Intel 7260 Wireless card not working

jwinc7

Reputable
Sep 17, 2014
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I am trying to upgrade my wireless card in my Alienware Area 51 M17-R1 laptop (NOT the M17x, this is from before Dell took over Alienware). It has an Intel 5300 wireless card in it, model 533AN_MMW. This card works fine. With this card in, I can see one of my wireless networks that the SSID is showing (2.4ghz 802.11g), and can connect to the other three that are hidden (1x 2.4ghx 802.11g, and 2x 5ghz 802.11n). I can also see several of my neighbor's networks that are secured, but SSID showing.

I am trying to put an Intel 7260-ac card in it, model 7260HMW. I downloaded the latest drivers and then installed the hardware and then installed the drivers and associated Intel software. After booting, I got repeated errors with unable to connect or manually create wireless connections. After doing some research, I found that some antivirus programs cause issues. I am running ZoneAlarm and that is one of the antivirus programs specifically mentioned. I uninstalled ZoneAlarm, rebooted, uninstalled the Intel drivers and card, rebooted, re-installed the Intel drivers, and rebooted again. The device manager is now properly showing the card, and I can manually create connections without a problem. The problem is that the card cannot find any wireless connections. I have verified that all wires are plugged in correctly.

The Intel software says the hardware radio switch is off. On my laptop, function F2 toggles the wireless. I have tried this and it will not turn on the wireless LED. There is not a physical wireless switch on this laptop. The BIOS has the WLAN set to on (choices are on, off, or resume). I can put the 5300 card back in and the function F2 will toggle the wireless LED.

Is this a wireless card problem? or an Alienware problem? Is there something I am forgetting? is there a way to get this card to work?
 


I do not believe it supports wireless display, but I am not sure. This is what I have: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wireless-products/dual-band-wireless-ac-7260-bluetooth.html.

I have downloaded the latest drivers from the Intel website.
 


My laptop has three USB 2.0 ports, one of which is broken. I already have a USb hub connected and am running several devices off of it to include a wireless mouse, wireless headset, fitbit connection device, and USB drives. I have way too many devices already being extended from the laptop and I would prefer not to put more on.

This card also upgrades my Bluetooth capability, not just wireless. It would allow me to reduce the number of USB connected devices when I upgrade to Bluetooth 4.
 


I would say it does support widi. It says this on the link you gave. So how did it go after you install later drivers??

 

The latest drivers is what I initially tried. The wireless LED light on the panel will still not come on with the 7260 plugged in and the software states the radio switch is off and suggests trying the hardware switch. There is not a physical switch on the laptop, just the function F2 option.
 
I have the same issue, the "The Intel software says the hardware radio switch is off" and the led is off.
I have a Toshiba P850 Ci7 3rd Gen.
I trayed install the last, the old and differentes version of drivers and still not working.