USB / Firewire Combo PCMCIA card generates class 10 errors

May 24, 2005 5:11 PM

Sorry to bother people but I'm at my wit’s end and desperate for help. I've bought a CardBus PCMCIA card with 2x USB2 ports, 1x 1394 firewire 6 pin, 1x 1394 firewire 4 pin for my laptop from eBay. It was supplied without documentation and a copied CD with USB 2.0 drivers. I'm running a Dell Latitude C640 with Windows 2000 SP4. I have today updated my BIOS and am running the most recent set. Windows update reports that my OS is fully up to date. Upon inserting the card Windows auto-detected the device. Inserting USB devices (camera and iPod) doesn't bring them up and interestingly the iPod isn't charging. After 8 hours of grappling with VIA USB drivers I’ve hit a brick wall. Under USB controllers in the device manger the following are listed: Standard Universal PCI to USB Hub USB Root Hub USB Root Hub USB Root Hub VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller VIA USB Universal Controller VIA USB Universal Controller All now appear to have the right driver installed but VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller lists a Code 10 error saying that it can't start. I've downloaded the Microsoft USB2.0 hotfix as well as the VIA USB2.0 2.60 drivers all to no avail. Does anyone have any idea as to what I could do?
posted by dmt to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

Two things:

1. Power. Are your devices demanding too much? Is there a DC-in socket on the card? One test to see if it's a power issue is to plug a powered hub into it, then see if things can connect. I wouldn't expect the iPod to be able to charge off that 6-pin socket without some sort of extra power source.

2. Are you plugging things into the card before you plug in the card? Some versions of Windows choke if a device has other devices connected when you plug it in. I have a USB SM/CF card reader that won't start if I have a card inserted when I plug it in.

From memory, Code 10 strongly implies point two. Though it can also be linked to unavailable resources. If you have any other stuff plugged into USB ports or PCMCIA slots, try removing them. If you have ports built-in to the laptop that you don't use, try turning them off in the BIOS.
posted by krisjohn at 5:22 PM on May 24, 2005

Going along with the power idea, if I remember correctly, CardBus is basically standard 'old' PCMCIA with more voltage. Are you sure you've got the CardBus card in a CardBus slot? (For that matter, are you sure the laptop has a CardBus slot?)

I also would not rule out a bad card. It sounds like it's second-hand. It would not be unheard of for it to be recognized and (mostly) installed by Windows, but not work.
posted by attercoppe at 7:51 PM on May 24, 2005

Re: the iPod not charging. I have a similar PCMCIA Firewire/USB2.0 card. Mine can only charge through the Firewire port if you plug an AC adapter into a special socket on the side of the card. I think it's because PCMCIA can't route enough power from the computer for Firewire.
posted by alidarbac at 7:53 PM on May 24, 2005

attercoppe: You can't plug a cardbus card into a non-cardbus slot -- there's a little piece of plastic at the front of the card that stops it.

I didn't think cardbus was more voltage (though you probably mean amps, but I didn't think it was that either). Cardbus is all about high speed data transfer, if memory serves, without needing CPU control.
posted by krisjohn at 10:19 PM on May 24, 2005

If you're plugging into the "small" firewire port, that won't charge since that doesn't provide power. Only the "big" one does. If you're plugging into the USB port, then I don't know. . . :-)
posted by BrandonAbell at 11:23 PM on May 24, 2005

Try Experts Exchagne: http://www.experts-exchange.com/
posted by ori at 2:44 AM on May 25, 2005

krisjohn: That's right, it's a wider bus, not more power. I haven't kept up on some of these "newer" standards like I should. How about this: if your laptop supports cardbus, it should have at least a USB 1.0 port built in. Try your USB camera and iPod conectors in that. I'm still leaning towards a bum card.
posted by attercoppe at 5:32 PM on May 26, 2005

Response by poster: Can I say thanks to all you you. Turns out the issue was in fact power - the card came supplied with a power lead which plugs into the PS2 port which I hadn't plugged in. I have and now it works. Cheers all.
posted by dmt at 6:34 AM on May 29, 2005