How do I use this plug in modem device?

September 14, 2010 9:45 AM

How do I use this plug-in modem thingy in an old Dell laptop running Windows XP? Do I need a cable to connect to the internet?

A nonprofit I work with was donated a laptop that had this card inserted in it but we are all complete hardware idiots and have no idea how to use this type of device. Can't find a manual online. What do we do to make internet work on this laptop?

posted by dahliachewswell to Technology (7 answers total)

your laptop should have a port for an rj-45, the cable that runs from your modem/router to the computer. plug it in to the computer and to the router/modem that you're using. basically, you'll be using this card as a NIC, so just treat it like any other (non-wireless) computer.
posted by nadawi at 9:50 AM on September 14, 2010

There is no place on the card for a network cable to plug in, right? Instead there is a little plug that is about the size/shape of an iphone plug hole? If so, you need a dongle, which plugs into the card and then the ethernet cable plugs into that.
posted by 8dot3 at 10:03 AM on September 14, 2010

NIC = a network interface card which is what you have in the picture.
You need an Ethernet cable which has an RJ45 plug both ends (looks like a telephone jack plug but is bigger).
One ends plugs into your cable company router, the other end into the card which might flip open to accept the cable plug.
With any luck the Dell laptop will have the correct software installed for the card which you can find in Control Panel under Network Connections as Local Area Connection.
Hope this makes sense! I am not a computer nerd!
posted by lungtaworld at 10:03 AM on September 14, 2010

Those kinds of cards (called PCMCIA or Cardbus) use dongles so you can plug in either an RJ45 (for ethernet) or RJ11 (for phone) connector. If it doesn't have the dongle, you're out of luck, so you might as well buy a new ethernet Cardbus card. Or get a wifi card, if you're going to be buying one anyway!

However, if the laptop is old enough that it doesn't have an ethernet port built in, it's probably too old to really bother with.
posted by zsazsa at 10:04 AM on September 14, 2010

oh, they're totally right - it is the dongle type. i've seen similar cards that use an onboard rj-45 jack.
posted by nadawi at 10:06 AM on September 14, 2010

The card likely requires a dongle to function.

Some 3Com cards had an XJack connector that would pop out of the card.

Dongles were notorious for getting lost, and XJacks were notorious for breaking easily. Choose your poison!

_{Alternatively, NewEgg have a PCMCIA Ethernet card on sale for $20.}
posted by schmod at 10:08 AM on September 14, 2010

Take a look at this photo. Does it have a socket similar to the one circled? (or is there another one?). If so you can plug a standard cable in. If not you are going to need an adapter like this. (Those look kinda pricey. It 's the kind of thing they will have in the Free Geek thrift store for a couple of bucks, so memail me if you get stuck).
posted by tallus at 10:16 AM on September 14, 2010