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Question

PCMCIA Wireless Card

by Dec 6, 2012 3:27AM PST

I am running XP home on a older Sony Vaio laptop. I've used a Linksys wireless card to access the internet, but after years of sticking out the side of the computer, it broke, and I replaced it with a Netgear WG511v2 unit. The computer will not recognize the card in either slot, so of course it's not showing up on the system tray. I haven't uninstalled the Linkysys software, thinking I may have to use my USB device in worst case. The Netgear software setup went fine until I was told to insert the card, then nothing proceeded after that. Device Driver says the slots are working as they should, so what could the problem be? Is there a driver that I can update? Microsoft Update says that everything is current when I check that. I've tried everything I know to try, and am getting frustrated with my lack of success. Any suggestions?

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
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Answer
I'd uninstall the old driver
by Dec 6, 2012 3:33AM PST

In my experience, when you switch from WiFi adapter to another, you have to get rid of the old driver and any software that came with it. That's not always easy, and I don't claim to have all the answers, but I'd start with Device Manager and uninstall the Linksys driver there, then go to Control Panel and uninstall any other WiFi software, then install the driver for the Netgear adapter.

Good luck.

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Answer
The WG511v2 is not PCMCIA but a PC-Card
by Former Forum moderator Dec 6, 2012 3:56AM PST

While the form factor is the same, PC-Cards rarely function in PCMCIA slots. Do you have an USB port?
Bob

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It worked before
by valleyrider Dec 6, 2012 11:33PM PST

Yes, I have USB ports and am using a Linksys USB network adapter on another computer to get online. The PCMCIA slot worked fine for the old Linksys WPC54GS with no problems. My computer seems to be not recognizing the slot, since neither the new or old card shows up.

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I only have your words.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Dec 7, 2012 12:57AM PST

PC-Cards do not function in PCMCIA slots. That's a fact. If it worked before then you have a PC-Card slot and it's true that PCMCIA cards usually work in PC-Card slots.

I would not have to state this if you had supplied the model number of the laptop as I would go get the specs.

Repair of such slots is done by a few ways. First we restore the OS to it's factory load to see if it's an OS or driver issue. If that fails we swap out the motherboard. That always cures it.

-> Due to the costs most folk go get some USB stick.
Bob

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Sorry for lack of info
by valleyrider Dec 7, 2012 1:37AM PST

Thank you for your patience. I seem to be in a little over my head, and may have passed on incomplete info to you that was given to me. The laptop is a Sony PCG-955A, admittedly an older model but one that I can't afford to replace just now. The Netgear Wireless PC card is a WG511v2 that says it works in any available PCMCIA or CardBus slot. This is where the old Linkysys card worked. I went with the same type card because that was what I was familiar with, but may have to abandon that and go the USB route. Thanks for your help.

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Sorry about that.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Dec 7, 2012 1:43AM PST

I'm an older electronics designer that did do PCMCIA designs long ago. In most cases we don't have to worry about PCMCIA or PC-Card differences but as you lead off with the statement it was PCMCIA I had to go with that. Then I went to check out the WG511v2.

-> This can get confusing to many as they used the PCMCIA card slot form factor and not all documents were cleaned up to detail what is what.

Page 49 of the manual at http://www.docs.sony.com/release/PCGFX120.PDF writes "Using PC Cards"

This laptop has a PC-Card slot which will be fine with PC-Cards and most PCMCIA cards.

-> Sorry it took this long to find the model number but when this happens we have the usual fixes.
Bob

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Answer
It's worth a try.
by Dec 6, 2012 11:34PM PST

I'll give it a try and see if that helps, but I'm not getting the new hardware found when I plug it in, which seems to indicate that the PC has no way of finding it.

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