Hi,

I read a message about PC Cards/PCMCIA in archives -- that posting was
related to power source. (The 'no-name' PC Card I purchased came with
a cord, but to a PS2 mouse port -- which neither of these notebooks
has... therefore, not useful...)

I bought a PCMCIA 2 Port USB 2.0 (evidently NEC) -- I have tried it in
both a Toshiba Satellite 2400 & a Dell Inspiron 8600. Looks like
installed ok as USB ports (device manager) -- but when I test the USB
port out by inserting a thumb drive, the thumb drive does not show up
in Windows Explorer (but the thumb drive does show up if I insert in
the USB drives on the notebook themselves.)

I'm helping a friend upgrade her Toshiba so that she can use a Maxtor
external drive.

Ideas appreciated.

dzinn

dzinn <dzinndzinn2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
: Hi,

: I read a message about PC Cards/PCMCIA in archives -- that posting was
: related to power source. (The 'no-name' PC Card I purchased came with
: a cord, but to a PS2 mouse port -- which neither of these notebooks
: has... therefore, not useful...)

: I bought a PCMCIA 2 Port USB 2.0 (evidently NEC) -- I have tried it in
: both a Toshiba Satellite 2400 & a Dell Inspiron 8600. Looks like
: installed ok as USB ports (device manager) -- but when I test the USB
: port out by inserting a thumb drive, the thumb drive does not show up
: in Windows Explorer (but the thumb drive does show up if I insert in
: the USB drives on the notebook themselves.)

: I'm helping a friend upgrade her Toshiba so that she can use a Maxtor
: external drive.

: Ideas appreciated.

Hmm. I got a USB 2.0 PC Card from D-Link that does not even provide for
an external power source. I am aware of the limitation that devices
that require power from the USB port may not work. But so far, the
few devices I have tried (CF card reader with microdrive, USB mouse)
that don't have external power supplies have worked just fine.
Perhaps your thumb drive requires too much power (unlikely) from the
USB port?

And my TDK DVD burner, which has its own power source, also works
fine. I'm guessing a Maxtor external hard drive will also be
self-powered and would with this kind of card also.

Have you tried other USB devices besides the thumb drive in the new
card? Which operating system do these laptops have?

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

First of all, most all USB 2 chips are NEC
That being said, Win98 needs drivers
XP is plug and play but you do need service pack one, do the Windows
Update and you will find some USB 2.0 packs
Sounds like it has installed as USB 1.0,a nd of course it will not
work properly that way

On 3 Jan 2004 01:12:24 -0800, dzinndzinn2002@yahoo.com (dzinn) wrote:

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for your comments!

I have a USB mouse that I could try to see if the USB port works with
that -- good idea... I don't have any other USB items at the moment
(travelling).

Guess I should get brave & open the Maxtor box & give it a try. But
I'm doing this for a friend & worried that I won't get re-imbursed if
the Maxtor doesn't work. Think I'll give them a call & ask if I
should go ahead.

Maxtor does have its own power source.

I'm on Windows XP Pro.

All help greatly appreciated.
dzinn

usenetMYSHOES@bizaveMYSHOES.com (Andrew) wrote in message news:<zcasdrkruaxcfy2784645400609@bizaveMYSHOES.co m>...

Hi,

I have the exactly the same problem with my Dell 5150 notebook with Xp
Home. The OS recognize the pc card, but when I plug in a mouse onto
the usb port, nothing happen. But when I plug the power cord to the
ps2 port and it works fine....hm.. I thought the pc card could draw
enough power without the any external power to run the mouse.

scosgt@worldnet.att.net (Bruce Markowitz) wrote in message news:<3ff73d9b.1591041@news-server.optonline.net>...

tim <tim_law@hotmail.com> wrote:
: Hi,

: I have the exactly the same problem with my Dell 5150 notebook with Xp
: Home. The OS recognize the pc card, but when I plug in a mouse onto
: the usb port, nothing happen. But when I plug the power cord to the
: ps2 port and it works fine....hm.. I thought the pc card could draw
: enough power without the any external power to run the mouse.

It's the voltage, not the power. A PC Card slot can't supply 5 volts
that USB specifies. I'm guessing 3.3v is supplied but may not work
with some unpowered devices. I know that my Logitech LED mouse works
fine off of my unpowered D-link USB card. Perhaps some mice can work
with 3.3v, others can't.

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