The card does not show up when I go to Hardware and Device Manager.

chillykim,

That's the key observation. It may mean that the card's not properly installed in the mini-PCI slot, or the slot isn't enabled in the BIOS. With the power disconnected and the battery removed, reseat the card. Then reboot the system. Enter the BIOS setup and check to see if the mini-PCI slot's enabled.

Jim

chilly,

Microsoft's guide to device driver error codes offers no help - basically, "reinstall the driver" is what they suggest. There are thousands of articles found by a Google search for "This device cannot start. Code 10" (including the quotes). Unfortunately, many are about as helpful as Microsoft's. But there were a couple of "Code 10" situations that turned out to be a defective card. Is the BIOS current? A06, dated 12 July 2004, includes fixes for one of the Intel mini-PCI wireless cards, according to the release notes. It might be a good idea to update to that version.

If any one else can suggest anything, please feel free to do so!

Jim

jimw- I did have the foresight to note the BIOS version. Mine is A03     . My only reservation with doing an update is to cause even more problems for myself by doing this. I  have read on the boards of quite a few people updating their BIOS, only to render their computer useless. I am assuming that following the steps set up on the download page you gave me will limit the amount of damage I can do to my system. 

I really appreciate the time you have spent helping me.  I like to be able to fix things on my own instead of taking the 8500 to my local PC place. They charge 79.00 just to look at it. I realize that since I paid over 1700.00 for this laptop that I really should not complain that it costs so much to have it looked at. But on principle, I feel that Dell does such a poor job with customer service and non-user friendly self-help. Ah well, I will try the download. If it is unsuccessful I will just give in and use a PCIMIA wireless adapter instead. I just hate having it stick out the side! Sorry for the rant! Thanks again, chilly

chilly,

Yes, BIOS updates can be risky. The safest way is to boot from a floppy and perform the update from that environment. The file I8500A06.exe is described as follows:

"The Universal (Windows/MS DOS) format can be used to install from Windows XP, Windows 2000, NT, Windows 9X, Windows ME or a MS DOS environment." Since Dell hasn't provided any details about performing the update from a bootable floppy, here are some notes about creating a boot floppy from Windows XP. Hopefully there are enough instructions with the BIOS download to enable you to do that.

You might also try resetting the BIOS first, in case the 1350 wasn't properly allocated resources at boot time. That's described  here.

Note that the "Code 10" error isn't unique to Dell hardware, and that most of the information that can be found about it is inconclusive. Microsoft deserves credit for the poor documentation associated with that error as well as the hardware vendors.

(edit) You might also want to post a note in the Inspiron/BIOS board and see if anyone's aware of any caveats regarding that version, or problems associated with BIOS updates on 8500s.

Jim

Message Edited by jimw on 03-09-2005 11:07 PM

chillykim,

I'm not sure. The idea is to install the update from a bootable medium.

Jim

There is info here on how to make a bootable cd with a BIOS update on it.  Look at the Bootable CDROM Creation area.

Hey all of you that have been so kind to help me- i discovered something that may be an influence on the problem.

When I go to Device Manage, under "NETWORK ADAPTERS" I have these two listings:

     WAN Miniport (ATW) #2

     WAN Miniport (ATW) #3

Both of these listings have a yellow exclamation point next to them. I put my device driver CD in and looked for drivers to install, but the Wizard tells me that there is not a better driver.

Then, under "OTHER DEVICES" right below Net. Ada., I have "Ethernet Controller, Network Controller, and Video Controller (VGA Compatable) all with the same yellow exclamation point.

I have searched online for drivers, but am coming up empty handed. I was online with Chat twice, and was bumped off. Then I called, was on hold 27 minutes the 1st time, bumped off, the 44 min. next time and bumped off. I am ready to pitch this thing.

Any suggestions? Could these listings with the exclamation points be a reason my 1350 miniPC card will not work? Thanks, chillykim

chillykim,

A pattern like that usually means that the operating system was reinstalled, and that any required "chipset" drivers weren't. Unless I missed it, you didn't say that you'd reinstalled XP. Here's a link to the XP Chipset Drivers for the Inspiron 8500, in case you need them. If you did reinstall XP, the absence of the chipset drivers would explain the unidentified devices (all integrated on the motherboard), and maybe the "missing" 1350 as well.

After installing the chipset drivers, you may need to remove some or all of the incorrectly identified devices, and let XP sort them out after another reboot.

But problems like this ordinarily occur after a reinstall. If you didn't do one, we need to think about this some more!

Jim

jimw- Good detective work! yes, i did have to reinstall the OP. About 3 months ago I was having some problems, and was told by Dell to do a system repair. There were some lingering problems.