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How to get PXE boot capablility on Inspiron B130
I have my brother's old Dell Inspiron B130 laptop. I need to use it to practice for my Microsoft Windows 7 Configuration exam. I need to do PXE boot. My brother's laptop was made in 2006, which my instructor says was not the pre-PXE dark ages.
This computer does not appear offhand to be a dinosaur with putty on it. I upgraded to 2 gigs of RAM, not possible on most second hand Dell computers to be found in these parts, and I just successfully installed Windows 7. (The video won't support Aero, so whatever.)
BIOS has a NIC boot option in the boot sequence, but it does not have the marking that it says indicates that this device is bootable.
The manual has the term PXE in the glossary, which suggests it ought to be an available feature.
BIOS does not appear to have a separate place to enable booting from the network.
The computer has onboard NIC. It has a wireless miniPCI card, entirely enclosed (if I replaced it with a wired PCI card the lid would cover it, and it's in the middle of the back of the computer).
The NIC adapter is Broadcom Corp, BCM440x 100BaseTX Fast Ethernet.
BIOS is Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS version 1.10 A09 for Dell, 06/29/2006.
The computer also has an Express Card slot.
First, would a bios uppdate enable booting from the NIC. It's not generally a good idea to update BIOS if it isn't necessary or if it won't solve the problem.
Second, I understand that PXE boot IS a NIC function. Is there any way on this laptop to add a NIC that was produced in this century. I can see that the onboard NIC is likely soldered to the board, but on desktops you can always add a network interface card. Is there a way to add a min PCI card with a NIC interface?
Thanks!
ejn63
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May 30th, 2014 13:00
The system should be able to boot from a network server if you've placed that option first in the boot list.
You can't add an internal wired network interface -- and while you can add one in the Express Card socket, it may not be bootable (I don't think consumer-grade systems like this one ever had that option).
villandra
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May 31st, 2014 07:00
Thanks for your reply, EJN63. As I mentioned, this computer has the option in the boot menu in BIOS but it is not enablable. Or wasn't when I looked.
I did update BIOS. It didn't use the boot from network option when I booted so I doubt anything changed.
However it turned out that pressing F12 when the machine boots up works.
My instructor thought this option should appear on any recent computer, and a problem with this computer is it isn't recent. However the associated wake on LAN option would require a machine designed to be used in a business network, as distinct from a machine built for home use as cheaply as possible.
Honest, when I merely ASSEMBLED Dell computers, I was quite proud to be working for Dell. It was good training, but the computers aren't worth much. That isn't strictly a Dell problem, though Dell annoys Austinites by flooding the market of secondhand computers here. Dell is just a tad bit more efficient than HP and Lenovo at doing the same exact thing . I am of course much happier with my home built machine, that would have cost a thousand or more to buy.
I'm rapidly becoming disillusioned with laptops as well, though ordinarily I think of a laptop as strictly for portable and temporary purposes. (I won't even own one of them tablets.)
Dora