~Toughbooktalk~

I've a couple of CF-17 Mk1s that I bought 10 years ago and then didn't do anything with them. Now I've upgraded the memory on both and using a Hp USB-DVD player, installed Win2000 sp4 on one and am trying to figure out why the PCMCIA port doesn't work. I'm currently using a USB wifi adapter but would like to use a PCMCIA wifi adapter. The PCMCIA wifi adapter that I have works fine under Win 98 but while the port drivers seem to be working under Win2000, nothing I put into the slot is recognized.

Thanks for any insights, -john-
http://www.loram.org

I have played with my CF-17 some, but haven't got back to it yet. I would have to open it back up but I think you can rob the M-pci slot out of a newer CF-M34 and install it. I would have to double check again, I do plan to go back and add more 17 info to the M34 thread later on.

http://toughbook.wikispaces.com/cf-m34

That is the link to the old wikispace pages, lots of info on the older units in there. I used it as a reference on some of the info used in the M34 thread.

Some of the older OS's may not have the correct PCMCIA drivers installed. But since you are using sp4 you should have the drivers for that put in.

One other thing to consider is what cardbus version of the card are you using? The PCMCIA cards have two basic categories, one is a 16 bit and the other 32 bit. The slots should be backwards compatible, but a 16 bit slot cannot "see" a 32 bit device. I ran into speed issues on this on a CF-28 using a older card, you may be using newer style cards in the older slots.

http://www.hpcfactor.com/support/cesd/h/0037.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Card

Thanks for the response. I just want to use the external PCMCIA slot. It would be cool but too much trouble to try and use the internal m-pci slot.

The PCMCIA card that I'm trying to use works on the CF-17 when I run it under win98, so I sure it's neither the wrong type of card nor a bad card. WIN2000 Device Manager says the the Intel PCI-1450 controller is "functioning correctly", and that's the controller for the PCMCIA slot, so I'm at a loss for a reason why the system is not detecting the PCMCIA wifi adapter when it is plug into the slot. Even if I didn't have the correct driver for win2000 (which I do) the system's new hardware detector should at least respond by asking for the driver to be installed. Instead, nothing happens.

I suspect I've done something lame, but haven't figured it out. thanks again,
-john-
www.loram.org

If it works under 98 then it should work fine under 2000. Since nothing is working I would think the problem would be by some Mis-configuration or in correct driver. Have you tried completely uninstalling it in device manager and reloading those drivers?

I have about 15 CF-M34s mk2 /mk1 here to play with and i discovered the swap possibility between a CF-m34 mk2 and mk1. Concerning the Cf-m34s you can easy swap the mini-pci slot of the mk2 and put it in a mk1. Then you can use the mini-pci slot for a nice wifi-card. This keeps your pcmcia slot free for other expansions... The wifi-antennas for the mini-pci card can be connected to one of the rubber covers on the right side (or on several other places....)

I dont know if the Cf-m34 is the same as the CF17....

The 17 is pretty much a M34. I think there were a few very small differences in the motherboard. Other than that nothing is different besides being painted black from the factory. I think I could put M34 Mk7 guts into a 17 model.

MasterBlaster2039 "...Then you can use the mini-pci slot for a nice wifi-card...."

Do you have a recommendation for a mini-pci wifi-card that are know to work in these machines (CF-17/34 Mi1)?

thanks, -john-

I only tested the standard Combo card (network and modem) that is also in the Mk3 700Mhz machine. That works okay.

Didnt test any wifi cards yet. But I guess that most mini-pci cards will work.

On the CF-T1 and CF-28 I used 3com cards. They are short, and antenna is spring loaded allowing you to close the door (on the 28 or on the case of the T1 it was flush with the side).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3COM-11A-B-G-PC ... 5d35c5d2f9

Ador, as a coincidence, i bought 10 of these 3Com cards in december 2012.. they work okay. And fit nicely. Another handy thing is: When you close / push the antenna inside, the card turns itselve off, so doesnt eat any power of your batteries.