USB Card Bus

Forum: Laptops
Topic: USB Card Bus
started by: Dan Jania

Posted by Dan Jania on Jan. 03 2006,19:37

To whomever finds this message:

I am getting started with DSL on a 1998 laptop. I do not have any USB ports but would like to try using a Pen drive and possibly boot from there. I found a page here for wireless support but not much for other PCMCIA cards. Anyone know what may be compatilbe with DSL or have any luck themselves with a USB Cardbus?

Thank you very much to anyone who responds! 'Hope your New Year has started right!

Posted by roberts on Jan. 03 2006,19:56

The issue is booting from pcmcia devices.
I have a pcmcia with two USB 2.0 ports and can use them OK with old laptop. But not booting from them.
You can also grab a CF card and use a CF-Pcmcia adapter and use it for storage as well, but cannot boot from there.
I have as a project to make a two-floopy pcmcia boot set. But I have too many pokes in the fire at the moment. Just as I would think that a two floppy set to boot and support old scsi devices should not be such a big task either. I don't have scsi to test with, but I do have a CF-PCMCIA setup that I will do in time.

Posted by Dan Jania on Jan. 03 2006,21:21

Thanks for your info. In that case do you have any recommendations if I were to install to the hard disk, but still wanted USB ports on a card for a wireless mouse or wireless network from a pendrive? How possible is this in DSL? Thanks. Have a great day.

Posted by roberts on Jan. 03 2006,22:23

Yes it is possible. I am using a Zonet 2-Port USB Cardbus.
On one of the ports is a usb Netgear MA111 wireless.
Everthing is working on a frugal installed hard drive.

Be sure that you old lappy can support cardbus. I have been told that cardbus has a gold colored end while pcmcia is silver.

YMMV