The Wi-Fi adapter in your PC is one of its smallest but most crucial components. If yours has gone out, or you want to upgrade to a newer one, here’s how to replace it.

PC中的Wi-Fi适配器是其最小但最关键的组件之一。 如果您的服务器已经出局，或者要升级到较新的服务器，请按照以下方法进行更换。

什么是Wi-Fi卡？ (What Exactly Is A Wi-Fi Card?)

That’s a question you’ll need to answer before you can upgrade your system, and the answer is different based on what kind of PC you have.

在升级系统之前，您需要先回答这个问题，并且答案取决于所拥有的PC类型。

桌面选项 (Desktop Options)

Let’s start with the easy one: desktop PCs. In desktops, access to Wi-Fi (and sometimes Bluetooth, too) generally comes in three different flavors:

让我们从简单的一个开始：台式机。 在台式机中，访问Wi-Fi(有时还包括蓝牙)的方式通常有以下三种：

• A built-in component on the motherboard主板上的内置组件
• A PCI card that plugs into the motherboard插入主板的PCI卡
• A USB-based adapter基于USB的适配器

A USB Wi-Fi adapter is the easiest of these gadgets to manage, and it’s also the easiest to replace. Just buy a new one, plug it in, make sure your drivers are installed, and boom—you’ve got Wi-Fi. The other two are a little more tricky.

USB Wi-Fi适配器是这些小工具中最容易管理的，也是最容易更换的。 只需购买一个新的，插入电源，确保已安装驱动程序，然后开始工作，就可以开始使用Wi-Fi。 其他两个比较棘手。

Modern motherboards often include a Wi-Fi adapter right on the motherboard, especially if they’re for smaller compact PCs. You can usually see the antenna poking out of the back of the main I/O plate, next to your USB ports or monitor output. If this thing is broken or outdated (for example, it doesn’t support modern 5GHz wireless connections), you can’t really replace it without buying a new motherboard or a PC.

现代主板通常在主板上包括一个Wi-Fi适配器，尤其是当它们用于较小的紧凑型PC时。 通常，您可以看到天线从主I / O板的背面伸出，靠近USB端口或显示器输出。 如果该设备损坏或过时(例如，它不支持现代的5GHz无线连接)，则必须购买新的主板或PC才能真正更换它。

Luckily, desktops are flexible enough that you don’t need to replace or repair the broken one. You can just add an additional Wi-Fi adapter in a different form, whether that’s a USB adapter or a new PCI Wi-Fi card. Which type you get just depends on your situation.

幸运的是，台式机足够灵活，您无需更换或维修损坏的台式机。 您可以添加其他形式的其他Wi-Fi适配器，无论是USB适配器还是新的PCI Wi-Fi卡。 哪种类型取决于您的情况。

PCI cards plug into one of the open PCI-Express slots on your motherboard. The end where your antennas connect is exposed through the back of the PC. These cards have their pros and cons. On the plus side, they are generally inexpensive. The antennas are replaceable, meaning that you can use a bigger, higher gain antenna if you need a better signal, or even hook up a cable so that you can place the antenna elsewhere in the room. On the down side, you will need to open your PC’s case to install the card. You’ll also need to make sure you have an open PCI slot on your motherboard, and that you buy a compatible card. We’ll talk about this a bit later in the article.

PCI卡插入主板上打开的PCI-Express插槽之一。 天线连接的一端通过PC的背面露出。 这些卡各有利弊。 从好的方面来说，它们通常是便宜的。 天线是可更换的，这意味着如果您需要更好的信号，则可以使用更大，增益更高的天线，甚至可以连接电缆，以便将天线放置在房间的其他位置。 缺点是，您需要打开PC机壳才能安装卡。 您还需要确保主板上有一个开放的PCI插槽，并购买兼容的卡。 我们将在文章的稍后部分讨论这一点。

USB Wi-Fi adapters, on the other hand, are much easier to install. You just plug it into an open USB port on your PC. Some devices also have an additional power cable. The downsides of USB adapters are that you’ll need a bit of space for it near your USB ports, and that the antennas are generally not replaceable.

另一方面，USB Wi-Fi适配器更容易安装。 您只需将其插入PC上的开放USB端口即可。 某些设备还附带一条电源线。 USB适配器的不利之处在于，您需要在USB端口附近为其留出一些空间，而且天线通常不可更换。

笔记本电脑选项 (Laptop Options)

Every laptop sold in the last decade will have some kind of Wi-Fi capability. The most common method for this is the PCI Express Mini standard. It’s a tiny version of the PCI cards mentioned above, formatted especially for the tight internal chambers of a laptop. It also generally includes a plug for a wired antenna, which goes up through the body and hinge of the laptop into the screen housing for better reception.

在过去十年中售出的每台笔记本电脑都将具有某种Wi-Fi功能。 最常用的方法是PCI Express Mini标准。 这是上面提到的PCI卡的一个很小的版本，其格式专门针对便携式计算机的狭窄内部空间而设计。 它还通常包括一个用于有线天线的插头，该插头穿过笔记本电脑的机身和铰链进入屏幕外壳，以实现更好的接收效果。

A newer standard that’s gaining popularity is the even smaller M.2 (sometimes called NGFF) slot. These are similar to slots for M.2 storage drives, but even tinier—most models are about the same size as a postage stamp.

越来越流行的新标准是更小的M.2(有时称为NGFF)插槽 。 这些类似于M.2存储驱动器的插槽，但更小巧-大多数型号的尺寸与邮票差不多。

Some laptops have both a Mini PCIe slot and an M.2 wireless slot. Some only have one of those slots. And some don’t have any at all, instead using components soldered directly onto the motherboard. And sometimes, those cards are not easily accessible for user replacement, because the laptop isn’t designed to be opened at all. This is generally the case with super-small, compact laptop designs. Tablets, no matter what operating system they’re running, can generally not be upgraded by the end user.

某些笔记本电脑同时具有Mini PCIe插槽和M.2无线插槽。 有些仅具有这些插槽之一。 而且有些根本没有任何东西，而是使用直接焊接到主板上的组件。 有时，这些卡不便于用户更换，因为笔记本电脑根本没有设计成可以打开的。 超小型紧凑型笔记本电脑设计通常就是这种情况。 平板电脑，无论它们运行的​​是哪种操作系统，通常都无法由最终用户升级。

If your laptop can’t be opened or doesn’t have a PCI Express Mini or M.2 wireless slot, you won’t be able to upgrade its native wireless capability or swap out a faulty component. But you you can still use a USB-based Wi-Fi adapter, and some of them are small enough that they won’t significantly impact your computer’s portability.

如果您的笔记本电脑无法打开或没有PCI Express Mini或M.2无线插槽，则将无法升级其本机无线功能或更换故障组件。 但是您仍然可以使用基于USB的Wi-Fi适配器， 其中一些很小 ，不会对计算机的便携性产生重大影响。

我应该获得哪个升级？ (Which Upgrade Should I Get?)

First of all, if you’re merely replacing your Wi-Fi card because the current one is damaged, just get the same model. You already know it’s compatible, and presumably your network setup hasn’t changed. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it—except for the part that’s actually broken, of course. If you’re upgrading to a Wi-Fi adapter with a newer standard, you’ll have to do a little research.

首先，如果由于当前的Wi-Fi卡损坏而仅更换Wi-Fi卡，请使用相同的型号。 您已经知道它是兼容的，并且大概您的网络设置没有更改。 如果它没有损坏，请不要修复它-当然，实际损坏的部分除外。 如果您要升级到具有较新标准的Wi-Fi适配器，则必须进行一些研究。

And remember, whether you’re working with a desktop or a laptop, if you don’t want to bother opening up the case to replace an existing Wi-Fi card, you can always go the simpler route and just add a USB adapter.

请记住，无论您是台式电脑还是笔记本电脑，如果您不想费心打开机箱来替换现有的Wi-Fi卡，则总可以采用更简单的方法，只需添加USB适配器即可。

检查兼容性 (Check For Compatibility)

If you’re upgrading your desktop with a new PCI Express card, first check the compatibility. You’ll need to check the specs or physically inspect your motherboard to see how many (if any) PCI slots you have open. You can also use an app like Speccy (from the makers of CCleaner), which lets you view information about the PCI slots on your PC, including which are currently in use and by what.

如果要使用新的PCI Express卡升级桌面，请首先检查兼容性。 您需要检查规格或物理检查主板，以查看您打开了多少个PCI插槽。 您还可以使用Speccy之类的应用程序(来自CCleaner的制造商)，该应用程序可让您查看有关PC上PCI插槽的信息，包括当前正在使用的插槽以及使用的插槽。

Desktop Wi-Fi cards usually use an x1 or an x2 slot, the smaller of the available standards. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, check out this handy guide on desktop PCI Express slots.

台式机Wi-Fi卡通常使用x1或x2插槽，这是可用标准中较小的插槽。 如果您不确定我在说什么， 请查看台式机PCI Express插槽上的该便捷指南 。

For laptops, you’ll be using a Mini PCIe card or M.2 wireless. Mini PCIe cards all use the same electrical contacts for connection, but some are longer than others. You’ll want to get one that matches the length of your current card, so that it can fit in the bay. To check that, it’s best to consult the specifications for your laptop.

对于笔记本电脑，您将使用Mini PCIe卡或M.2无线网络。 小型PCIe卡均使用相同的电触点进行连接，但有些更长。 您需要获得一个与当前卡的长度匹配的卡，以便它可以放入托架中。 要进行检查，最好参考您笔记本电脑的规格。

The two standard sizes for PCIe Mini are full length (50.95 mm long) and half length (26.8mm). If you have a full-length Mini PCIe bay, don’t replace your card with a half length version. The antenna cable might not be able to reach it.

PCIe Mini的两个标准尺寸是全长(50.95毫米长)和一半长度(26.8毫米)。 如果您有全长的Mini PCIe托架，请不要将其替换为半长版本。 天线电缆可能无法连接。

我需要哪个Wi-Fi标准？ (Which Wi-Fi Standard Do I Need?)

There are a lot of different Wi-Fi standards out there, and new ones seem to crop up every few years. The easy answer here is, get the newest one you can afford—it’ll mean that you can go longer without replacing your card again.

目前有许多不同的Wi-Fi标准，而且似乎每隔几年就会出现新的标准。 此处的简单答案是，获得您负担得起的最新货币—这意味着您可以再使用更长的时间，而无需再次更换卡。

At the time of writing, the latest version of Wi-Fi is 802.11ac. It’s backwards-compatible with all earlier versions, so even if your personal networking equipment isn’t that new, it’s a good plus to have. The next upgrade, 802.11ax, probably won’t be coming to consumer-grade equipment for a year or so.

在撰写本文时， 最新版本的Wi-Fi是802.11ac 。 它与所有早期版本都向后兼容，因此，即使您的个人网络设备不是那么新，它也是一个不错的选择。 下一代升级802.11ax可能会在一年左右的时间内不会出现在消费级设备上。

Note that some Wi-Fi cards also include Bluetooth for convenience. It’s easy enough to upgrade your desktop with a separate adapter for Bluetooth, but if you’re using a laptop, you want to replace a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card with another Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card so you don’t lose the capability.

请注意，为方便起见，某些Wi-Fi卡还包括蓝牙。 使用单独的蓝牙适配器升级桌面很容易，但是如果您使用笔记本电脑，则想用另一张 Wi-Fi /蓝牙卡替换Wi-Fi /蓝牙卡，这样就不会失去功能。

更换台式机中的无线卡 (Replacing The Wireless Card In Your Desktop)

Swapping out or adding a wireless card to your desktop is fairly easy—it’s a lot like adding a graphics card. You’ll need a clean work space—preferably in a cool, dry area without carpet—and a Philips-head screwdriver. If your home is particularly prone to static, you might want an anti-static bracelet, too.

交换或在桌面上添加无线卡非常容易，这很像添加图形卡。 您将需要一个干净的工作空间，最好是在没有地毯的凉爽干燥的地方，以及飞利浦头螺丝刀。 如果您的房屋特别容易出现静电，则可能还需要防静电手链 。

To begin, power down your PC, remove all power and data cables, and move the PC to your work area. Next, it’s time to remove the case.

首先，关闭PC的电源，拔下所有电源线和数据线，然后将PC移至工作区。 接下来，是时候移除外壳了。

On most full-size PCs, you just need to remove a side panel so you can get to the card slots—usually on the left side of the PC if you’re facing its front. On some PCs, you’ll need to remove the whole case. And some manufacturers make this harder than others. When in doubt, check your manual or just search the web for how to take the case off your computer model.

在大多数全尺寸PC上，您只需要卸下侧面板即可进入卡插槽-如果正面朝前，通常在PC的左侧。 在某些PC上，您需要删除整个机箱。 一些制造商比其他制造商更难。 如有疑问，请查阅手册或在网上搜索如何从计算机型号上取下机箱。

After getting the cover off, lay your PC on its side. You should now be looking down at your computer’s internals. The PCI slots are easy to spot. You probably already have cards installed into some of them.

卸下主机盖后，将PC侧放。 您现在应该低头看计算机的内部结构。 PCI插槽很容易发现。 您可能已经在其中一些卡中安装了卡。

If you don’t currently have a wireless card, you need to remove one of these slot covers first, for the PCI Express slot that matches the size of the card you’re installing. Just take off the screw holding it in place (if there is one) and pull it straight out.

如果您当前没有无线网卡，则需要先卸下这些插槽盖中的一个，因为PCI Express插槽与要安装的卡的大小匹配。 只需卸下将其固定到位的螺钉(如果有的话)，然后将其笔直拉出即可。

If installing a new card, pull out the blank expansion tab that matches the PCI-Express slot you’ll need to use.

如果要安装新卡，请拉出与您需要使用的PCI-Express插槽匹配的空白扩展卡。

If you’re replacing an existing card, remove the same screw and then take off the antenna from the back of the card. It should either pop off or need to be unscrewed with your fingers. When it’s clear, simply pull out the card, pulling straight up, and set it aside.

如果要更换现有卡，请拧下相同的螺钉，然后从卡背面卸下天线。 它应该弹出或需要用手指拧开。 清除后，只需拉出卡，笔直向上拉，然后放在一旁即可。

Now it’s time to install the new card. Insert the metal part in the same slot next to the PC case, so the antenna connection is facing outside. Then insert the contacts into the PCI slot, gently pressing down until you can’t see the gold-colored contacts anymore.

现在该安装新卡了。 将金属部分插入PC机箱旁边的同一插槽中，使天线连接面朝外。 然后将触点插入PCI插槽，轻轻向下按，直到看不到金色触点为止。

When it’s fully inserted, replace the screw holding the card in place against the case. Add the antennas to the back of the card. Wireless cards don’t need to be plugged into the power supply, like some graphics cards; they run off electricity straight from the motherboard.

完全插入后，请拧紧将卡固定在外壳上的螺钉。 将天线添加到卡的背面。 像某些图形卡一样，不需要将无线卡插入电源。 他们直接从主板上用尽电力。

You’re done! Replace the access panel, screw it back down on the back of the case, and take your PC back to its usual spot. Replace all of the data and power cables and boot up.

你完成了！ 装回检修面板，将其重新拧紧在机箱背面，然后将PC放回原位。 更换所有数据电缆和电源电缆，然后启动。

装回笔记本电脑中的无线卡 (Replacing The Wireless Card In Your Laptop)

It bears repeating: opening up a laptop can be a daunting task if you’ve never done it before. And if you don’t want to bother, we certainly won’t blame you. Just buy a small USB Wi-Fi adapter, instead. That said, though, let’s take a look at how you would open up a laptop and replace a card.

这需要重复：开笔记本电脑可能是一项艰巨的任务，如果您从未做过。 如果您不想打扰，我们当然不会怪您。 只需购买一个小型USB Wi-Fi适配器即可。 也就是说，让我们看一下如何打开笔记本电脑并更换卡。

Laptops have a lot of variety in their construction, but the most common way for users to access the wireless card is by removing the bottom of the case. This is a general guide—you’ll want to find something specific for your model before processing. Searching user forums or YouTube can be very helpful, but I recommend searching Google for your specific laptop model number and “repair manual” or “service manual.” These guides from the manufacturer can give you specific steps for your laptop. You might also want a set of tweezers to more easily grasp the antenna wires, especially if you have big fingers like me.

笔记本电脑的结构种类繁多，但是用户访问无线卡的最常见方法是卸下机箱底部。 这是一般指南，您需要在处理之前找到特定于模型的内容。 搜索用户论坛或YouTube可能会非常有帮助，但我建议您在Google中搜索您的笔记本电脑型号以及“维修手册”或“服务手册”。 制造商提供的这些指南可为您提供笔记本电脑的特定步骤。 您可能还需要一组镊子来更容易地抓住天线导线，尤其是当您有像我这样的大手指时。

We’ll use my ThinkPad T450s as a demonstration. To begin, I power it down and remove the battery from the rear. I then unscrew the eight different screws holding in the bottom of the case and lift it away, exposing the user-serviceable components beneath.

我们将以我的ThinkPad T450为例。 首先，我将其关闭电源并从后部取出电池。 然后，我拧下固定在机箱底部的八颗不同的螺钉，然后将其提起，露出下面的用户可维修组件。

My specific model uses a M.2 wireless card. You can see it here, with the small wires plugged in on top—those are the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas. The bay next to it is the Mini PCI-Express slot, empty on my machine. The steps are the same for both, though a lot of Mini PCI-Express cards have only one antenna connection.

我的特定型号使用M.2无线网卡。 您可以在这里看到它，并在顶部插入细线-就是Wi-Fi和蓝牙天线。 它旁边的托架是Mini PCI-Express插槽，在我的计算机上是空的。 尽管许多Mini PCI-Express卡只有一个天线连接，但步骤都相同。

To remove the existing card, first I unplug the antenna cables. These are held in place by simple friction, so I just pop them off with a fingernail. REMEMBER WHICH OF THESE ANTENNA CABLES GOES WHERE—mixing up the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth cables will mean both of them stop working. Take pictures of the setup as you go to help you remember.

要卸下现有卡，请先拔下天线电缆。 通过简单的摩擦将它们固定到位，所以我只需用指甲将它们弹出。 记住这些天线电缆在哪里—混淆Wi-Fi和Bluetooth电缆将意味着它们都将停止工作。 随时拍摄设置照片以帮助您记住。

Now I remove the screw holding the card down and set it aside. On most laptops, this will let the card raise up at a slight angle. I can now pull out the card.

现在，我卸下固定卡的螺钉并将其放在一旁。 在大多数笔记本电脑上，这会使卡稍微抬起。 我现在可以拉出卡了。

To install the new card, I just go in reverse. I plug the card into the slot at an angle. It’s fully inserted when you can no longer see the electrical contacts. I screw it down flat with the screw I removed earlier.

要安装新卡，我只需要反向进行。 我将卡倾斜插入插槽。 当您再也看不到电触点时，它已完全插入。 我用之前卸下的螺钉将其拧平。

Now, I plug in the antennas I removed earlier, being careful to plug them into the correct spot. If the card you’re replacing is a different model, you might want to consult its manual or documentation to double-check the plug.

现在，我插入了先前卸下的天线，请小心将其插入正确的位置。 如果要更换的卡是其他型号，则可能需要查阅其手册或文档以再次检查插头。

Finally, I replace the laptop’s bottom case panel, screw it down, and plug the battery back in. I’m ready to power up and boot.

最后，我将笔记本电脑的底壳面板装回，拧紧，然后重新插入电池。我已经准备好开机和启动。

安装卡的驱动程序 (Installing Your Card’s Drivers)

If you’re using a modern Windows system, odds are pretty good that the operating system will automatically recognize your new wireless card, install the appropriate pre-loaded driver, and you’ll be able to use it within a minute or two. If not, check the Device Manager. If you see a device that isn’t recognized, the pre-loaded driver isn’t working.

如果您使用的是现代Windows系统，则操作系统很可能会自动识别您的新无线网卡，安装适当的预加载驱动程序，您在一两分钟之内就可以使用它。 如果不是，请检查“ 设备管理器” 。 如果看到无法识别的设备，则预加载的驱动程序无法正常工作。

You’ll need to get the driver onto your PC somehow. If it’s on a disc that came with the card and you have a CD drive, you’re good to go. If not, connect the internet via Ethernet and search for the manufacturer’s driver page for a download. If Ethernet isn’t an option, use another computer (or even your phone), download the file, and then transfer it via a USB drive (or cable).

您需要以某种方式将驱动程序安装到PC上。 如果它在存储卡随附的光盘上，并且您有CD驱动器，那么就很好了。 如果没有，请通过以太网连接互联网并搜索制造商的驱动程序页面以进行下载。 如果无法选择以太网，请使用另一台计算机(甚至您的手机)，下载文件，然后通过USB驱动器(或电缆)进行传输。

Double-click the installer file for the driver and follow the on-screen instructions. Once the process is done, your new card should be working. If it isn’t, especially if the hardware isn’t detected at all, go back through the installation process again—it’s possible that the card isn’t properly seated. If the card is installed but you’re not seeing any wireless networks, then check the antenna connection and make sure it’s in place on the correct plug.

双击驱动程序的安装程序文件，然后按照屏幕上的说明进行操作。 完成该过程后，您的新卡应该可以使用了。 如果不是这样，尤其是在根本没有检测到硬件的情况下，请再次返回安装过程-卡可能没有正确就位。 如果已安装该卡，但看不到任何无线网络，请检查天线连接并确保其在正确的插头上就位。

Image credit: Amazon, Newegg,

图片来源： Amazon ， Newegg ，

翻译自: https://www.howtogeek.com/346854/how-to-upgrade-or-replace-your-pcs-wireless-card/