Thinkpads Forum

I got a very cheap 390X recently, and the CardBus slots don't work. PCDoctor says the CardBus controller can't be found.

I don't think it can be disabled in the BIOS, so is there a chance it's just the card slot assembly, or does it need its system board replaced?

And if so... do you have an extra one?

What Windows are you using? for me I'm using a ThinkPad 560X and had Windows 95 on it along time ago untill I upgraded to XP Home. if your using Windows 9X check to see if its not disabled. You can also When powering on the ThinkPad pressing Q as soon as you power it on it should open EasySetUp and check the PC hardware there. I Think all ThinkPads have the EasySetup builtin below the year 1999. and a 390 is a 1999 ThinKPad I beleave. You can also check your bios Version there too, and download it from here http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... SHY-45XN9C

Thanks, ThinkPad560X.

I tried XP and several versions of Linux. Easy Setup and the regular BIOS are both entered by pressing F1 at power on, and this machine has a BIOS.

I have the latest BIOS firmware on the machine.

Okay I don't know if it will work but did you try Windows update on Windows XP? And I use ThinkVantage System Update on all my ThinkPads I own, You can maybe try that. It scans the ThinkPad for the drivers it needs and also updated Driver versions. And if that don't work. Do you know how to open it? All my ThinkPads I own your able to remove the PCMCIA "Express slot" dock. You can find them cheap on ebay. I found 2 for you,http://cgi.ebay.com/THINKPAD-390-390e-3 ... .m20.l1116

Thanks again. I have had the machine apart, and re-seated the PC card slot assembly. I don't think there's a controller in there, so I fear replacing the slots won't do anything. I installed all updates from Microsoft and all the latest drivers.

I was hoping someone who has had a 390X (or any 390) would have some wisdom for me since this is a pretty specific and technical issue.

Usually in ThinkPads, the PC Card Controller is implemented in a chip of it's own.
From what I have noticed, always a chip from Texas Instruments (TI).
I would expect that chip to have between 64 and 144 legs located on all four sides of the chip.
It's the kind of chip that a ThinkPad designer would pick as a first choice, when looking for something to hide below something else.
Most likely, it can be found somewhere near the connector, onto which the PC Card Slot Assembly attaches - on any side of the board.