PCMCIA to USB cd writer problem

Hi, I have a compaq EVO N160 laptop with 2 onboard USB 1.1 slots running on Windows XP home edition. I also have a samsung combo drive (internal desktop model) which reads DVD and is a 52x cd writer. I bought an IDE to usb cable to burn cds from my laptop and then found that my onboard USB ports are version 1.1 and only lets me burn at a max speed of 8x. (The IDE adaptor also has an external power supply for the writer) It gives me a message when I plug in the cd writer that this will run at a slower speed. I then bought a Sunix PCMCIA to USB card which the vendor promised would give me faster burning speeds. Here is the funny part. When I connect the cd writer to the laptop through the PCMCIA card it detects the writer and reads data from the cd but when I try to burn at any speed it stops at 3% and freezes. The PCMCIA is said to be Plug and Play and doesn't have any drivers. I have tried the Texas controller and the Standard USB controller on the laptop with no other result. Please help !!

Welcome to windrivers jazzboysam. Sorry your question got missed.

If the drive is detected and able to read data, then the pcmcia and usb drivers are unlikely to be the problem. By changing the driver to one other than that recommended by windows, you are increasing the likelihood of a problem.

Please answer the following:
-Are there any yellow ! or ? in device manager - if so, what devices and what error message?
-Do you have SP1 or SP2 installed?
-What software are you using to burn cd's?

Thank you Hudsonsmith for your help.
No ! or ? in device manager - everything appears to be normal
I have installed win xp SP2
I use Nero 6.3 to burn my cds.

The whole thing works fine if I connect to my onboard USB ports - the sad part is that they are USB 1.1

at compaq there are a load of updates for running xp on that laptop - have you done them all?

I didn't have time to dig out what chipset the n160 uses, but it might be worth loading the intel chipset drivers as well.

What is the model # of your sunix card? There are nec drivers posted on the sunix web site which include xp.
http://www.sunix.com.tw/en/htm/index-1.htm

NooNoo,
Thanks again for your help. Installed most of the updates on the compaq site. However will do all tonight again because I donot remember which ones i skipped.

Hudsonsmith,
Believe it or not but there is no model number on the Sunix Card or box. Just a serial number on the card. It is UCB 0016451.

Appreciate the help.

Jazzboy

Installed all updates from Compaq for my model. And installed the drivers from Sunnix. Still having the same problem.

jazzboysam

The suggestions I have left are to update nero to the latest version (which may improve compatibility with your drive) or to return the sunnix card as defective.

Take a look at this: http://forums.windrivers.com/showpos...26&postcount=6

Changed the controller from Texas instruments to standard PCI controller and still having the same problem.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hudsonsmith

The suggestions I have left are to update nero to the latest version (which may improve compatibility with your drive) or to return the sunnix card as defective.

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As I said...

Updated Nero to the latest version. Tried various PCMCIA controllers. Same problem. At 3% it freezes.

Took the card and tried it on a friends IBM Thinkpad and it is working beautifully !!! :-(