ThinkPad 390X Online User's Guide

PC Card Support Software

ThinkPad PC Card support software enables you to use a PC Card as soon as you insert it into the ThinkPad computer.

Each operating system has its own ThinkPad PC Card support software, as follows:

Windows 98: built-in support
Windows 95 OSR2: built-in support
Windows NT 4.0: CardWizard** for Windows NT
Windows 3.11: CardWizard** for Windows 3.11
OS/2: PC Card Director for OS/2
DOS: CardSoft** for DOS

To use PC Cards with your computer, you need to install the PC Card support software appropriate for the operating system installed in your computer.

To install the PC Card software Installing Software.

The following table shows the PC Card supported by the different PC Card support software:

	Built-in (Windows 98)	Built-in (Windows 95 OSR2)	CardWizard (Windows NT 4.0)	CardWizard (Windows 3.11)	PC Card Director (OS/2)	CardSoft (DOS)
16-bit PC Card	Supported	Supported	Supported	Supported	Supported	Supported
CardBus PC Card	Supported	Supported	Supported	N/A	N/A	N/A
ZV PC Card	Supported	Supported	N/A	Supported	N/A	N/A

Note:

In OS/2, Modem/Network (except ISDN) card is supported.

When you insert the PC Card into your ThinkPad computer:

The PC Card support software detects the card and reads the information about it.
The PC Card support software searches for the corresponding card service device driver.
The device driver requests the PC Card support software to allocate such system resources as memory space, I/O port, and IRQ. If these resources are available, the support software recognizes the PC Card and you can use it.
If there is a resource conflict, you need to change either the resources or the system configuration:
Either:
- Change the requested resources of the PC Card: You can allocate the available resources by using each operating system or PC Card support software function.
Or:
- Change the system configuration: You can change the system configuration with your operating system or with the ThinkPad Configuration program (Windows 98).

Note:

If the PC Card device driver is the PC Card point enabler, you cannot use the PC Card with the ThinkPad PC Card support software. Check with the card vendor whether the device driver is a client device driver or a point enabler.

Power Management

Depending on the function of the PC Card, changing from one power management mode to another might cause your ThinkPad computer to hang. PC Card support software prevents this accurrence through special handling during power state transition:

Card Type

Suspend Request (Fn+F4)

Hibernation Request (Fn+F12)

AC Power

Battery Power

AC Power

Battery Power

Modem or Network

Supported

N/A

Supported

Other

Supported

Note:

Standby mode is always accepted.

For more information about the PC Card support software, go to the appropriate section according to the following:

CardWizard for Windows NT Using a PC Card in Windows NT (with CardWizard)
CardWizard for Windows 3.11 Using a PC Card in Windows 3.11 (with CardWizard)
PC Card Director for OS/2 Using a PC Card in OS/2 (with PC Card Director)
CardSoft for DOS Using a PC Card in DOS (with CardSoft)