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IBM Travelstar 8E and Windows Vista


ppgrainbow

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Is that supposed to be a DATA+POWER Interface?

That's correct. There is a small circle found on the back of the Travelstar 8E unit where you have to connect to the adapter with.

As for a PCMCIA-to-USB adapter, I will look getting a PCMCIA-to-USB adapter and how to get it working on the ASUS G1S laptop. :)

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Must be an odd "circle" and connector. Has to have minimum 4 contacts (per USB specs).

On your CD, what's the difference between USB drivers and PCMCIA drivers? (I can find NO USB drivers for TravelstarE).

The USB drivers found on the DataBook CD-ROM provide connectivity through either a USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 port under Windows 98. The PCMCIA drivers are the legacy plug-and-play drivers can connect through an available 16-bit or 32-bit PC Card (PCMCIA) slot under Windows 95 OSR2 and Windows NT 4.0. The PCMCIA drivers are known to also work under Windows 98, Millennium, 2000 and XP.

I'll probably find the CD so I'll see what I mean by this. :)

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@ppgrainbow,

We are really having a hard time understanding how to help you regarding your efforts to get the IBM Travelstar 8E working with your ASUS G1S laptop. For the moment completely forget about the driver and any other software issues. We don't seem to understand how you are physically connecting the drive to the laptop. What wires are you using? Where are you plugging them in?

I used the USB 1.1 port in one of the USB slots on the back of the ASUS G1S laptop and at first Windows Vista couldn't recognise the drive. So, I used the Databook drivers that came with the Travelstar 8E unit which has a 8.1 GB ATA/33 3 1/2" IDE hard disk. The laptop unit lacks PCMCIA slots as it uses a PCI Express card instead. Windows Vista treated the IBM Travelstar 8E as a removal drive.

jaclaz asked

I am evidently missing something (possibly because you did not write it).

That thingy is "native" PCMCIA, right?

How exactly are you connecting the PCMCIA to the USB 1.1 port of the ASUS G1S?

You said

The ASUS G1S has four USB 2.0 ports on the back which is backwards compatible with USB 1.1 and a PCIExpress 54 slot which is incompatible with PCMCIA cards.

So, I'm still confused - an ADAPTER of some sort?

In order to connect the IBM Travelstar 8E drive, I have to use one of the USB 2.0 devices [...] I can't use PCMCIA, because it doesn't have it. It only has a Express Card slot and you can't use PCMCIA cards in a Express Card slot.
Again, how? It's a PCMCIA device (I have a PICTURE of it as well as some other documentation) with a CARD on a CABLE from the HDD ENCLOSURE thet is SUPPOSED to plug into a PCMCIA SLOT on the PC.
I can't use PCMCIA, because it doesn't have it.
See the PRIMARY question. HOW are you plugging a PCMCIA "Card" into a USB SLOT??? ADAPTER OR NOT??? Jaclaz asked the SAME QUESTION and you WILL NOT ANSWER!!!

post-72994-0-06641500-1359063176_thumb.j

So how am I connecting the unit to one of the USB slots?

I had to use the DataBook 5 volt AC/DC outlet power plug connected to a surge protector and then plug it into a USB slot.

Is that supposed to be a DATA+POWER Interface?

That's correct. There is a small circle found on the back of the Travelstar 8E unit where you have to connect to the adapter with.

As for a PCMCIA-to-USB adapter, I will look getting a PCMCIA-to-USB adapter and how to get it working on the ASUS G1S laptop. :)

Best as I can tell, the drive requires a data connection to the laptop (the PCMCIA interface) and possibly a separate/additional power connection ("small circle found on the back of the Travelstar 8E"). For some external drives the data connection can provide the necessary power and the power connection is not required. I'm not familiar with the Travelstar 8E and have not looked at any documentation regarding it so I don't know if that is true in your case or not. But the data connection from the drive to the laptop is always required. So please explain how you are connecting the data link from the drive (the PCMCIA connection) to the laptop (I assume you will need to use one of the USB connectors since you say that the laptop does not have a PCMCIA connector)??????

The laptop unit lacks PCMCIA slots as it uses a PCI Express card instead.

Or is this true???:

I checked the manual for the ASUS G1 laptop and on page 16, I find that it does have a PCMCIA 2.1 compliant PC card.

Which is it? Are you able to use a PCMCIA connection between the two? Do you need a PCMCIA-to-USB adapter? Or what? Until you can physically connect the two in a compatible manner, all your efforts to get drivers etc is a complete waste of time.

Cheers and Regards

Edited by bphlpt
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The Lappie in question uses the NEWER non-compatible PCMCIA -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Card

Whenever I "assist" a member, I always dig for Documentation and the specific Drivers to (hopefully) ensure accurate responses.

Still, the confusion stands re: that "circle" thingie... the "implication" is it's for Power-Only (from other sources) except for the SINGLE REFERENCE (see my links) to a "rare" adapter - see my (paraphrased) "must be an oddball to supply DATA connection as well"...

ALSO note the requirement (AFAICT)

Windows 95 allocates the I/O resource normally used by the secondary IDE port (170Hex base and IRQ 15) to the PC Card

Code 10 (9x, XP-and-up) -

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/276602

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943104

There also seems to be an implication (based on the IDE port info above) that it has to be hooked up BEFORE power-on. :unsure:

Edited by submix8c
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From what I read about this drive is it is powered via the PCMCIA port. I could not find any photos of the rear of the device, and no documentation about alternate power. Its possible that the op is using USB power for this device and the port the connection is made with is not designed for data transfer.

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From what I read about this drive is it is powered via the PCMCIA port. I could not find any photos of the rear of the device, and no documentation about alternate power. Its possible that the op is using USB power for this device and the port the connection is made with is not designed for data transfer.

Oww, come on.

If the OS detects *something* and attempts to load a driver for it - no matter if it fails to find one or if it stops with a code 10 - *something* is actually connected.

It is the HOW this (the connection) happens that is completely missing from the first post and that ppgrainbow insists on omitting as well as a more generally complete description of the setup.

This is actually a form of flattery :w00t: as it evidently implies that the OP attributes us (and to our crystal balls, tarots, I-ching, etc.) divinatory capabilities far beyond the ones we actually have.

jaclaz

Edited by jaclaz
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This may confirm it -

http://www.os2voice.org/VNL/past_issues/VNL0802H/vnewsf2.htm

Though it has a port for a +5VDC/1A power adapter, this unit gets its power from its PCMCIA socket. There is also an on/off button in the back, but that appears to only be there if an external power source is used.

And this (from the documentation) -

5. A power adapter is not required for the IBM Travelstar E using

the PC Card interface. Plugging a power adapter not supplied by

the manufacturer may cause serious damage to the IBM

Travelstar E. Doing so voids your warranty.

Perhaps that USB (?) Cable being used is a kind that plugs into any "device" and the USB end is intended for plugging into an External Power Source (no DATA is transferred - only 2 of the 4 contacts is used)? I have one of those that's primary intent is for powering (e.g.) an MP3 player (it's a Universal - has multiple connectors and "plugs into the wall" for the power source) - NO DATA!

@jaclaz - The OP NEVER told where he GOT that "cable" (see above) OR provided "gazinta-chart". BUT I agree that something is amiss. Bear in mind that the OP INSTALLED "USB drivers" thus it "showed" BUT the CD the OP says they have is a SET and may ALSO be used for USB-type models (they DO exist), so I will venture to say the OP is erroneous in the fact that the "USB" is "recognized". You can install ANY Driver and if the HW doesn't exit, it WILL have a loading problem (as in my NIC example). :unsure:

http://www.usbman.com/Drivers%20and%20Patches.htm

http://www.datazonecorp.com/

This Domain Is For Sale
:w00t:
web.archive.org/web/20040203023149/http://www.datazonecorp.com/download/USB_Ver3.04M.exe

Works...

http://web.archive.org/web/20031206164139/http://www.datazonecorp.com/downloads.html

From the DataBook Manual, it indicates three different "Kits". One wonders how these "Kits" work (back of the Enclosure?) and indicates the EXACT FOLDERS for the Drives in questions. I'm starting to believe the OP is leaving critical info out. If so, AND the "USB Kit" is INDEED part of the Hardware (some kind of oddball cable) THEN it seems that it MIGHT work via USB. This is the CLOSEST that can be found for this "Databook/Travelstar 8E + HDD". :}

FINALLY, the OP shows "Windows 2000" as OS... why isn't the 2K driver for USB tried (if indeed this is part of the "Kit")? Hey, if it WORKS that way THEN (just maybe) it can be "hacked" for Vista. No doubt (maybe) IF it works on 2K, THEN it would work for XP, thus affording some kind of "hack". :unsure:

USB Kit sold here (special order)

http://www.tamayatech.com/parts.php?g=USBKITUK

Interesting reference to Datazone Databook

post-72994-0-35899800-1359135402_thumb.j

Edited by submix8c
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I'm starting to believe the OP is leaving critical info out.

Well, I have the advantage on you, as I started believing that (and asked for at least the sheer minimum of missing info) on post #4. ;)

Generally speaking there are TWO :w00t: main kinds of these thingies.

The first, more common, is where the cable is a cable ;) and in the actual case there is one (or more than one, example dual USB/Firewire external drive cases) and the second (more dated) design where the cable is actually a converter and the case is just a case (with optionally the power supply).

As an example I do have an Archos CD drive (one of those little gizmo's that you will need to pry out of my dead fingers :ph34r:) that :

  1. has internally a "normal" laptop half height CD drive (IDE)
  2. AA rechargeable batteries
  3. a connector with "standard" IDE connection/pins (proprietary as "format" but seemingly "standard" as actually pins/signals present in it)
  4. a cable with this connector on one side and a PCMCIA card on the other side <- the actual PCMCIA to IDE conversion happens here

The thingy doubles as a portable CD player (think "Sony Walkman") as it sports a an Audio Out jack and came with earplugs :), here is a (rare) picture of it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lecteur-CD-PCMCIA-ARCHOS-compatible-Toshiba-Libretto-100CT-110CT-/321058364163?pt=FR_GH_Informatique_Stockage_Lecteurs_Graveurs_Test&hash=item4ac091db03

Later versions (which were not anymore also a Music CD Player ) had the double option of the PCMCIA or USB cable:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Archos-MX6MiniCD-External-MiniCD-Drive-CDS-1-T24-/190613425523

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Archos-PCST341-1-pcmcia-laptop-Adapter-/220741442785?pt=US_Internal_Port_Expansion_Cards&hash=item3365371ce1

http://www.archos.com/support/download/spec_sheets/archos_minicd24_usb2_en.pdf

Additionally, a "rare" PS/2 "power stealer":

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Archos_Technology_Power_adapter_Power_DC_jack_6_pin_mini_DIN_PS_2_style__5773454

And a firewire "cable" (adapter cable):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00009MKMM/ref=asc_df_B00009MKMM11?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=ciaouk-ce-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B00009MKMM

jaclaz

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From submix8c's pic above:

Some designs are interface independent (ie Datazone's Databook family) meaning that the drive can be used with the FireWire, USB, PCMCIA, and parallel port connections simply by changing the cable. It can even be used with the docking bay.

That is truly the way that all external devices should have been designed. For universal application. I know it's more expensive that way, but if only they were all designed to be that flexible.

Cheers and Regards

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