Using a PC Card

A PC Card enables you to send and receive faxes, communicate through a network, store data, and use other functions. PC Cards can be distinguished by their functions:

• Storage cards
• Modem cards
• Network cards
• SCSI cards
• Other PC Cards

A PC Card is also distinguished by the interface that supports it. Before you use a PC Card, you need to make sure that your computer supports it.

• 16-bit PC Card
• CardBus Card¹
• Custom Interface Card

This chapter explains PC Card functions and interfaces. It describes PC Card support software and explains how to use your PC Card in the operating system that you have installed.

PC Card Types

Storage Cards

An Advanced Technology Attach (ATA) card functions as a hard disk with the Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE**) interface**. You can transfer data between devices by inserting a card in a PC Card slot just as you would with a diskette in a diskette drive. There are two types of ATA card:

• The ATA hard disk card has a large capacity; you can use the card as you would an external hard disk.
• The ATA Flash disk card acts as a memory card; you can use the card to back up your data.

A memory card is used to read or write moderate amounts of data. There are three types of memory card:

• A static-random-access-memory (SRAM) card backs up computer memory. The card has its own battery.
• A read-only-memory (ROM) card is used for reading data only.
• A Flash memory card is a writeable and readable card. No battery is needed.

Modem Cards

A fax modem card is used for communication through a telephone line; ac power is not needed. You can use this card to access the PC network or the Internet, or to send a fax.

Network Cards

A LAN/Network card physically connects PCs in a LAN or network. The following LAN-or-network cards are available:

• An Ethernet card is for constructing a small area network.
• A TokenRing card is for constructing a global area network.
• An IBM 3270 card and an IBM 5250 card are also available.

An integrated services digital network (ISDN) card is used to connect your computer to the ISDN network.

SCSI Cards

A small computer system interface (SCSI) card connects your computer to a SCSI device. For example, it enables you to use a SCSI disk drive that cannot fit in a small notebook PC.

Other PC Cards

• A sound card enables your computer to play music and other sounds. It typically has an audio and a MIDI in/out connector.
• A video capture card captures signals from video devices, enabling you to use the data in your computer.

There are also multi-function PC Cards, such as the Combo Card and the Multi Function Card.

PC Card Interface

16-Bit PC Cards

Most PC Cards are 16-bit PC Cards (PCMCIA 2.0 or 2.1), providing ISA device performance.

CardBus Cards

The CardBus Card is connected as a PCI device and provides higher performance than the 16-bit PC Card.

Custom Interface Cards

The Zoomed Video Card² (ZV Card) is currently the only custom interface card available. The Zoomed Video port interface provides the connection for the ZV Card. The ZV Card enables you to write video data directly to an input port of the graphics controller. Some video-related cards are considered ZV Cards.

• Video capture card
• MPEG card

The ZV Card cannot be used without a PC Card device driver and a display device driver.

Installing PC Cards

This section describes how to prepare to use a PC Card.

Attention: When you use PC Cards, be aware of the following restrictions:

• Although you can insert or remove some PC Cards without turning off the computer (refer to the instructions that came with the PC Card), you cannot remove or install PC Cards during suspend or hibernation mode.
• Before removing storage PC Cards from the PC Card slot, you must power off the computer. Otherwise, data in the PC Card might be corrupted or lost.

  Note:

  According to the operating system, you can stop the PC Card with the PC Card support software and remove it without powering off the computer. (See the PC Card support software section of the each operating system to see how to stop the PC Card.)

Your computer has two PC Card slots (upper slot and lower slot).

Inserting a PC Card

To install a PC Card in your computer, do the following:

1. Find the notched edge (1) of the PC Card as shown.
   
   
2. Insert the PC Card into the appropriate slot according to your PC Card type.
   • If you are using a PC Card with an XJACK** connector, insert it into the upper slot.
   • If you are using a Type I or Type II PC Card, insert it into either the upper slot or the lower slot.
   • If you are using a Type III PC Card, insert it into the lower slot.
   
   
   

   Note:

   When an XJACK modem PC Card is in use, you might not be able connect an external microphone to the microphone-in jack.

3. Press the PC Card firmly into the connector.

   A window appears and informs you about the new card.

   Note:

   If you have not installed the PC Card driver, Windows 98 starts "PCMCIA Card Services Wizard" to install it. Follow the instructions on the screen.

You have completed setting up the PC Card, and you can now use it. For more information on how to use the PC Card, read through this section.

Removing the PC Card

Before removing a PC Card, you must stop it. Otherwise, the system might freeze or data might be corrupted or lost.

1. Stop the card.

   To stop the PC Card, find the PC Card icon on the right side of the taskbar; then click on the icon and click on Stop.

   Note:

   The Stop option appears in gray when you are in CardSoft mode or when the card is already stopped.

2. Press the PC Card eject button to pop out the button. Then press it again until the PC Card pops out.
3. Remove the PC Card and store it safely for future use.
   
   

¹

CardBus allows PC Cards and your computer to use 32-bit busmastering and to operate at speeds up to 33 MHz.

²

Zoomed Video (ZV) is a connection between a PC Card and your computer that allows the card to write video data directly to the video controller. The data is transferred with no buffering requirements, because it is transferred over ZV port rather than the system bus.