Dell Latitude PCMIA's failure

[hdtv?]

I was given a Dell Latitude ~4 years old. The laptop had been carried with
the wireless card in the PCMIA slot.
The wireless card was very evidently damaged and the laptop would not
completely boot up. Once the card was removed
the laptop boots ok to Win XP.

I tried two other wireless cards (known good) in the slots, one of these
cards also caused the laptop to not boot.

The device manger indicates the PCMIA slots are working ok.

If the PCMIA slots are damaged can they be repaired?

I have not pulled the laptop apart. I know there are USB wireless devices as
an alternative to the wireless card.

 

[hdtv?]

I was given a Dell Latitude ~4 years old. The laptop had been carried with
the wireless card in the PCMIA slot.
The wireless card was very evidently damaged and the laptop would not
completely boot up. Once the card was removed
the laptop boots ok to Win XP.

I tried two other wireless cards (known good) in the slots, one of these
cards also caused the laptop to not boot.

The device manger indicates the PCMIA slots are working ok.

If the PCMIA slots are damaged can they be repaired?

I have not pulled the laptop apart. I know there are USB wireless devices
as an alternative to the wireless card.

Additionally, other than using known good PCMIA cards, is there another
method to test the slots?

 

[Andy Cuffe]

I was given a Dell Latitude ~4 years old. The laptop had been carried with
the wireless card in the PCMIA slot.
The wireless card was very evidently damaged and the laptop would not
completely boot up. Once the card was removed
the laptop boots ok to Win XP.

I tried two other wireless cards (known good) in the slots, one of these
cards also caused the laptop to not boot.

The device manger indicates the PCMIA slots are working ok.

If the PCMIA slots are damaged can they be repaired?

I have not pulled the laptop apart. I know there are USB wireless devices as
an alternative to the wireless card.

It sounds like the PCMCIA card connector was damaged. Usually these
can be replaced without too much trouble (they usually plug into the
motherboard instead of being soldered to the board). I believe you
can find parts diagrams on Dell's web site. A quick google search, or
even ebay should find a replacement.

I highly recommend 3Com's "X-jack" wireless cards because the antenna
is retractable. Even if you drop the laptop on its side, the spring
loaded antenna just pushes into the card with no damage.
Andy Cuffe

[email protected]

 

[Gerard Bok]

I was given a Dell Latitude ~4 years old. The laptop had been carried with
the wireless card in the PCMIA slot.
The wireless card was very evidently damaged and the laptop would not
completely boot up. Once the card was removed
the laptop boots ok to Win XP.

I tried two other wireless cards (known good) in the slots, one of these
cards also caused the laptop to not boot.

The device manger indicates the PCMIA slots are working ok.

If the PCMIA slots are damaged can they be repaired?

First thing to do: check if your laptop supports PCMCIA (only) or
CARDBUS also.

Most --but not all-- Wifi cards are Cardbus cards and will only
operate in a PC that supports Cardbus.
(Cardbus cards are commonly identified by a copper strip on the
outside, near the connector.)

If your PC does not support Cardbus, you will need to find a
(non-cardbus) Wifi PCcard.

 

[Geoffrey S. Mendelson]

Most --but not all-- Wifi cards are Cardbus cards and will only
operate in a PC that supports Cardbus.
(Cardbus cards are commonly identified by a copper strip on the
outside, near the connector.)

Most of the cards say on them 3.3 volt 32 bit (CARDBUS) or
5 volt 16 bit (PCMCIA). The PCMCIA cards will work in a CARDBUS
slot, but not the other way around.

If your PC does not support Cardbus, you will need to find a
(non-cardbus) Wifi PCcard.

The best of those is the Orinoco aka Wavelan SILVER or gold cards.

You can find an upgrade program for the Silver cards which will upgrade
them to Gold. Avoid the Bronze ones.

Geoff.

 

[hdtv?]

I was given a Dell Latitude ~4 years old. The laptop had been carried with
the wireless card in the PCMIA slot.
The wireless card was very evidently damaged and the laptop would not
completely boot up. Once the card was removed
the laptop boots ok to Win XP.

I tried two other wireless cards (known good) in the slots, one of these
cards also caused the laptop to not boot.

The device manger indicates the PCMIA slots are working ok.

If the PCMIA slots are damaged can they be repaired?

I have not pulled the laptop apart. I know there are USB wireless devices
as an alternative to the wireless card.

Thank you for the replies!

 

[[email protected]]

I repaired mine after it fell on the card while it was still in the
computer.
The card pushed the frame into the computer-not by an obvious
amount-but enough to break the connector that the frame is plugged
into. It also broke a couple of the metal parts that the screws from
below the MB secure to.

I removed the frame - 4 screws from below;
swapped the 2 rear metal pieces from side to side and straightened
some other metal parts - and carefully glued the connector on the
motherboard together.
the ends split so that the contacts were not making on the frame
fingers. I had to look closely to see that it was split.
To my surprise it worked reliably .... until the USB ports went out
and I had to replace the motherboard.

good luck

 

[Andy Cuffe]

First thing to do: check if your laptop supports PCMCIA (only) or
CARDBUS also.

Most --but not all-- Wifi cards are Cardbus cards and will only
operate in a PC that supports Cardbus.
(Cardbus cards are commonly identified by a copper strip on the
outside, near the connector.)

If your PC does not support Cardbus, you will need to find a
(non-cardbus) Wifi PCcard.

Most, if not all, 3.3 v cardbus cards are keyed so that they can't be
plugged into a 5v PCMCIA slot.
Andy Cuffe

[email protected]