USB 2.0 PC Card Freezes Notebook

[Skippybox]

When it was new, my USB 2.0 Cardbus PC Card Adapter worked fine. Now when I
attempt to insert it into its slot, my notebook just freezes up. I am forced
to reboot. Everything is fine afterwards, as long as I don't have the card
in. I have always been running XP SP2, even when the card worked. What is
causing this? Is this a driver problem? Am I allowed to use an updated
driver compatible with Vista?

 

[Chuck]

"Am I allowed to use an updated driver compatible with Vista?"

If the driver is also intended for XP, yes. Otherwise, no. (Assuming that
you are running XP.)

Some drivers have unique versions for Vista and XP, some use the install
process to configure for the version in use.
A very few were intended for XP, but will work with Vista if you can fool
the install process. This can involve changing registry entries to tell the
installer that the ops version is XP, then changing them back immediately
after the install before reboot. (And, don't do this unless you know for
sure that it will work, and you have a current full backup of the system.)

You might just have a hardware problem. I'd start by cleaning the
connectors.

 

[Skippybox]

I'm going to say there probably isn't an updated driver for this, unless it
comes from Microsoft. I tried cleaning the connectors as best I could, but
they are inside a notebook. The card's look clean. Could the card simply be
cheap and broken?

 

[Mick Murphy]

You should not get 3rd party hardware Drivers from MS.
Always go direct to the Manufacturer's website to download their drivers.

And do NOT try and put Vista drivers in a XP machine.

 

[donatwave]

My answer may not be related to your problem. But I'm passing this on for you
to check. I bought a USB Turbo 2.0 cardbus from ADS tech and it kept
freezing my mouse/laptop when I tried to use it. Found out that the package
did not include a necessary power adapter to make it run. (I did not notice
the small connection hole on the cardbus). Goodluck!

Don

 

[Skippybox]

The original and updated 3rd party setup program for my device does not
provide drivers for XP. Documentation reads:

"Microsoft EHCI drivers for Windows XP are not included in this package due
to legal concerns. Please install Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 before
running the setup program. SETUP.exe will redirect the user to Microsoft
Windows Update for downloading the drivers, please make sure internet
connection is set up."

If I'm running SP2, I would assume I'm up-to-date.

What else can I do? What other reason would the device cause the computer
to stop responding?

 

[Skippybox]

I have a small connection hole on my cardbus as well, but no power adapter
came with it. I had assumed this was an optional upgrade, if your ports
needed more power than was being provided by the cardbus. Thanks for the
tip, but the card did work before without an adapter, and I don't load it up
with that much. I can't even get it to plug in empty of attached devices
without it freezing the laptop.

 

[CrazySaguaro]

Have you tried uninstalling the device in the Device Manager, restarting the
PC, plugging in the card and seeing if it still freezes the system?

 

[Skippybox]

If I can't plug in the device, how do I uninstall it in Device Manager, if it
isn't listed there? Is it possible to show devices that aren't in use, but
are installed? Thank-you!