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Bypassing the WiFi {Hardware} Swap on the Lenovo X201

Bypassing the WiFi {Hardware} Swap on the Lenovo X201

2024-02-17 06:36:06

I just lately acquired a ThinkPad X201 to start out utilizing as my each day driver. I bought the X201 to interchange my current X260. Though some would possibly have a look at this as a “downgrade” by way of specs and {hardware}, I must disagree.

The X201 is an absolute masterpiece in laptop computer {hardware} design and solely faulted by among the constraints set by the motherboard, particularly the dearth to help greater than 8GB of RAM. Aside from that, I feel it is excellent. Effectively…nearly excellent. There’s one small annoyance:

The bodily WiFi kill change.

This factor can develop into actually flaky on these older gadgets and numerous folks on the internet report connection points throughout a number of working methods. I too bumped into this concern not lengthy after getting Alpine setup properly on my machine.

Some treatments embrace re-installing {hardware} drivers, flicking the {hardware} toggle on and off repeatedly, and even merely logging out of the present person session. All these choices appeared like a ache within the ass.

So I listed out my potential choices:

  1. Whitelist my BIOS WiFi settings (requires flashing BIOS) and set up a more recent wifi card, hoping the issue fixes itself
  2. Buy a substitute WiFi card (possibly mine was simply buggy??)
  3. Block PIN20 on the prevailing Wifi card
  4. In some way disconnect the {hardware} killswitch (requires soldering which I’ve ZERO expertise with)

Out of pure laziness, I selected choice three. In case you have been unaware, PIN20 on older PCIE WLAN playing cards is the “wifi disable” and used as an RF killswitch. By “blocking” this PIN, we cease the system from with the ability to disable the WiFi connection. Dropping the flexibility to disable WiFi on the {hardware} stage did not hassle me a lot, so I moved ahead with this simpler method.

Opening Up the X201

To entry the WiFi card, you may must take away the keyboard and touchpad palm relaxation cowl. It’d sound daunting for newcomers however I guarantee you it is vitally easy. These machines have been constructed throughout a time when Lenovo anticipated their customers to tinker with their gadgets and constructed them with modular parts in thoughts. But one more reason for my resolution to swap this laptop computer for my extra “locked down” X260.

Observe: I am undecided how essential that is, however I made positive to set my WiFi {hardware} toggle change into the “ON” place earlier than doing any of the opposite steps.

You may observe the very lovely visible directions supplied by Lenovo beneath. Simply keep in mind to all the time energy off you machine and take away the battery earlier than tinkering.

Unscrew the main keyboard and touchpad screws on the back of the laptop

Gently push the keyboard towards the screen to remove

The keyboard cable is very fragile, remove it carefully

Slide the palm rest down and away from the laptop to remove safely

Remove the two screws on the WiFi card to access it

See Also

Electrical Tape Fixes Every little thing

Now that the WiFi card has been safely faraway from its port (you probably don’t must disconnect the cables although!) it’s time to block PIN20.

On the Centrino Superior-N 6200 card PIN20 is situated on the again facet, for the reason that entrance is designated to all odd-set pins. You will want to chop a ridiculously skinny piece {of electrical} tape to cowl this single pin. I discovered this half to be essentially the most taxing of my persistence throughout your complete course of. Simply preserve considering completely satisfied ideas and you are able to do it!

My hacky electrical tape job on PIN20

As soon as it’s on PIN20, place your card again into its port, rebuild you X201, pop in your battery and boot up! If issues have been performed correctly, your WiFi ought to now be rock stable.

Better of all, you do not have to fret about by chance toggling your WiFi toggle change – it does nothing! Mine is definitely set within the “OFF” place on a regular basis now.

Take pleasure in much less flaky WiFi.

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