The USB ports on my old laptop are broken so I bought a PCMCIA card that has 2 USB ports and inserted in the laptop’s PC Card slot. I tried to use my Belkin Surf & Share USB Wireless Adapter in this PCMCIA card but it won’t work. It looks like the PCMCIA card and the USB adapter are recognized.
What can I do next?
On 03/24/2013 09:16 PM, llsushis wrote:
>
> The USB ports on my old laptop are broken so I bought a PCMCIA card that
> has 2 USB ports and inserted in the laptop’s PC Card slot. I tried to
> use my Belkin Surf & Share USB Wireless Adapter in this PCMCIA card but
> it won’t work. It looks like the PCMCIA card and the USB adapter are
> recognized.
>
> What can I do next?
What does ‘lsusb’ show?
Let me correct something first. One of the USB ports is completely broken off. The other works once in a while. I have the PCMCIA USB card installed.
Here’s the output:
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
On 03/25/2013 07:46 PM, llsushis wrote:
>
> lwfinger;2540568 Wrote:
>> On 03/24/2013 09:16 PM, llsushis wrote:
>>>
>>> The USB ports on my old laptop are broken so I bought a PCMCIA card
>> that
>>> has 2 USB ports and inserted in the laptop’s PC Card slot. I tried
>> to
>>> use my Belkin Surf & Share USB Wireless Adapter in this PCMCIA card
>> but
>>> it won’t work. It looks like the PCMCIA card and the USB adapter are
>>> recognized.
>>>
>>> What can I do next?
>>
>> What does ‘lsusb’ show?
>
> Let me correct something first. One of the USB ports is completely
> broken off. The other works once in a while. I have the PCMCIA USB
> card installed.
>
> Here’s the output:
> Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
> Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
> Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
> Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
> Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
> Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
> Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Was your wireless card installed in the adapter when you did this?
Further to Larry’s advice, capture the dmesg output when the card is plugged in. BTW, is it really a PCMCIA card, or a newer PCI ExpressCard?
If you boot with the card plugged in (as opposed to hotplugging say), are the USB ports active one the system is up?
No, the USB wireless adapter was not plugged in at the time. I have to tell you that I cannot find a way to unmount it - if I unplug it it freezes the laptop.
Here’s the output with the USB wireless adapter plug in to the PCMCIA card:
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 050d:845a Belkin Components F7D2101 802.11n Surf & Share Wireless Adapter v1000 [Realtek RTL8192SU]
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Do you want me to hotplug it then take the dmesg output or can I boot with the card plugged in?
The card is 54mm, 68-pin, 32-bit, type-II. That’s what the specs say. That’s PCMCIA, correct?
I leave the card in all the time. Both USB ports on the card work with other USB devices (thumb drives, external HDDs, iPod Touch, and Sansa Fuse). The one exception is the wireless adapter.
I should add that the USB wireless adapter worked in both the laptop’s USB ports before I broke them.
On 03/26/2013 01:16 PM, llsushis wrote:
>
> No, the USB wireless adapter was not plugged in at the time. I have to
> tell you that I cannot find a way to unmount it - if I unplug it it
> freezes the laptop.
>
> Here’s the output with the USB wireless adapter plug in to the PCMCIA
> card:
> Bus 005 Device 002: ID 050d:845a Belkin Components F7D2101 802.11n Surf
> & Share Wireless Adapter v1000 [Realtek RTL8192SU]
> Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
> Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
> Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
> Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
> Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
> Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
> Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
The latter is what is important. This output provides the critical information
that you PCMCIA adapter is passing at least enough info to recognize the USB card.
The correct driver for your card is r8712u. For firmware, it needs file
/lib/firmware/rtlwifi/rtl8712u.bin. If that file does not exist, then install
the kernel-firmware package.
Yes, that file is present in that directory. The USB wireless adapter was working fine prior to me breaking the ports on my laptop. (In case you’re wondering… I was making space on my desk and the laptop, sitting on a sheet of paper, slid off while my wireless adapter and external HDD were connected. :’()
On 03/26/2013 02:46 PM, llsushis wrote:
>
> Yes, that file is present in that directory. The USB wireless adapter
> was working fine prior to me breaking the ports on my laptop. (In case
> you’re wondering… I was making space on my desk and the laptop,
> sitting on a sheet of paper, slid off while my wireless adapter and
> external HDD were connected. :’()
You could have saved some time by reporting that the wireless was working before
the USB ports broke.
There are at least two possibilities: (1) The wireless adapter was broken in the
accident, or (2) your PCMCIA adapter does not work when you use the wireless. In
either case, you need to look at the output of the dmesg command. Boot the
computer with the wireless card unplugged. After bootup is completed, then plug
in the wireless and enter the command ‘dmesg’. All mention of the wireless will
be near the end of the output. You can post that part.
My sincerest apologies. I did not intend to waste your time. I really appreciate your help. In my ignorance I did not know what was pertinent and I did not want to fill up space with irrelevant information. So let me back up a little… One of the laptop’s (HP n620c) USB ports work intermittently. I’ve tried the wireless adapter in other machines, desktops and laptops, both Linux (Ubuntu and Puppylinux) and Windows (XP and 7), and it worked in all of them. Is there anything else that I should provide?
Here’s the dmesg output after inserting the card:
137.100168] pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket0: pccard: CardBus card inserted into slot 0
137.100212] pci 0000:03:00.0: [1033:0035] type 00 class 0x0c0310
137.100251] pci 0000:03:00.0: reg 10: [mem 0x00000000-0x00000fff]
137.100381] pci 0000:03:00.0: supports D1 D2
137.100390] pci 0000:03:00.0: PME# supported from D0 D1 D2 D3hot
137.100438] pci 0000:03:00.1: [1033:0035] type 00 class 0x0c0310
137.100471] pci 0000:03:00.1: reg 10: [mem 0x00000000-0x00000fff]
137.100594] pci 0000:03:00.1: supports D1 D2
137.100602] pci 0000:03:00.1: PME# supported from D0 D1 D2 D3hot
137.100641] pci 0000:03:00.2: [1033:00e0] type 00 class 0x0c0320
137.100674] pci 0000:03:00.2: reg 10: [mem 0x00000000-0x000000ff]
137.100797] pci 0000:03:00.2: supports D1 D2
137.100804] pci 0000:03:00.2: PME# supported from D0 D1 D2 D3hot
137.100846] pci 0000:03:00.0: BAR 0: assigned [mem 0x8c000000-0x8c000fff]
137.100861] pci 0000:03:00.1: BAR 0: assigned [mem 0x8c001000-0x8c001fff]
137.100875] pci 0000:03:00.2: BAR 0: assigned [mem 0x8c002000-0x8c0020ff]
137.101518] ehci_hcd 0000:03:00.2: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
137.101590] ehci_hcd 0000:03:00.2: EHCI Host Controller
137.101627] ehci_hcd 0000:03:00.2: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 5
137.124131] ehci_hcd 0000:03:00.2: irq 10, io mem 0x8c002000
137.136095] ehci_hcd 0000:03:00.2: USB 2.0 started, EHCI 1.00
137.136170] usb usb5: New USB device found, idVendor=1d6b, idProduct=0002
137.136181] usb usb5: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=1
137.136191] usb usb5: Product: EHCI Host Controller
137.136199] usb usb5: Manufacturer: Linux 3.4.33-2.24-default ehci_hcd
137.136207] usb usb5: SerialNumber: 0000:03:00.2
137.136624] hub 5-0:1.0: USB hub found
137.136639] hub 5-0:1.0: 5 ports detected
137.183138] ohci_hcd: USB 1.1 ‘Open’ Host Controller (OHCI) Driver
137.183206] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
137.183263] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
137.183274] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: OHCI Host Controller
137.183307] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 6
137.183362] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: irq 10, io mem 0x8c000000
137.266079] usb usb6: New USB device found, idVendor=1d6b, idProduct=0001
137.266093] usb usb6: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=1
137.266104] usb usb6: Product: OHCI Host Controller
137.266112] usb usb6: Manufacturer: Linux 3.4.33-2.24-default ohci_hcd
137.266120] usb usb6: SerialNumber: 0000:03:00.0
137.266554] hub 6-0:1.0: USB hub found
137.266571] hub 6-0:1.0: 3 ports detected
137.266783] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.1: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
137.266852] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.1: setting latency timer to 64
137.266863] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.1: OHCI Host Controller
137.266888] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.1: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 7
137.266940] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.1: irq 10, io mem 0x8c001000
137.349917] usb usb7: New USB device found, idVendor=1d6b, idProduct=0001
137.349932] usb usb7: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=1
137.349942] usb usb7: Product: OHCI Host Controller
137.349950] usb usb7: Manufacturer: Linux 3.4.33-2.24-default ohci_hcd
137.349959] usb usb7: SerialNumber: 0000:03:00.1
137.350396] hub 7-0:1.0: USB hub found
137.350413] hub 7-0:1.0: 2 ports detected
On 03/26/2013 04:16 PM, llsushis wrote:
> My sincerest apologies. I did not intend to waste your time. I really
> appreciate your help. In my ignorance I did not know what was pertinent
> and I did not want to fill up space with irrelevant information. So let
> me back up a little… One of the laptop’s (HP n620c) USB ports work
> intermittently. I’ve tried the wireless adapter in other machines,
> desktops and laptops, both Linux (Ubuntu and Puppylinux) and Windows (XP
> and 7), and it worked in all of them. Is there anything else that I
> should provide?
OK, the wireless adapter still works.
In your dmesg output, I saw no evidence of the wifi card, only the PCMCIA
adapter. If the USB card was plugged in, it obviously does not work with your
new converter.
The wireless adapter must be damaged. I did it again and the wireless adapter now shows up in the dmesg output.
141.696157] pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket0: pccard: CardBus card inserted into slot 0
141.696202] pci 0000:03:00.0: [1033:0035] type 00 class 0x0c0310
141.696242] pci 0000:03:00.0: reg 10: [mem 0x00000000-0x00000fff]
141.696372] pci 0000:03:00.0: supports D1 D2
141.696381] pci 0000:03:00.0: PME# supported from D0 D1 D2 D3hot
141.696429] pci 0000:03:00.1: [1033:0035] type 00 class 0x0c0310
141.696462] pci 0000:03:00.1: reg 10: [mem 0x00000000-0x00000fff]
141.696585] pci 0000:03:00.1: supports D1 D2
141.696593] pci 0000:03:00.1: PME# supported from D0 D1 D2 D3hot
141.696632] pci 0000:03:00.2: [1033:00e0] type 00 class 0x0c0320
141.696665] pci 0000:03:00.2: reg 10: [mem 0x00000000-0x000000ff]
141.696788] pci 0000:03:00.2: supports D1 D2
141.696795] pci 0000:03:00.2: PME# supported from D0 D1 D2 D3hot
141.696838] pci 0000:03:00.0: BAR 0: assigned [mem 0x8c000000-0x8c000fff]
141.696853] pci 0000:03:00.1: BAR 0: assigned [mem 0x8c001000-0x8c001fff]
141.696867] pci 0000:03:00.2: BAR 0: assigned [mem 0x8c002000-0x8c0020ff]
141.697504] ehci_hcd 0000:03:00.2: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
141.697573] ehci_hcd 0000:03:00.2: EHCI Host Controller
141.697610] ehci_hcd 0000:03:00.2: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 5
141.720115] ehci_hcd 0000:03:00.2: irq 10, io mem 0x8c002000
141.732090] ehci_hcd 0000:03:00.2: USB 2.0 started, EHCI 1.00
141.732166] usb usb5: New USB device found, idVendor=1d6b, idProduct=0002
141.732177] usb usb5: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=1
141.732187] usb usb5: Product: EHCI Host Controller
141.732196] usb usb5: Manufacturer: Linux 3.4.33-2.24-default ehci_hcd
141.732204] usb usb5: SerialNumber: 0000:03:00.2
141.732620] hub 5-0:1.0: USB hub found
141.732636] hub 5-0:1.0: 5 ports detected
141.786585] ohci_hcd: USB 1.1 ‘Open’ Host Controller (OHCI) Driver
141.786652] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
141.786710] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
141.786721] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: OHCI Host Controller
141.786754] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 6
141.786803] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.0: irq 10, io mem 0x8c000000
141.869998] usb usb6: New USB device found, idVendor=1d6b, idProduct=0001
141.870012] usb usb6: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=1
141.870023] usb usb6: Product: OHCI Host Controller
141.870031] usb usb6: Manufacturer: Linux 3.4.33-2.24-default ohci_hcd
141.870039] usb usb6: SerialNumber: 0000:03:00.0
141.870455] hub 6-0:1.0: USB hub found
141.870473] hub 6-0:1.0: 3 ports detected
141.870683] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.1: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
141.870754] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.1: setting latency timer to 64
141.870765] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.1: OHCI Host Controller
141.870790] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.1: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 7
141.870837] ohci_hcd 0000:03:00.1: irq 10, io mem 0x8c001000
141.953920] usb usb7: New USB device found, idVendor=1d6b, idProduct=0001
141.953934] usb usb7: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=1
141.953945] usb usb7: Product: OHCI Host Controller
141.953953] usb usb7: Manufacturer: Linux 3.4.33-2.24-default ohci_hcd
141.953961] usb usb7: SerialNumber: 0000:03:00.1
141.954396] hub 7-0:1.0: USB hub found
141.954413] hub 7-0:1.0: 2 ports detected
149.668159] usb 5-1: new high-speed USB device number 2 using ehci_hcd
149.803944] usb 5-1: New USB device found, idVendor=050d, idProduct=845a
149.803956] usb 5-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
149.803966] usb 5-1: Product: Connect Wireless USB Adapter
149.803974] usb 5-1: Manufacturer: Manufacturer Realtek
149.803982] usb 5-1: SerialNumber: 00e04c000001
149.897824] r8712u: module is from the staging directory, the quality is unknown, you have been warned.
149.900486] r8712u: DriverVersion: v7_0.20100831
149.900535] r8712u: register rtl8712_netdev_ops to netdev_ops
149.900543] r8712u: USB_SPEED_HIGH with 4 endpoints
149.903029] r8712u: Boot from EFUSE: Autoload OK
150.847621] r8712u: CustomerID = 0x0000
150.847634] r8712u: MAC Address from efuse = 94:44:52:88:81:f5
150.847642] r8712u: Loading firmware from “rtlwifi/rtl8712u.bin”
150.847749] usbcore: registered new interface driver r8712u
@lwfinger. Hi. I’m not sure how this works since I’m new to asking for help in a forum… if there’s no response, does that mean we’re done?
On 03/28/2013 02:36 PM, llsushis wrote:
> @lwfinger. Hi. I’m not sure how this works since I’m new to
> asking for help in a forum… if there’s no response, does that mean
> we’re done?
I did not see a question there. If the device is damaged, I would not trust it.
Okay. Thanks so much for your time and effort. I’ll replace it.
Is there a PCMCIA card you could recommend? Or would it be worthwhile to get another USB wireless adapter since it would mean starting this process over again?
On 03/28/2013 03:46 PM, llsushis wrote:
>
> lwfinger;2542246 Wrote:
>> On 03/28/2013 02:36 PM, llsushis wrote:
>>
>>> @lwfinger. Hi. I’m not sure how this works since I’m new to
>>> asking for help in a forum… if there’s no response, does that mean
>>> we’re done?
>>
>> I did not see a question there. If the device is damaged, I would not
>> trust it.
>
> Okay. Thanks so much for your time and effort. I’ll replace it.
>
> Is there a PCMCIA card you could recommend? Or would it be worthwhile
> to get another USB wireless adapter since it would mean starting this
> process over again?
If you want 802.11g, then the Linksys WPC54G card will work. I see them on E-bay
for $5 - 9 US.