Can we upgrade our X300 6478-1TU with open-line 3G/HSPDA modem?

I bought a Lenovo Thinkpad x300 (6478-1TU) in US and want to upgrade it with an embedded Sierra Wireless MC8775 PCI Express Mini Card specified in Lenovo's Hardware Manual which is compatible with the 3G GSM service provider system where I am based, in the Philippines.
I emailed Sierra Wireless to purchase this product but this is their reply:
Thank you for your inquiry.  Please note that our MC PCI express line of mini cards are embedded modules that are only available for integration into hardware applications, they are not available for end user purchases.  The MC cards we offer are not finished products, therefore cannot be put into regular PCI card slots.
In addition, all embedded slots on Laptops have a proprietary BIOS and cannot be re-provisioned by consumer, thus these would not work in your unit.  My suggestion is that you contact your Laptop manufacturer for alternate solutions.
This is very disappointing since I bought this laptop assuming the SIM Card slot by the battery can be used and just had to be upgraded by a 3G modem like the MC8775. I did not order the customized ones offered optional under Verizon or Cingular because these are locked to the respective providers only.
I am in the Philippines and want an open line modem for flexibility when travelling abroad. 
From the parts list:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-69​373.html
The location of the MC8775 (number 3) should be on the opposite side of the Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (number 6) - Installation is back to back, I guess this is difficult to install but possible to do.
Is it true about the BIOS? Isnt there any BIOS upgrade or only a driver installation needed?
Can Lenovo assist us with this upgrade? I am willing to send my laptop to China, Siongapore or Hongkong or back to US if my laptop can have this embedded mini card. 
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Lenovo has some awesome videos here which show you how to install parts. The hardware manual is also a very useful resource. The WWAN card is one of the easier to get at... but don't forget about the antenna! I have no idea what antenna is pre-installed in your system. If you remove the keyboard, as in the videos, you should see your WWAN slot and any pre-installed antenna. If there is a WWAN antenna there, you are golden. It is possible to retrofit an antenna, but it is tricky. The LCD disassembly/reassembly video shows it.
The only guaranteed way to get WWAN would be to find a way to get Lenovo to do it. Doing it yourself, you take some risks. Your warranty becomes void. You may have problems with the installation. It may or may not work in the end.
Lastly, for everyone else reading this thread bananaman's WWAN rule:
If there is even just a tiny chance that you will ever use it, order your ThinkPad with WWAN factory-installed!
The incremental cost is only about +/-$100, depending on the model. In the current ThinkPad models, Retrofitting WWAN is not easy, not cheap, and risky.
That said, maybe someone out there who has actually done the retrofit can chime in with some advice...
I don't work for Lenovo. I'm a crazy volunteer!

Similar Messages

  • Can I upgrade our Photoshop elements 11 to 13 and download it to our laptop and desktop computers?

    Can I upgrade our Photoshop Elements 11 to 13 and download the upgrade to our desktop and laptop computers? 

    Hi Lute,
    You should be able to do that exactly as Jon said – although for the first time in many years, Adobe's Black Friday deals out for 2014 don't include any specials for Photoshop Elements...  It looks like they are focusing more on the CC product line with the offers.

  • I just bought ilife11 from a friend and tried to install it but it says I need to have 10.6 or later.  I have 10.5.4.  Can I upgrade to the latest version with a "download" ?

    i just bought ilife11 from a friend and tried to install it but it says I need to have 10.6 or later.  I have 10.5.8.  Can I upgrade to the latest version with a "download" ?

    entatty5 wrote:
    ... snow leopard, which I don't have.  Do I have to go program upgrade  by upgrade? I can't just go from 10.5.8 to the latest?  Thanks for the help.
    You need Snow Leopard before you can go to Lion...
    Check that your Mac meets the System Requirements...
    Snow Leopard Specs:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/SP575
    Lion Specs:
    http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html

  • Re: Can't upgrade Qosmio X300-130 to Win 7 64bit

    Hi.
    is it not possible to upgrade my X300-130 to Windows 7?
    It says that the BIOS does not allow 64-bit.
    Please answer.
    Alex.

    Thats really strange.
    I had X300 last year and I got it with Vista 32 and 64bit versions. I have upgraded it to Windows7 and later I have installed clean Win7 using original Microsoft installation disc so I must say that it must work.
    Do you use original Microsoft Windows 7 installation disc?
    Which BIOS version is installed? The latest one maybe?
    General speaking there is no big difference between Vista and Windows7 so if it works with Vista 64bit it should also work with Win7 64bit.

  • Can I upgrade to OS 10.5 with this computer and still use OS 9 and more?

    I am NO computer expert, so, I'm wondering if:
    1. Can I upgrade to OS 10.5 (currently using OS 10.3.9) with G4 computer using 450 MHz processor?
    2. Can I still use my old programs (ie Claris 4.0) that switch over to the OS 9 system?
    3. Will this upgrade my Safari so it doesn't quit when I try to make a simple reservation on the Holiday Inn website?
    Or, is this just too old and obsolete and I need to get a new computer? I do not do complicated projects with lots of graphics. So far, I'm not having any trouble using my Kodak EasyShare digital camera with the computer. It's just that Safari that gives me trouble.
    Any advice (upgrade vs new) will be appreciated.

    Hi, lwbusdrvr. Leopard requires at least an 867MHz G4 processor. Yours is barely half that fast. Tiger would run on your computer, and it supports Classic and the current version of Safari.
    But the simplest thing for you to do would be to download the free Camino 1.6.4 or Firefox 2.0.0.17 and use it instead of Safari, without needing to upgrade your OS at all. For links to downloads for each, see my post here.

  • I have a older imac and whin i try to update from 10.6.8 i says incompatible can i upgrade the imac to work with mavericks ?

    can i upgrade my imac 4,1 to run mavricks ?

    No. You can try Lion:
    Upgrading to Lion
    If your computer does not meet the requirements to install Mavericks, it may still meet the requirements to install Lion.
    You can purchase Lion at the Online Apple Store. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax.  It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.
         Lion System Requirements
           1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7,
               or Xeon processor
           2. 2GB of memory
           3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
           4. 7GB of available space
           5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

  • Can I upgrade my 2006 iMac4,1 with Intel Core Duo with 1.5GB memory, 667MHz Bus Speed, 2GHz processor from 10.4.11 to the newer OS systems? I've been told my machine is now "vintage" or obsolete...

    Can I upgrade my 2006 iMac 4,1 with Intel Core Duo w/1/5GB memory, 667GHz Bus Speed, 2GHz Processor Speed to the newer OS systems?
    I have been told my machine is now "vintage or obsolete" and can't be upgraded to the newest OS software.

    The maximum OS for that iMac is 10.6.8.
    (64450)

  • How can I upgrade my iPad first generation with iOS 5 to iOS 6

    HOw can I upgrade my first generation iPad from iOS 5 to iOS 6? Thanks

    It can't be updated past 5.1.1.
    (116349)

  • Can't upgrade to 4.3.3 with err=-3295

    Can't upgrade iOS from 4.2.1 to 4.3.3. The error code is -3295. What does it mean?

    At the present time, the 4.3 update is available for the GSM iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. The iPhone is currently sold in 90 countries - GSM only except in the U.S. where a CDMA model is available for Verizon. So the update is not just available for AT&T so far. It is available for the GSM iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 sold in 90 countries.

  • Upgraded to Exchange 2007 - Problems with opening attachments in e-mail Treo700wx

    We upgraded our server at work to Exchange 2007.  Ever since then, there have been multiple problems, on of which I am not able to open pdf files, excel or word files on my handheld 700wx.  Anyone else have this problem.  Talked with Verizon, they suggested downloading a new version of the pdf viewer.  That didn't work.  Looking for any suggestions.
    Post relates to: Treo 700w (Verizon)

    Hello!
    Since your company is now using 2007, good chance you will need a Windows Mobile 6 and up phone.  Please install this update to get your phone to windows mobile 6.0:
    http://kb.palm.com/wps/portal/kb/common/article/10133_en.html 
    Be sure to follow the instructions on the page. 

  • CAN I UPGRADE MY MAC BOOK PRO WITH LATEST MAC

    I brought a mac book pro in augest 2010 from apple store. Is there any possibility to upgrade my mac book with latest configuration offered by apple? My mac book pro in is very good condition as it is when i brought it. Please let me know regrading this...
    Thanking you

    Apple will not normally buy back old Macs. They do offer a recycling program with the store.  Inquire at your local store.  This is a user to user forum, so no one here can answer for Apple directly, except with what we have experienced as users.
    My website has tips on selling your old Mac*:
    http://www.macmaps.com/selling.html

  • Nforce420: How can I upgrade BIOS on a computer with NTFS and no flopp

    I have a multimedia PC in my living room hooked up to my TV and I am planning to use it as a PVR, MP3 jukebox, DVD player and photo album.
    I build this machine in a small aluminium case, with the minimum components. I chose the nForce as the platform for this machine to minimise the number of components (and noise/heat).
    I'm running Windows XP with NTFS and there is no floppy drive in this system. Do you guys have an idea about how I can upgrade the bios from 2.0 to 2.4 (or 2.6?)?
    Thanks in advance

    Well, if you have any kind of internet connection on the computer, then MSI LiveUpdate is the way to go.  I had the same problem after I didn't quite plug in my floppy right the other day -- the burning smell was exhilirating but my computer was fine.  I have only NTFS partitions too and no floppy, but with an Internet connection it was easy to update the bios.
    For some reason LiveUpdate wanted to tell me that the latest BIOS is 2.4, so if you navigate to C:\Program Files\Setup Files\MS6373v240 and replace the BIOS image files there with the 2.6 ones you downloaded, and run Winflash.exe, it will flash you to 2.6.
    Alternately you could just download all that stuff on another computer and burn a CD with it.  You could make that CD bootable or you could boot off a Win98 startup CD or something and put your CD in after the computer boots up...not really sure how well that would work.
    Winflash has worked fine for me the three times I've used it (from 2.4 to 2.5, then back to 2.4, and now to 2.6).

  • What GPU can I upgrade to that will work with my computer?

    Hello, I am lookign to upgrade my GPU in my HP H8-1234. About a year and half ago I upgraded my Radeon hd 7450 to a XFX radeon hd 7750. The card worked well, just for what I am doing with it (Gaming) it doesn't work as well as I would like. So I recently ordered a Gigabyte gtx 660, at the time I did not know about the bios locks that HP puts on their computers. So now I have the GPU sitting on my desk, useless. Luckily I can return it with no restock fee. The problem with it is that it boots, and then just sits on this screen that say press ESC to enter setup, or something like that. By the way my motherboard is a m3970am-hp. So I guess I have 2 questions.
    1) Is there anything I can do to use the 660?
    2) Assuming that the 660 is useless to me, what GPU is better than my 7750, and is compatible with my motherboard?

    Hi,
    You didn't indicate that you had upgraded your power supply. You need a 500+ watt power supply to power the 660 watt.
    If you had already upgraded your power supply then it's possible that the NVIDIA 660 was flashed for UEFI mode. Your PC is running in legacy mode since you are running WIndows 7.  You can verify legacy mode is enabled in the bios. If this is the case then RMA the NVIDIA 660 back to the video card manufacturer and request that it be flashed or exchanged for a NVIDIA 660 that will run in non-UEFI mode (legacy mode).
    HP DV9700, t9300, Nvidia 8600, 4GB, Crucial C300 128GB SSD
    HP Photosmart Premium C309G, HP Photosmart 6520
    HP Touchpad, HP Chromebook 11
    Custom i7-4770k,Z-87, 8GB, Vertex 3 SSD, Samsung EVO SSD, Corsair HX650,GTX 760
    Custom i7-4790k,Z-97, 16GB, Vertex 3 SSD, Plextor M.2 SSD, Samsung EVO SSD, Corsair HX650, GTX 660TI
    Windows 7/8 UEFI/Legacy mode, MBR/GPT

  • Plez help me!  Can't upgrade 3g to OS 4 with iTunes 10

    Very frustrated and I have tried everything!!  I have read and read on the forums until my eyes are bleeding. LOL

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3694#error1013
    This error usually means that your computer was used to jailbreak or otherwise hack some iDevice (not necessarily the phone with the problem) in the past. You will have to edit the Hosts file and remove any lines that contain gs.apple.com. As you didn't say what your operating system is I can't tell you where to find the Hosts file.
    It's also possible, but less likely, that your firewall or antivirus is blocking access to Apples activation servers.

  • Can we upgrade our iphone 2g into 3g?

    when i download the new ios4 programme or above,the system is able to do so. but i do not have a 2g sim card to use the iphone after while. please tell me any suggestions i can do now.

    currently i have an iphone original. the 1st iphone.
    The latest version of iOS for that model is 3.1.3. The only solution is to get a newer phone. The iPhone 2G (original) will always be 2G and will always end at 3.1.3.

Maybe you are looking for

  • How to create/configure an OVS for a custom BO?

    I have created a new BO with three elements (ID, Name, FilterCriteria). For this BO I created a Query (QueryByElements): - Selection: ID, Name, FilterCriteria - Basic Find: ID, Name - Result: ID, Name, Filtercriteria After this I created an OVS for t

  • CAM Event Log: SNMP trap is received from switch [ ip address ] which is NOT in our database.

    We keep getting thousands of entries in the CAM event log like this: SNMP trap is received from switch [<ip address>] which is NOT in our database. apparently, these aren't NAC'd switches. Why does the CAM see these and how can they be eliminated fro

  • Media Encoder rendering MP4 files with AAC and M4V files leftover

    Hey all, Just a quick question. My computers' media encoder has started rendering mp4 files and leaving the m4v and aac files there once the render is complete. The mp4 is fine but it's a bit anoying and messy that it's not deleting the files afterwa

  • MBA 13", Parallels 6, and Windows 7 Pro installation

    Has anyone else experienced a longer than usual "completing installation" screen when they installed Windows 7 Pro? More specifically, installing Windows 7 Pro (64-bit) onto a flash drive (thumb drive)? I've already "force quit" Parallels once and re

  • Bad Video Output -- with example

    I've seen several people complain about the poor quality of the video output from FCE and this is something I've experienced myself so I'd like to find a solution. When people make these posts about quality, the usual response is that there must be s