USB PC Card Issues w/ WallStreet - FREEZING!

[Maniacintosh]

I have an IOGEAR Cardbus USB 2.0 PC Card for my WallStreet I, which runs Mac OS 9.2.2. When I insert the card, sometimes it's recognized, sometimes it's not, and sometimes the whole PB locks up. If it is recognized, I insert my Flashdrive. It is never recognized, and sometimes locks up the PB. The only way I've been able to use this card is to insert the card before booting WITH the flashdrive plugged in, and even then it occasionally freezes upon accessing the drive. Can anyone help me out? A Pismo is looking mighty appealing right now - a Pismo with tight hinges!!!

 

[Quadraman]

You won't get USB 2.0 recognition in any OS below 10.2.8. That may be part of the problem.

 

[Maniacintosh]

When it works, it just runs as USB 1.1

 

[phreakout]

Maniacintosh, it sounds like an Extension conflict or the OS is at fault. Does it totally lock up without any error alerts? You might also try a reformat and reinstall. While reinstalling, make sure you have just the USB card plugged into the PC Card slot. If this doesn't work, it could be that the USB card isn't compatible.

Give the above a try and update us what you find.

73s 8)

 

[Maniacintosh]

This PB has all kinds of obscure database and networking apps on it - it could very well be an extension conflict. I'll try booting with just the Apple base extensions. I can't really re-install and reformat; I don't have an OS 9.2.2 CD to re-install from.

 

[The Balance Of Judgement]

Could be card vendor issue as well.

 

[Maniacintosh]

I booted with the "OS 9.2.2 Base" set and faced the same troubles. I guess I'll have to send files to and from my mini via Ethernet, then. Does anyone here successfully use another brand of USB PC Card with their WallStreet?

 

[The Balance Of Judgement]

Don't know if you can get these cards where you are, but try a ST Labs card. I believe they use NEC Chipset.

 

[phreakout]

Maniacintosh, you wouldn't happen to have the IOGEAR model GUF-202 (2-in-1) Cardbus w/ Firewire card, right? If it is, IOGEAR states that it works under Mac OS 8.6 or greater (USB version 1.1 for Mac OS 8.6 through 9.2.2, USB Version 2.0 for Mac OSX and later).

http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GUF202

I hope this helps.

73s 8)

 

[JWG Design]

My Wallstreet (300MHz) has been on loan to my sister for about a year. I gave her a Belkin USB 2.0 card to use with it for attaching peripherals such as her camera and a mouse. The Wallstreet has used the Belkin USB card without issue in both OS 9 and OS X 10.3. OS 9 uses the card as USB 1.1.

The Wallstreet has two slots - upper and lower. Does it make a difference which slot you insert it into?

If you do get your hands onto a Mac OS 9 install CD, you can force the installation of USB card drivers even without having the card inserted. You'll need to do a custom install, though, and select the USB extensions from the list.

As a side-note, I am thinking I might take the USB card back so that I can use it with my Pismo. I have several USB 2.0 devices that could use the extra speed.

 

[Maniacintosh]

No, my card has 2 USB 2.0 ports and a 5VDC power plug.

I tried the card in both slots - and the PB has all of the needed USB extensions. I'll try some other cards, the PB also came with a CompactFlash PCMCIA reader.

 

[JWG Design]

Take a peek into the PC card slot with a flashlight. Use the handle of a plastic spoon to hold the doors open while you shine a flashlight in there. Check every pin to make sure they are not bent into each other.

I had that problem on my Wallstreet - one of the ground pins was bent sideways and shorted the pin next to it. I tried straightening it out, but it snapped right off! Luckily there are other ground pins, and my cards seem to work just fine without this one.