Windows 7: PCMCIA Problems

I have a Dell Latitude E6500 with a recent install of Windows 7 Ultimate RC. I have downloaded the most recent drivers for two different PCMCIA wireless ethernet cards. One is a WPC4400N Linksys and one is a Netgear WG511 v2. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the cards, I've tried using each companies proprietary control program, and both cards still give me an error in device manager saying "This device cannot start. (Code 10)" I have searched in vain to try and find some sort of fix for this but have been unsuccessful in finding anything that matches the error I'm getting. I have even updated the driver for the Ricoh PCMCIA card manager. Any help that someone more experienced with Windows 7 can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Magi

Si hoc legere, scis nimium eruditionis habes.

Hello magidad, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums. We're Glad you're here!

The one critical piece of info you left out of your specs (nice job of filling that in - that is appreciated!) is whether you are using the 32 bit or 64 bit version of Windows 7. It makes a difference.

As there is not yet a Windows 7 hardware compatible site to check, we rely on the Vista site. Most hardware compatible with Vista will work with 7. Look here:

Windows Vista Compatibility Cisco WPC4400N Wireless-N 300Mbps Draft 802.11n PCMCIA Adapter

The Linksys WPC4400N is checked off as 32 bit compatible but not 64 bit. There are a couple of links there you can research.

The Netgear WG511 v2 appears to be compatible with both, so I would check the "manufacturer link" here:

Windows Vista Compatibility Netgear NETGEAR WG511 Wireless-G PC Card - network adapter

as you should be able to find a working driver. I would suggest you start with the default Windows driver and then try the driver from the link provided. Please let us know how it goes.

Happy surfing!

Robert

Magidad

Since you also have a dell I wondered if you have enabled the wifi by using Fn+F2. With that disabled the wifi cannot start with any driver.

Ken

Guys, I appreciate your input thus far and look forward to your continued support. I'm running a 32 bit version on my intel core duo 2 processor. The Fn+F2 key is some sort of battery function that doesn't seem to do anything. On this particular model, there is a switch on the side for the wifi power on and off as well as a button that probably resets the wifi modem, however since this notebook doesn't have an internal wifi card, that switch seems to do nothing. I have tried to use the default windows drivers for both cards as well as the specific driver from the manufacturer for both, but to no avail. The error message I'm getting doesn't leave me much in the way of information as far as why the device cannot start. If anyone has any other pieces of advice, please send them, I'm frustrated as all get out here.

Magidad