HELP: PCMCIA slot works sometimes....very strange

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Hey,

I have Sony 505 laptop that's a few years old. I was using wireless via
an Orinoco wireless pcmcia card....until I dropped it. The Orinoco
stopped being recognized by the laptop, so I replaced it with a D-Link
wirless card. That wasn't recognized, either. However, when I plug a
3COM 10/100 OfficeConnect NIC card in (for testing), the laptop
recognizes the card and prompts for the driver installation.

Strange.

Under XP's Device Manager, the PCMCIA Adapter appears to be "working
properly".

Any suggestions on how to get a wireless PCMCIA card working in this
laptop?

Thanks!!!

-Gwenn

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Thanks for the response. Do you think replacing the PCMCIA slot will
help?

Thanks,

Gwenn


In article <G6Kdnf24_oeXBIvcRVn-sg@comcast.com>, quaoar@tenthplanet.net
says...
> Gwen Angelheart wrote:
> > Hey,
> >
> > I have Sony 505 laptop that's a few years old. I was using wireless
> > via an Orinoco wireless pcmcia card....until I dropped it. The
> > Orinoco stopped being recognized by the laptop, so I replaced it with
> > a D-Link wirless card. That wasn't recognized, either. However,
> > when I plug a 3COM 10/100 OfficeConnect NIC card in (for testing),
> > the laptop recognizes the card and prompts for the driver
> > installation.
> >
> > Strange.
> >
> > Under XP's Device Manager, the PCMCIA Adapter appears to be "working
> > properly".
> >
> > Any suggestions on how to get a wireless PCMCIA card working in this
> > laptop?
> >
> > Thanks!!!
> >
> > -Gwenn
>
> Just a guess, but when you dropped the unit, the internal contacts to
> the pins required for the wireless were severed; the LAN card uses fewer
> pins and those remained intact.
>
> Q
>
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Quaoar wrote:
> Gwen Angelheart wrote:
>> Thanks for the response. Do you think replacing the PCMCIA slot will
>> help?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Gwenn
>>
>>
>> In article <G6Kdnf24_oeXBIvcRVn-sg@comcast.com>,
>> quaoar@tenthplanet.net says...
>>> Gwen Angelheart wrote:
>>>> Hey,
>>>>
>>>> I have Sony 505 laptop that's a few years old. I was using
>>>> wireless via an Orinoco wireless pcmcia card....until I dropped
>>>> it. The Orinoco stopped being recognized by the laptop, so I
>>>> replaced it with a D-Link wirless card. That wasn't recognized,
>>>> either. However, when I plug a 3COM 10/100 OfficeConnect NIC card
>>>> in (for testing), the laptop recognizes the card and prompts for
>>>> the driver installation.
>>>>
>>>> Strange.
>>>>
>>>> Under XP's Device Manager, the PCMCIA Adapter appears to be
>>>> "working properly".
>>>>
>>>> Any suggestions on how to get a wireless PCMCIA card working in
>>>> this laptop?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks!!!
>>>>
>>>> -Gwenn
>>>
>>> Just a guess, but when you dropped the unit, the internal contacts
>>> to the pins required for the wireless were severed; the LAN card
>>> uses fewer pins and those remained intact.
>>>
>>> Q
>
> AFIK, replacing the PCMCIA slot requires a new mainboard, it is not a
> separately replaceable item. You might take your query to the
> unofficial Sony support forum for a second opinion:
> http://pub173.ezboard.com/bunofficialsony
>
> Q

I had a slot malfunction on my Compaq that turned out to be due to the
screws that hold the PC Cardunit to the mainboard coming loose.

I'd open the case and have a look see, or get a flashlight and magnifier and
take a peek in the PC Card slot and see if anything's loose. Could even be
a bit of debris that got jarred around after the drop.
--

Mike Russell
www.geigy.2y.net