[davewho1]

My old laptop died, so I bought a "new" one at a yard sale (HP Pavilion ZE5300) - 10 years old . Got it running pretty good after I cleaned a bunch of crap off and out of it.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have a wireless antenna . It came with a Netgear PCI wireless card - which the seller said didn't work, and I had a 2Wire one that was never used.

I can't get EITHER one to work - DL'd drivers for each one, etc. but neither one will even light up. Either something (firewall/antivirus?) is blocking them from working, which is what some of my research indicates, or the slot is bad.

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[DaleM]

I thought PCI cards fit in a computer slot? You talking PCI card or PCMCIA adapter?

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

Make sure the PCMCIA card you have is compatible with the laptop, I seem to remember there being a some difference in devices, some 16 bit and some 32 bit. If the card slot wont work you may be able to find a USB 1.1 wireless adapter that will work.

 

[davewho1]

I thought PCI cards fit in a computer slot? You talking PCI card or PCMCIA adapter?

A PCI card, Dale - like the attachment.

Jonathan - that is the next step, gonna try a few more things first.

Thanks!

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

That is a PCMCIA card.

 

[davewho1]

OK, obviously I don't know what the hell I'm doing here.

 

[Mike]

I'd start here - http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/manualCategory?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&document=&product=353507

Could be that the PCMCIA slot isn't enabled or just missing a driver.

 

[davewho1]

Thanks, Mike. Some of those I had installed already, some I hadn't. Still no joy.

Next question - how do I enable that slot?

Thanks again!

 

[DaleM]

Ever get your PCMCIA slot to activate?

 

[davewho1]

Nope.

Apparently there is a problem with the " 'O2Micro OZ6912' PCMCIA Card Controller Driver" which I can't find a solution to at the HP site. Seems to have been an issue with other manufacturers' laptops also.

Since it's WAY out of warranty it looks like they want people to pay to talk to their tech line. That ain't happening. :noway: I may try a USB wireless card if I can't get this going soon.

 

[DaleM]

I just bought a couple of Linksys AE3000 units for a local business and they seemed to be working just fine. About $50 (each I should add.)

 

[davewho1]

That's not in the budget, Dale - but thanks!

I'm trying to make what I have already work, and it's pretty dang tedious. :boring:

 

[davewho1]

I got one of these:

http://www.edimax.com/en/produce_detail.php?pd_id=347&pl1_id=1

instead at WalMart online for $11 - working good so far.