posted on December 10, 2008 02:40:33 PM new
I recently purchased a Dell Studio 540 with a 64 bit operating system…running Vista Home Premium. It is not wifi ready…I will need a USB adapter. From what I understand they are not all compatible with the premium edition of Vista.
I looked at some of the ones listed on Amazon and really wasn’t’ convinced that there isn’t something better out there. With one of them you have to apparently download a driver to install from their website…but if you need it working to connect to the internet….catch 22...and just more hassle then I want to engage in.
I need (want) plug and play….easy, strong signal, and compatible with Vista Premium. Any suggestions? Amy
posted on December 10, 2008 03:14:20 PM new
Hello Amy,
I would just call Dell to confirm, get the part number from them, then take that part number and shop around for the best price.
I don't know that I would try using a generic USB wifi adapter, unless you bought on from a local shop that you could easily return when it doesn't work well/properly/at all.
Thislooks like the one you would use usually, but it is an internal card. Unless you wanted the USB card to share with other machines you switch back and forth between, the internal card is probably the better choice.
posted on December 10, 2008 03:30:43 PM new
I didn't purchase it directly from Dell. We bought it at Best Buy. Dell charges out the wazoo for shipping up to Alaska...so if we can get something we like locally we purchase locally.
If I bought an internal card I would probably have to pay someone to install it??
I was hoping there would be something I could just plug into a USB port and it would pick up our netgear unit upstairs.
posted on December 10, 2008 04:16:13 PM new
Thank you. I was hoping someone else had already had to solve this problem. I've had my new toy for a week now and have as much loaded up as I can without the internet. I'm chomping at the bit to start using it fully. I love my new 22" flat screen.
posted on December 11, 2008 09:23:36 AM new
Hello,
Doesn't matter if you bought it from Dell or not, they should still be able to tell you what does or doesn't work with it, and when you get to the point where you have the part # written down - you don't have to actually buy it from them.
With the issues so many people have with hardware and Vista not working properly, it would just be nice to know that what you buy will work right away (again, unless you can buy it locally and just return it if it doesn't.)
As for having to pay someone to install that card, it's much easier than you think. Plenty of online guides to show you how, but don't think of it as being any harder than snapping some lego's together. Dell's usually have these really easy to open cases with the sliding side part, you take one screw out of one of the open PCI slots, pop the card in, put in that one screw to hold it in place, and slide the side of the case back on. Plug it in, boot it up and it'll likely take care of the rest itself especially if you get the Dell specific card for it.
Check the specs though on that USB adapted listed above, if it lists your specific version of Vista as being supported, it would be a lot easier to just plug/play and be done with it.
posted on December 11, 2008 10:10:24 AM new
I would think Best Buy could tell you what would work and they probably have it in stock too. If the salesperson doesn't know, talk to the Geek Squad.
I didn't have to do a thing with my plug and play (I have the older XP version) and I use it for my work desktop computer.
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