Can I take the bluetooth out of my mom's Inspiron 1400 and put it in my Studio 1555?

The only time the bluetooth is used on my mom's laptop is when *I* use it so I was wondering if I can take out the chip and put it in my Studio 1555 when it comes? I'd rather not buy a new chip

 

What exact Bluetooth card is it? As long as it's a mini PCI-Express card, it will physically fit, but you also need to have Vista 64 bit drivers.

 

AFAIK Inspiron 1400 series uses proprietary bluetooth card, not in form of mini PCI-Express as the Studio series uses. So, you have to buy either Dell 370 Bluetooth mini PCI-E card or plug in USB bluetooth transcierver.

 

If that's the case, then you can find the Dell 370 BT card for like $20 on eBay.

 

Actually, I'm thinking if this Dell proprietary Bluetooth card series (350, 355 or 360) could be installed in Studio series, then there will be 1 free mini PCI-E slot which can be used for FCM (Flash Cache Module) a.k.a. Robson card a.k.a. ITM (Intel Turbo Memory).

My guess is that this proprietary bluetooth card is connected through some kind of internal USB plug, but I don't know whether such kind of plug exists inside the Studio series. Anybody knows?

 

I've never seen anything like that in my 1535. The Bluetooth option for the Studio 15 is in the form of a mini PCI-express card, just like the WiFi. The Studios have 3 of these slots: two full-size (intended for the Bluetooth and WWAN broadband cards) and one half-height (for the WiFi). I have the WiFi and Bluetooth cards, so I still have an empty full-height slot where the WWAN card would normally go. I think I might try Intel Turbo Memory in that, or maybe even an SSD.

 

All of three mini PCI-E slots in my Studio 1735 are used. Just as in my siggy, I have the 370 Bluetooth card, Sierra Wireless MC8781 WWAN card and the half-height 5300 WiFi card.

The thought of using Dell 350, 355 or 360 Bluetooth card just came into my mine after I read the ITM 2.0 thread and found plenty of these Dell proprietary bluetooth cards and the 4GB ITM on eBay.

I could opt for micro USB Bluetooth transciever, but then... Feels auckward of not having internal Bluetooth (this is why I configured my Studio with Bluetooth in the first place).

 

Do you mean a Vostro 1400? I am having a hard time finding any information regarding an Inspiron 1400. If so, the Vostro 1400 and Inspiron 1420 are identical. The Bluetooth card in the Vostro 1400/Inspiron 1420 series is proprietary and cannot be used in another laptop because it is not PCI-Express. As far as I know, the connection required for this Bluetooth card is only seen in Dell's 14" laptops.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1420/en/SM/btooth.htm#wp1106198

 

Actually it's the 1420, my bad.
I believe that's the same as the vostro 1400 though, not sure

 

Dell 350, 355 and 360 Bluetooth proprietary cards are interchangeable among many Dell notebooks: XPS series, Inspiron series, Vostro series, Latitude series, and Precision series. It's not only for their 14". There are also other proprietary Bluetooth cards which Dell use, i.e. in their Mini series, latest Latitude series, and Studio 14 series.

AFAIK only the Studio (except the latest Studio 14 series) and Studio XPS series which use Bluetooth card in form of mini PCI-Express card.

 

The point being that the Vostro 1400/Inspiron 1420 bluetooth module is not compatible with any Studio 15 models.

 

Yup, there's no doubt of that. I've already pointed that up on the #3 post.

I'm only saying the facts that the proprietary Dell bluetooth cards are not only used in their 14" laptops. But still OP cannot use his/her already owned card for his/her new Studio 1555 and has to buy Dell 370 bluetooth mini PCI-E card which can easily be found on eBay just as Mastershroom said.

 

Sorry, I just really can't stand when people nitpick and get technical over every little detail. That's the IT world for you. Besides that, I used the term "as far as I know," I wasn't aware that there were other proprietary bluetooth modules.