WPC54G

Question

I can not get my new LinkSys wpc54g pc card to work with my Inspirion Laptop... I have tried all the "latest" drivers and even called Dell's so called award winning support. Linksys says that the ports miight be 6 bit in withc case th bios would have to be updated. That was done and i am now running the As23 Bios from Dell. The card still does not work. It pwers up fine. The other computers on the wireless network work fine. This laptop is still giving me a head ache. Anyone ever experiance this. Thanks

-Will

johnallg · Answer

What notebook and what OS?  Any other info that would help us? Message Edited by johnallg on 07-03-2003 04:47 PM

Flyinace2000 · Answer

yeah sorry i forgot.

Inspiron 4000

Windows ME

Bios updated to A23

using the newest drivers from linksys

Windows "sees" the card in there but does not want to talk to it. The app bundled with it doesn't want to start either. I found a related post the was posted a few weeks ago and has been pushed down a few pages. Please help i am doing this set up for a friend of mine. The XP machine (USB adapter was a dream the set up) works fine, The other computer is right next to the router so it is running via Cat5e wire and just this lap top is being a PITA.

johnallg · Answer

My guess is it didn't install correctly.  I would Add/Remove Programs any Linksys software, go to the Device Manager's Network Adapter entry for the Linksys and uninstall the driver, then delete the Linksys, then reboot with it in the notebook.  Let Me find the card and point it to the driver.  Then reload the Linksys wireless utility.  The reason the Linksys utility won't start is it has nothing to talk to, seeing Windows doesn't enable the card.

Flyinace2000 · Answer

Yeah i did that already with LinkSys on the phone. Still no dice. Has anyone else had similare incompatibilities with an INspirpn? The lady from Linksys said it might be caused by the PC Card reader was only 6 bit and not 32? Sound right? I did update the BIOS (on her recomendation) to try to correct the problem.

-Will

Mike in San Dim · Answer

I have the exact same problem with an Inspiron 2500 running XP Pro and the WPC54G. I think the problem is that the card is fully 32 bit and the PCMCIA data width maximum is 16 bits on the Inspiron.

If anyone has a solution I would love to hear from you. I spent hours with Linksys. The card configures but it never finds a wireless network. I can plug in the Linksys 80211.B card and it finds the 54G network access point within seconds. That card has a 16 bit PCMCIA interface. I flashed the BIOS and it had no effect.

dpage44 · Answer

I have the same problem running xp Home on my Inspiron 2500. Like you, I can insert a 802.11b Orinoco Silver card and can hook up to my Linksys WAP54g Access point in a matter of seconds. The WPC54G installs and XP sees it and says it is working fine, but it just doesn't see the Access point. I too spent many hours with Linksys on the phone. Latest drivers?.. I got 'em. I have replaced the card and access point under Linkysys warranty and still get the same results.

I have a O2 Micro OZ6933 Cardbus controller and it has the following specs:

The OZ6933 dual PCMCIA socket supports two 3.3V/5V 8/16-bit PC Card R2 cards or 32-bit CardBus R3 cards. The R2 card support is compatible with the Intel 82365SL PCIC controller, and the R3 card support is fully compliant with the 2000 PC Card Standard CardBus specification. The OZ6933 is a stand-alone device, which means that it does not require an additional buffer chip for the PC Card socket interface.

The WAP54G is a 32bit/3.3v card and the Orinoco card is a 16bit/5v card. Seems to me it should work ,but doesn't. It has to be a hardware configuration problem of some kind.

tlsullivan · Answer

I use this card on with my Inspiron 8000 running WinXP Pro (SP1).  I used to have a lot of problems with Windows ME.  Have you thought about upgrading to XP Home or Pro?  Tammy

yannella · Answer

My Inspiron 2100 freezes when I insert the WPC54G, which I purchased form Dell a few weeks ago.  I spent hours on this reading through Windows, Dell and Lynksys posts, but I can't seem to solve the problem.  Maybe I should just return the WPC54G to Dell and get a blue tooth adapter.  Any thoughts?

yannella · Answer

by the way, I'm using XP on the Inspiron 2100, and I was able to access the internet thought the WPC54G for two days, until I started downloading XP updates from Microsoft.  Any suggestions?

dpage44 · Answer

I'm using Xp Home with SP1. I'm working with Linksys to see the problem can  be resolved. I'll post here if a solution becomes available

tlsullivan · Answer

I would uninstall the driver. Reboot with the card in the slot and reinstall the driver. My instructions for the card stated to have Service Pack 1 for Windows XP before installing the device. Just a thought.

Tammy

dpage44 · Answer

Tried that too... each time XP 'sees' the card after uninstalling, it asks for a system file...a system file found on the cd. It never has installed the card without asking for this system file BCMWL5.sys. I haven't had any luck with Linksys support yet.... I'm waiting for them to tell me to try aluminum balls on the antennas :-) Message Edited by dpage44 on 11-03-2003 08:46 PM

tlsullivan · Answer

<< a system file found on the cd. It never has installed the card without asking for this system file BCMWL5.sys. >> I'll check my system Inspiron tomorrow and see if I have that file. I just did a search for that file on my Micron Desktop (I have a Linksys Wireless PCI Card) and I have that file located in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers. If it may help, I can email it to you? The board is acting flaking and posting posts more than once!! Message Edited by tlsullivan on 11-03-2003 10:26 PM

yannella · Answer

I've spent hours trying to figure out why the Inspiron 2100 freezes when the WPC54G adapter is inserted in the PCMCIA slot.  On my 5th call to Linksys, the technician told me that he's getting a lot of these calls, and that I should return the adapter.  He suggested I get an adapter from another company, or better yet buy a USB port adapter.

dpage44 · Answer

my post was confusing I guess. the system file is on the cd and when asked for , I insert the cd and the file is retrived and installation continues. Thanks for the offer though.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

WPC54G

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