How to Resolve a Device Driver Conflict

[wwaag]

I've got an old Sony laptop to which I've installed a PCMIA USB2.0 card for increased speed. By itself, it works good. I am now trying to install a Zonet USB2 wireless adapter which plugs into the USB 2.0 card. The drivers will install, but then the system (XP with SP2) crashes immediately after XP informs me that the device is ready to use. For grins, I tried the Zonet adapter in one of the original USB 1.0 ports and it works fine. Hence, I concluded that there is a conflict between the USB2.0 device driver and the Zonet wireless adapter device driver. Is there any way to resolve this conflict other than trying another wireless adapter card? Thanks in advance.

wwaag

[normcar]

I suggest you download the latest USB 2.0 drivers for your card, first. You should also try to use another device on the USB 2.0 card to see if the card is defective.

[smearbrick1]

Sounds like XP is sharing IRQs. I have this same problem and the only solution was to either change IRQs for the USB Root Hubs or change IRQs for my Ultra ATA 133 card. After attempting the IRQ switch, I found that it was next to impossible to get my Dell to allow me to assign my own IRQs. I simply disabled the USB ports that were in conflict. Supposedly, IRQ sharing works, but I haven't seen it yet.

[normcar]

I would still try to see if updated drivers are available. Also I once had an ATA PCI Adaptor card which did not work, but I put it in a different slot, and it worked. I do not know why, I assumed that it was assigned a different IRQ, but I'm not sure.

[Supreme2k]

Yeah, make sure you're using the latest drivers from the manufacturer rather than the one from Windoze. I accidentally let Windows do an automatic update, which included a soundcard update. After that, ATI MMC would crash my PC every time it tried to start. I updated the sound card drivers from the mfr, and it was back to business.

[wwaag]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I am using the latest drivers from the manufacturers. Finally decided to try a Linksys wireless adapter card that plugs directlly into the cardbus. No luck with that either. Linksys tech support concluded that either the new card was not working or my laptop (a 5 yr old Sony) was not allocating sufficient resources (whatever that means) to the cardbus. Contacted Sony and as you might suspect that was a waste of time. Told me that they did not recommend or support any upgrades to XP despite the fact that XP drivers and instructions can be found on their website. What a bunch of ****. Given the fact that I've had problems with 2 different types of wireless adapters, I suspect that it may be the laptop itself. I'm now trying to reload the original Windows 98 software, but since the I've replaced the original hard drive, it may not work. Things just keep getting better and better. Again, thanks for the replies.

[Prot]

PCI peripherals are assigned IRQs dynamically when the system starts up. If a card has a conflict, inserting it in another PCI slot will often correct this problem.
Normcar, you were correct about it being assigned a different IRQ, and this is why.