ThinkPad 390E Online User's Guide

Using a PC Card in Windows 3.11 (with CardWizard)

This section describes the PC Card support software for Windows 3.11 and how to format the PC Card.

CardWizard is the PC Card support software for Windows 3.11. It increases the usability of PC Cards.

CardWizard has following features:

• Capability to check Self-Check

  If you have a problem, refer to this section.

• Help Help

  You can get help for most of the windows.

To start CardWizard, do as follows:

1. Start Windows 3.1.

2. Double-click on SystemSoft Tools on the "Program Manager" panel.

3. Double-click on CardWizard.

   The CardWizard window appears.

You can see up-to-date information about the PC Card slots in your computer in the window.

• The first line shows the card name.

• The second line shows the manufacturer.

• The third line shows the card's function or type.

If you have a multifunction card installed, you will see up to two functions at a time. You can scroll to see available functions if more than one function are activated on your card. Functions are labeled by slot number followed by function number. For example:

• 1-2 means slot 1, function number 2

• 2-1 means slot 2, function number 1

Self-Check

CardWorks has a self-check function that solves such problems as incorrect or missing PC Card device drivers, system resource conflicts (IRQ, memory, or I/O ports), and unconfigured PC Cards, as well as memory conflicts.

If there are any problems, click on the Wizard button, which is in the bottom right-hand corner of the window. Each time you click on the Wizard button, a series of self-checks is run to assure that all necessary components are installed and working properly. CardWizard then analyzes the computer to verify that there are resources available for PC Card configuration. There are four possibilities:

• Card Configured: On the left, CardWizard displays a graphical representation of the card and any available card manufacturer information. On the right, CardWizard displays all system resources that the card is using.

• Card Not Configured: On the left, CardWizard shows a question mark and any available card manufacturer information. On the right, CardWizard displays a message suggesting that you click on the Wizard button to correct the problem.

• Card Not Recognized: On the left, CardWizard shows a question mark and any available card manufacturer information. On the right, CardWizard displays a message asking you to click on the Wizard button to select the type of card you have inserted.

• No Card Inserted: CardWizard displays a picture of an empty slot.

Even if CardWizard cannot automatically solve a problem, it can pinpoint the problem exactly so that you or a technical support engineer can fix the problem more easily.

Help

CardWizard provides extensive online help. Help is available for almost all windows (when you press F1 or the Help button).

For most menu items (when you press F1 while the menu item is selected), you can get an extensive list of CardWizard topics.

Formatting PC Cards

This section describes how to initialize and use removable storage cards, such as ATA hard disk drive, ATA Flash disk, Flash memory (non-ATA type), and SRAM cards. It summarizes the formatting requirements and options for removable storage cards.

Note:

Before initializing removable storage cards for use, you must exit Windows 3.11 and enter DOS.

Formatting the ATA Card

You need to format ATA cards before you can use them. To format the card, you need to run the ATAINIT command from the DOS prompt. Then you need to use the standard DOS FORMAT command.

See Using the ATA Hard Disk or ATA Flash Disk Cards.

Formatting Flash Disk Card (MCFORMAT)

You can configure and manage a (non-ATA) Flash memory card with the MCFORMAT command. MCFORMAT enables you to perform the following actions easily:

• Create and format a new partition

• Format an existing partition

• Erase a partition

• Display partition information

MCFORMAT is a DOS command, so you must exit Windows 3.11 before using it.

MCFORMAT can be used to create and format FTL partitions on a Flash memory card or PC DOS partitions on an SRAM card.

To create and format a new partition on a Flash memory card or an SRAM card:

1. Go to the CardWizard directory and type:

   MCFORMAT
   

2. Press Enter.

3. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Formatting an SRAM Card

Before using an SRAM card, you have to format it using the DOS FORMAT command. Do the following:

1. Type the following:

   FORMAT drive_letter:
   

   (drive_letter is the actual drive letter.)

2. Press Enter.

For more instructions on using FORMAT, see your DOS user's guide.

Memory Card Partitions and Drive Letters

MTDDRV assigns drive letters to each partition on a memory card to allow each partition to be accessed as if it were another hard disk drive.

You can display the drive letters it reserves at system boot or by entering the following at the DOS prompt from within the directory containing the CardWizard files:

MTDDRV /?

If the first available letter is F, MTDDRV reserves drive letter F for your first PC Card slot and letter G for your second PC Card slot. These drive letters are reserved whether you are actually using them for memory card partitions or not.

Note:

The situation described in this example could create a problem if you are connected to a network, especially if you are mapped to numerous network drives. The system might run out of drive letters to assign before all your network drives have been properly mapped. The drive letters that MTDDRV reserves might cause all other drive letters to be reassigned (excluding drive letters for local hard disks or ATA cards). For example, if you have a network drive that is normally drive F and you install MTDDRV, the network drive will no longer be assigned drive letter F on your system. As a result, you might have to modify the drive letters in any network batch files that you use. For example, if you have a network batch file that loads your network login files from drive F and MTDDRV has reserved drive letters F and G for memory card partitions, you must change the drive letter in your network batch file to H (the next available letter).