trying to uninstall a BCM43142 802.11b/g/n from a Toshiba C55-C5241 (PSCPJU-00R011)

[anoukaimee]

I am trying to install a new AC Wifi card in my Toshiba C55-C5241 (Part No. PSCPJU-00R011, Serial No. 7F272936C). I have a Broadcom BCM43142 802.11b/g/n Wireless Network card (as confirmed by AIDA).

I had read that this was a relatively easy thing to do for a hardware noob like me. Finding that it isn't so easy, at least with this model.

I did a lot of research before undertaking this. I determined that my model might have whitelisting, but located what looked to be a suitable replacement Intel 7260.HMW that guaranteed compatibility with everything (except HP and Lenovo, I think). Given that, I thought I'd go ahead and try it and just return for free if the hardware didn't work.

I encountered my first problem when I opened the laptop and found what appeared to be the wifi card, but was much smaller than what I anticipated. It is about 1"x1"; the BCM43142 is supposed to be a mini half pci-e: http/www.aliexpress.com/item/BCM94313HMGB-TOSHIBA-Broadcom-WiFi-Bluetooth-Mini-Half-PCI-E-PCI-E-802-11n/32616435824.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.2.fKEgvc&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_7,searchweb201644_5_505_506_503_504_10032_10020_502_10014_10001_10002_10017_10005_10006_10003_10021_10004_10022_10018_10019,searchweb201560_2,searchweb1451318400_-1,searchweb1451318411_-1&btsid=8c861077-8d92-417b-9100-5f1122044419


What I found has antenna cords and looks like it is in the right location, but it doesn't look at all like what I was anticipating. The connector area (with the pins on the motherboard) were wider than the card itself, and it had a plastic bracket holding it in place, and so I hoped that it might just be some other type and my half pci-e would work, but lining it up, it doesn't look like it.

The card had no manufacturer info (on the side I could see), just mac: B886879FF91A and serial no. 804BM69I5714749J0J4. Both are what I believe to be the marks, but they were very difficult to read. Of course, the "BM" in the serial makes me suspect that it is a Broadcom component. Googled both everywhere and nada. But if you need me to, I'd be happy to open up the case again to get a more accurate read.

Is this the WIFI? or could it be something else? why isn't it the right size, and why would it be screwed in unlike any other component I've been able to find?

My next problem (largely of my own creation/frustration) was that it was attached by a tiny, tiny screw, unlike the pci-e wifi cards I had seen. I tried to remove it with a precision screwdriver, but I had no torque at all. So I took out the smallest bit Phillips that I had and tried to remove it; nada. I ended up pretty much defacing the entire top.

Anyway, the above-mentioned problem is something else I can deal with later, but I really want to identify the correct location of the WIFI slot.

And for those suggesting a usb wifi adapter, I'm definitely considering it after hours of work, but I'd really want to get a 3.0 and they're huge, and it would be located right where I mouse. Tres inconvenient.

Here are detailed specs on my computer:

Toshiba Satellite C55-C5241 (PSCPJU-00R011), Serial No. 7F272936C

O/S Windows 10 Home (version 10.0.10586.122 (Win10 TH2))

PCI-E Broadcom BCM43142 802.11b/g/n Wireless Network Adapter, driver version 7.35.333.0 (11/23/2015), PCI Slot 2 (PCI bus 7, device 0, function 0),
Hardware IDs:
PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4365&SUBSYS_665511AD&REV_01
PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4365&SUBSYS_665511AD
PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4365&CC_028000
PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4365&CC_0280
(more info from AIDA64 that I don't understand but that may aid you in diagnosing this problem):
Offset 000: E4 14 65 43 06 00 10 00 01 00 80 02 10 00 00 00
Offset 010: 04 00 20 B3 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 AD 11 55 66
Offset 030: 00 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 12 01 00 00
Offset 040: 01 58 03 CE 08 40 00 00 05 D0 80 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 09 48 78 00 16 00 00 00
Offset 060: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 070: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 080: 00 10 00 18 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 03 00 00 00
Offset 090: 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 0A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 00 03 00 00 10 10 18
Offset 0B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 0C0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 0D0: 10 00 01 00 A0 8F 90 05 17 01 11 00 11 6C 07 00
Offset 0E0: 42 01 11 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 0F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

MEMORYBOARD:
SR23Y
PART # FH8065801620204
CORE STEPPING: F0
FAMILY: 6 (06H)
MODEL 06F2 (U3EI)
MODEL: 61 (03Dh)
CPUID SIGNATURE: 306D4
MANUFACTURER FF50
VERSION TYPE2 -BOARD VERSION
INTEL CHIPSET MODEL BROADWELL-U, REVISION 09
SOUTHBRIDGE INTEL MODEL BROADWELL-U PCH L-P, REVISION 03
CPU INTEL CORE I5 5200U @ 2.20 GHZ
BROADWELL-U 14 (0.014) NM TECHNOLOGY

The closest pic of the interior of my model that I could find (Toshiba has TONS of C55s and other Satellites) is here: https/nautilusmode.com/2014/11/25/opening-up-the-toshiba-satellite-c55d-5214/

with the card I thought was the wifi being in the upper right hand corner, under the tape that is yellow and blue on the left side.

Thank you so much! Really.

 

[jarotech]

Hi Anouk, the card you mention is indeed the WiFi card, but it's a new format called M.2. The card Intel 7260.HMW you want to install has not the same format (you know that). What you need is this card M.2 Intel 7260 for your laptop.