USB 1.1 on a CF28 with XP?

I have a CF28PCJAZDM, which had factory W2K, but now has XP+sp3.

Whenever I plug something into the USB, I get a "This USB device can perform faster if you connect it to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port."

???

Does my hardware support USB 2.0?

I've been reading, really good stuff here, and someone on another thread suggested uninstalling the USB driver and letting windows update find new 2.0 drivers and install them. Sounds like a good idea, however, I am using a USB Sierra Mercury 885 aircard to connect to the internet.

I'm stumped.

 

Hamlet-

Welcome to the forum. No, I'm afraid your Toughbook only has USB 1.1 built in. If you need the additional speed of USB 2.0, you'll have to install a PCMCIA card to get it. Of course, they're available all over the internet; you should be able to pick one up for less than $20.00.

Mnem<~~~Has babydwagon2.0~~~<<<

 

CF-28's only have USB 1.1. I use an 'AKE' brand 2 port USB 2.0 card in my CF-28 system.

Craig.

 

Ditto, I use the same card and use the windows drivers to run the card.

 

Just keep in mind the pitfalls of USB PCMCIA cards - notably, power supply concerns.

USB devices may need up to 500mA per port (as the USB spec says they can have). However, the PC Card standard only allows for a PCMCIA/CardBus/PC Card to draw up to 400mA, total. This isn't enough for a full draw on a single port, let alone two ports as these cards often have.

For this reason, USB PC Cards often have an auxillary power cable, that either attaches to a wall-wart AC adapter, or another USB port (less common). This cable helps the situation, but reduces the convenience of the whole setup by making necessary yet another cable.

Just something to keep in mind. At any rate, I would recommend the type of USB card that has no bulge on the end (so you can close the PCMCIA socket cover!), the kind that sits flush with the edge of a standard PC Card slot. I use one in my CF-28 MK3, and it cost about $10 on eBay, including shipping from China. You can find the same exact thing, though, from the US, for the same price. Set the eBay search for North America-only.

The main snag is that these no-bulge cards don't seem to advertise their lack of protrusion, and the cards *with* bulges do not mention this either. Last time I purchased a batch of these cards, I had to sift through a few hundred listings before I saw (in the picture) the form of the card.

 

Thanks folks! Now I don't have to worry about those darn 2.0 drivers.

Yes, I learned about the USB-pcmcia undercurrent problem here in the forum.
I've also learned what a card slot/pcmcia/pc-slot is for. My first laptop, so it's all new fun for me.

The PCMCIA cards with the bulge on the end: I've already been scouring ebay for the pictures to reviel whether a card has them or not! It isn't anything you can reference in a search.

Question: if I can find a USB PCMCIA card and say a Wifi PCMCIA card, and neither of them have a bulge (flush) will they fit together in the slots? I am assuming they will, but I'd like to know FOR SURE before I spend my money...

The bulge found on the various cards really limits a guy to either one of each, or in some applications, only one card if it has a bulge the prevents a flush card from going either above or below it. I'm looking for a new PCMCIA Aircard so I can free up my USB for other things. I am also looking at either a wifi card, or a SATA card for an external hard drive (not sure about the current demands of a SATA).