

If you can't you may have to buy a USB adapter. Various good USB adapters are available in the market.

i would suggest "i10Gb Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 2x2 AC + Bluetooth 4.0 p/n 7260-HMW" for you.