USB-2 PC-Card for X2*

[graywolf]

I got a cheap Cardbus USB 2.0 adapter for my X24 off ebay, but it does not run in USB 2.0. The enhanced USB drivers do not load. XP Pro SP3 keeps saying that it has installed the best drivers. It did not come with any instructions or drivers. It has the NEC chips in it.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Also I do not understand how you are supposed to use that cord with a USB connection on one end and a power connection on the other???

[graywolf]

Every driver download site including NEC's sends me to Microsoft. But what ever I do XP will not load the Enhanced Host drivers. Oh it wants to search my desktop for missing drivers, but that does not help find them for the Thinkpad. Of course I have a WiFi PC-Card connecting that to the internet, but off that is and either or situation, WiFi or the USB2 card. I tried with a ethernet connection but that did not work either. The crappy problem here is I know just which driver I need, only I can not figure any way to get it.

NEC Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller

is what I need, what is showing is

NEC PCI to USB Host Controller
NEC PCI to USB Host Controller

I am about to take a hammer to this thing.

[virge]

May be you've already tried this, but a Google search comes up with this:

http://members.driverguide.com/driver/d ... rid=126485

I've had good luck with this website when it comes to obscure drivers, but can't personally vouch for this one.

Re the cord that came with your card: One end plugs into your laptop's built-in USB and the other to your USB 2.0 adapter. It supplies extra current. The card by itself won't have enough current to power some devices.

[graywolf]

So that is how the cord is supposed to work? Not much use on the X24 then because it is not long enough to reach either of the USB 1.1 ports.

That site wants $3 to download the driver. Not a problem if I know the card is then going to work, but good money after bad if it doesn't. I have discovered that I can not even write a file to my flash drive off the thing. Flash works fine with the onboard ports. In fact I have discovered that the old drive in the usb box works off the old ports if the laptop is plugged in. I would say that is what I get for buying a no-brand piece of junk, but from what I read on the net the name brand ones are the same, just cost more. SIGH!

[virge]

The cable is only required if your USB device uses more current than the card can put out. I mainly run flash drives and haven't had a problem even with lowest rated USB ports.

The driver download site gives you several options. One is to pay the fee. The other is to click through some ads (about 10 or so) and then download it for free. Being cheap, I usually go through the ads.

[fixup]

The best USB2 PCMCIA adapter is the CompUSA branded NEC card. It is very compact, only half inches extruded, very acceptable. The driver is built in XP, once I plug it into my X20, it sees it and works right way, true plug&Play. Had been using it with my Libretto for 10 years and now use it in my X20. Its black color matches X20 perfectly. My DVB-S is USB2 only, so I have to use a USB2 adapter.