Flash reader in a PCI-PCMCIA adapter not detected

[Anthony Naggs]

In article <Pine.BSF.4.50.0306062003510.78023-100000 at sec.ms.mff.cuni.cz>
, Vaclav Petricek <vaclav.petricek at mff.cuni.cz> writes
>
>Hello
>
>I have a PCMCIA SanDisk SDCFB-32 flash reader/writer that works in a
>PCMCIA slot in a notebook. When I insert it in a PCI adapter to use it in
>my desktop I am not able to detect it. 

Okay.

>A prism 2.5 WiFi card works great
>in this PCI adapter. The OS version is 5.0-RELEASE.

This is not a good test.


All PCI adapters for WiFi cards have a warning like "only use with brand
X WiFi card".  Many WiFi card brands sell PCI adapters that will not
work with other cards.  Especially those who sell Prism based cards.
:-(

A good PCI to PC Card adapter will either have a PCMCIA (16-bit) bridge
or (preferably) a Cardbus bridge (for 16 & 32-bit cards).  This includes
circuits to detect the card being hot plugged and to switch power off,
3.3V or 5V, map IRQs to the PC Card(s) etc...

Many makers of Prism WiFi cards cheat, using a very cheap PCI to ISA
bridge and (for example) no choice of 3.3V or 5V power.  Total cost for
the board about $5, but sold for the same price as a better PCI adapter.


Check the chips on your PCI adapter.  The PLX PCI9052 is used by all the
bad adapters I have seen.  A good adapter will probably have a Ricoh or
TI chip.


Tony