HELP: Can't get PCMCIA USB 2 cards to work

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

In comp.sys.laptops Richard <> wrote:
: I now have two such cards (one Belkin and one OEM) and one expensive
: Adaptec combo USB/firewire card.

: They all install OK, but then do nothing. They don't see anything that
: I plug into them

: I originally got the Belkin to go with a Belkin USB2 multi card
: reader, but as soon as I plug in the reader, the whole system freezes
: and crashes! One would assume that two items from the same
: manufacturer would at least co exist, let alone work.
: I should add that the reader works OK on USB1

: I read somewhere that one should disable legacy USB in the BIOS, but
: mine doesn't have such option. It;s a HP Omnibook XE3.

Uh...are you sure the cards are really installed correctly? After you
re-boot and go into device manager, do you see any devices with yellow
(!) next to them? There could be a device conflict of some sort.
Could you try disabling the USB 1 ports in device manager?

Have you tried getting the latest drivers for the computer or chipset
from HP? For the card(s) from the manufacturers?

Are you following instructions with the install CD that came with the
card(s) and not simply instaling drivers when Windows prompts you?

FWIW, I don't need to disable my legacy USB in my BIOS to use my
USB2.0 PC Card (D-link - works flawlessly) with my Toshiba Satellite
1415. I use both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports at the same time.

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

In comp.sys.laptops Martin Slaney <slaz@dsl.niet_spampipex.com> wrote:
: Richard wrote:

: > I now have two such cards (one Belkin and one OEM) and one expensive
: > Adaptec combo USB/firewire card.
: >
: > They all install OK, but then do nothing. They don't see anything that
: > I plug into them

: Quite likely to be a power issue.

: Even though these cards may claim (or imply) that they can supply power
: to USB devices, try the same devices with their own power supplies.
: And/or try using a cable to supply power _to_ the card from a USB or
: PS/2 port.

: One of my cardbus->USB cards can't even supply power to a mouse !

That's interesting. I've found my D-link USB 2.0 PC Card can supply
enough power not only for my infrared mouse but also to a card reader
using either a microdrive or a CF card. I use my card reader almost
every day and have never had a problem with power. Many PC Cards have the
provision for an external power supply to supply +5v but mine does not
- yet I have never needed it. Devices that draw serious power off the
USB port may indeed need the external supply, though.

Andrew
--
----> Portland, Oregon, USA <----
*******************************************************************
----> http://www.bizave.com <---- Photo Albums and Portland Info
----> To Email me remove "MYSHOES" from email address
*******************************************************************