Inactive upper pcmcia slot in a T22

[macman2905]

Hi Forum

First post, trying to resurrect an elderly T22 for mother-in-law, so got to make a good effort! The upper PCMCIA slot does not work. Device manager says it is working OK. I have taken the laptop apart and checked all the pins and connectors and couldn't see anything obvioulsy broken. I have seen a thread on this forum suggesting that the top slot might not be a standard PCMCIA slot, but an Express54 slot. Can anyone tell me how I can find out if both the slots are PCMCIA or something else? They both look exactly the same, the TI 1540 cardbus drivers appear to be the latest available. Bit out of my depth so please if you can help, treat me like an novice, it's not far from the truth!

Ta very much

Mac

[nikki605]

Both PCMCIA slots on my T21 (same mobo as your T22) work. I routinely plug a Netgear wireless card in the bottom slot and a Belkin USB 2.0 2-port card in the top slot (see my sig for specific card models). The problem could be a bad component on the mobo.

[Majestic]

Mac,

Try reseating the PCMCIA assembly on the motherboard. I had a similiar problem a while back with a ThinkPad 390x. I found that the assembly wasn't completely seated even though the screws appeared tight. After reseating and tightening the screws both slots were working again.

[macman2905]

Many thanks for your helpful replies Gary A and Majestic. I have re-seated and tightened the PCMCIA assembly, but sadly no change. I was very impressed with the quality of the internal components and how easy it was to do, these old Thinkpads really were quite special weren't they. Sadly no change on the dead slot. I had a hunch that no power was getting through to the upper slot, could that be it?

I need the upper slot working for a USB 2.0 card just like yours Gary. I have a Belkin wirelss network card in the lower slot. Running XP Pro. Do you know which version of driver your have on your cardbus controller? I think it's the Texas Instruments 1540, but I don't have the T22 with me at work so can't be sure.

Thanks

Mac

[TTA]

need a new PCMCIA slot assembly let me know, I have a stack of dead T2x series here, I don't mind talking one out and shipping it as long as you don't mind paying a little for my time, packaging and postage. $10.00 total?

[macman2905]

That is very thoughtful TTA (Jim?) I will have a word with the owner. Did you notice I live in the United Kingdom? $10 doesn't sound like enough to ship it, let alone compensate you for your time and effort.

Do you know of a way to check if mine is faulty, or if the problem lies elsewhere?

[nikki605]

Do you know which version of driver your have on your cardbus controller? I think it's the Texas Instruments 1540, but I don't have the T22 with me at work so can't be sure.

Thanks

Mac

I just checked my cardbus controller:

Texas Instruments PCI-1450 CardBus Controller
Driver Provider: Microsoft
Driver Date: 07/01/2001
Driver Version: 5.1.2600.0

Good luck!

[macman2905]

Thanks Gary.

[TTA]

That is very thoughtful TTA (Jim?) I will have a word with the owner. Did you notice I live in the United Kingdom? $10 doesn't sound like enough to ship it, let alone compensate you for your time and effort.

Do you know of a way to check if mine is faulty, or if the problem lies elsewhere?

no but $15.00 should cover it, it's light and can go first class.
If you need the chassis PM me, I have a T23 torn apart for Harryc anyway, not too much work to get out the slots at this point.
other than a bad pin or the slot on the mother board being cracked (I've seen that with laptops several times when say one it dropped with a card in it and it lands on the card) I don't think I've ever seen just one slot bad.