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    trying to find a place that sells network cards.

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by smoses799, Mar 5, 2010.

  1. smoses799

    smoses799 Notebook Consultant

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    So, my dv8t has a intell 5100... I wanted to upgrade to either a 6300 or 5300 card, but i cant find anywhere that sells them. Anyone know of a storefront that sells notebook cards?
     
  2. sooby77

    sooby77 Notebook Consultant

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    I wouldn't bother if you have the DV8T. HP locks their BIOS and you won't be able to upgrade your card. I have the HDX18T and faces the similar problem.

    Should you still want to try anyway, you can use eBay or http://www.oxfordtec.com/us/
     
  3. smoses799

    smoses799 Notebook Consultant

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    what do you mean? i cant just install a new card? what does the bios have to do with the network card? i figured that it would be pnp like memory
     
  4. Aluminum

    Aluminum Notebook Consultant

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    Welcome to your new life as a HP/lenovo laptop (ab)use[r|d]!

    In all seriousness you just have to find a card that is specifically for hp computers. Your bios checks a whitelist for hardware on certain slots and refuses to talk to any hardware ids not in its acceptable range. Most reputable sellers will have this detail (or lack thereof) in the description of aftermarket parts.

    FYI: If they really wanted to, the OEMs could do this on say external usb ports, but they don't.
     
  5. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Perfectly stated. There are, of course, "workarounds" that one can find online, but, unless you're seriously into DIY BIOS modding, the alternative fixes are really dodgy and not worth the time, effort, or likely voiding of your warranty (or worse yet, electrocution of your notebook). Basically, if you don't like the proprietary golden cage that HP and the other brand-name labels put you in, you'd be better off going with something straight from one of the ODMs, like a Clevo.