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    PCMCIA USB 2.0... just curious.

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Maranello, Jan 13, 2005.

  1. Maranello

    Maranello Notebook Enthusiast

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    I bought a USB 2.0 card for my Inspiron 2600 today. I tried it on an external HDD, I can write 5GB from my desktop PC to the HDD in 6 minutes. For the laptop using the PC card it took over 40 minutes. Now I do understand my 4200 rpm drive has alot to do with that but reading from the drive is the same way like say watching a video. While its smooth to watch theres no way its transfering at 480Mbps as USB 2.0 should. Ive tested the card on a friend's HP and it worked fine. Is this a Dell issue? I mean is there a trick I should know about Dell and 2.0 PC cards? I honestly think I read something about this before but cant remember where.
     
    Maranello, Jan 13, 2005
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  2. george_l

    george_l Notebook Consultant

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    if it took 40 minutes it must be running in usb1.1 mode and not usb2
     
    george_l, Jan 13, 2005
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  3. Maranello

    Maranello Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thats what I was thinking but a look in Divice Manager shows "VIA Enhanced USB" when the card is plugged in so the drivers are there, its just not reading/writing as 2.0 for some reason.
     
    Maranello, Jan 13, 2005
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  4. Maranello

    Maranello Notebook Enthusiast

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    OK, everything is fixed. I did alot of searching with google and found that it was a O2Micro PCMCIA Cardbus Controller issue with the Inspiron 2600/2650... its not Dell specific but a controller problem. Dell had a fix on their FTP, installed it and 5GB dropped to 8 minues on the 4200rpm.
     
    Maranello, Jan 13, 2005
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