Many older laptops have a "WiFi Whitelist" in the BIOS. This prevents the laptop from booting if a WiFi card not approved by the manufacturer is installed.

Avoid "paid BIOS" scams. Here are legitimate sources:

These model numbers typically correspond to specific laptop chassis designs. Clevo, a Taiwanese OEM, manufactures barebone laptops that are rebranded by companies like Sager, Eurocom, and ProStar.