Laptop pcmcia follies

clbrunson · 12-10-2005, 04:00 AM

I have recently purchased an older (4 yo) laptop and am looking to add USB to it. However, it appears to have a slightly different slot than all the available usb cards on the market. I have two cards for it now (class "b" wireless and ethernet) and both of those have a groove on the side of the card that is narrower than the cards I have tried from several different companies. Otherwise, the two types appear to be identical. What do I do? I refuse to give up on it but I absolutly must have USB. Any thoughts? Thanks

shupola · 12-10-2005, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clbrunson

I have recently purchased an older (4 yo) laptop and am looking to add USB to it. However, it appears to have a slightly different slot than all the available usb cards on the market. I have two cards for it now (class "b" wireless and ethernet) and both of those have a groove on the side of the card that is narrower than the cards I have tried from several different companies. Otherwise, the two types appear to be identical. What do I do? I refuse to give up on it but I absolutly must have USB. Any thoughts? Thanks

ok, first of all, you said that the card "appears" to be different. did you actually see it in person, or online? also, can you post a pic or link of the cards you have now and the usb card you wanna get? it would give us a better idea of what you mean.
does this look like what you have?

clbrunson · 12-10-2005, 06:21 AM

Yes, that is the type of card I have but the ridge on the corner is different on my cards compared to the one I just bought and all the others that I have looked at since trying to find a card that fits. I would post pics of what I have but my camera is USB

Have you heard of this problem before and more importantly, is there a card out there that I can buy that will work with this computer? BTW this is a Digital HiNote VP 500 (about 4 years old).

shupola · 12-10-2005, 06:36 AM

ok, so this is the computer you have?

and here are the specs of it.

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/legacysupp...500_specs.html

if you scroll down to where it says cardbus, it says it is compatible with type I, II, and III 32bit pc cards.

here is a type II 32bit card that should be compatible with your computer. btw it is the one in the pic i posted.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815124011

hope this helps you out.

clbrunson · 12-10-2005, 06:58 AM

Unfortunatly, while it may say that it is compatable with type II cards, it doesn't seem to be. The card will not enter the slot all the way without being forced and if it is forced, the eject button doesn't pop out and the computer doesn't recognize anything in the port. Also, when I removed the card, the ridge on the side that is visable on your pic had been indented by being forced indicating that the ridge was too wide as my older cards would suggest. I have already tried a card similar to the one you have sugested that is why I am trying to get help. Compusa and Circuit city say they don't have what I'm looking for and in fact have never even heard of such a thing. "Buy a new laptop" was their advice. I had hoped that I could get better advice here.

clbrunson · 12-10-2005, 07:41 AM

OK, I just tried another type II card and if you rock the card back and forth it will go into the slot but the computer still doesn't see anything in the slot. Also, the power light on the card never came on but the two other cards I have for it work great. I checked out the specs page you linked to and sure enough this computer should be compatable with current cards but it isn't. I do appreciate your help btw.

LaptopExtreme · 12-10-2005, 03:40 PM

It could be that the slot is broken. I've seen plenty. It could've broke when you forced it in or it could've been broke to begin with. So nothing registers? even in Windows detection? If I do recall, those ancient Hi-Notes were only Win95 or WinNT. I believe your PC card is only MS Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP.

shupola · 12-10-2005, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaptopExtreme

It could be that the slot is broken. I've seen plenty. It could've broke when you forced it in or it could've been broke to begin with. So nothing registers? even in Windows detection? If I do recall, those ancient Hi-Notes were only Win95 or WinNT. I believe your PC card is only MS Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP.

well, maybe its a driver issue? maybe you could check the manufacturer website and see if they have drivers for your os. what card do you have and we will help you look. or you could upgrade your os, if they still make windows2000

clbrunson · 11-30-2007, 03:22 PM

BTW, I hate to dig up such an incredibly old thread, but I came across it completely by accident while doing a Google search.

Come to find out, the 32 bit card slot was an option. This notebook had actually come with a 16 bit slot. The two are virtually identical. Only the last 1/8-1/4" of the groove is different. Unfortunatly for me, NO usb can run on a 16 bit bus so the notebook was useless. I have since decided to get with the times and have bought two brand new ones since. That might explain why I haven't been back! Thanks for all your help anyway.

12-10-2005, 04:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
clbrunson New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 5	Laptop pcmcia follies I have recently purchased an older (4 yo) laptop and am looking to add USB to it. However, it appears to have a slightly different slot than all the available usb cards on the market. I have two cards for it now (class "b" wireless and ethernet) and both of those have a groove on the side of the card that is narrower than the cards I have tried from several different companies. Otherwise, the two types appear to be identical. What do I do? I refuse to give up on it but I absolutly must have USB. Any thoughts? Thanks

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12-10-2005, 06:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
clbrunson New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 5	Yes, that is the type of card I have but the ridge on the corner is different on my cards compared to the one I just bought and all the others that I have looked at since trying to find a card that fits. I would post pics of what I have but my camera is USB Have you heard of this problem before and more importantly, is there a card out there that I can buy that will work with this computer? BTW this is a Digital HiNote VP 500 (about 4 years old).

12-10-2005, 06:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
shupola Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Nowheresville, U.S. Posts: 1,033	ok, so this is the computer you have? and here are the specs of it. http://h18007.www1.hp.com/legacysupp...500_specs.html if you scroll down to where it says cardbus, it says it is compatible with type I, II, and III 32bit pc cards. here is a type II 32bit card that should be compatible with your computer. btw it is the one in the pic i posted. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815124011 hope this helps you out.

12-10-2005, 06:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
clbrunson New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 5	Unfortunatly, while it may say that it is compatable with type II cards, it doesn't seem to be. The card will not enter the slot all the way without being forced and if it is forced, the eject button doesn't pop out and the computer doesn't recognize anything in the port. Also, when I removed the card, the ridge on the side that is visable on your pic had been indented by being forced indicating that the ridge was too wide as my older cards would suggest. I have already tried a card similar to the one you have sugested that is why I am trying to get help. Compusa and Circuit city say they don't have what I'm looking for and in fact have never even heard of such a thing. "Buy a new laptop" was their advice. I had hoped that I could get better advice here.

12-10-2005, 07:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
clbrunson New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 5	OK, I just tried another type II card and if you rock the card back and forth it will go into the slot but the computer still doesn't see anything in the slot. Also, the power light on the card never came on but the two other cards I have for it work great. I checked out the specs page you linked to and sure enough this computer should be compatable with current cards but it isn't. I do appreciate your help btw.

12-10-2005, 03:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
LaptopExtreme VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 880	It could be that the slot is broken. I've seen plenty. It could've broke when you forced it in or it could've been broke to begin with. So nothing registers? even in Windows detection? If I do recall, those ancient Hi-Notes were only Win95 or WinNT. I believe your PC card is only MS Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP.

11-30-2007, 03:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
clbrunson New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 5	BTW, I hate to dig up such an incredibly old thread, but I came across it completely by accident while doing a Google search. Come to find out, the 32 bit card slot was an option. This notebook had actually come with a 16 bit slot. The two are virtually identical. Only the last 1/8-1/4" of the groove is different. Unfortunatly for me, NO usb can run on a 16 bit bus so the notebook was useless. I have since decided to get with the times and have bought two brand new ones since. That might explain why I haven't been back! Thanks for all your help anyway.