install a Belkin F5D7050 on XP SP2

Are there any problems (you don't mention what works or what doesn't work)? Are there any error messages? When you connect the adapter, does XP say "new hardware found"?

xp does say new hardware found, it goes through the driver installation but either ends with "device cannot start, code 10" or it appears to end ok but it doesn't work

unfortunately I've done all that and the problem remains

Is there any chance you can try this card on another PC? If possible use a system with just windows installed freshly so we can exclude other software intruding. That should show us if the card is working at all.

that's what I'm already using

Yes but have you tried it on another PC?

I don't anything else suitable that's available

Can you get your vendor to test it? Or get a warranty replacement? Did you check with the belkin user support? I think we will first have to find out if this is a hardware or software problem. Do you by any chance have some other USB device you can connect to your PC to make sure the USB port works? Something simple like a USB mouse?

vendor won't test - says must be laptop problem
haven't tried belkin support yet - last time had lots of trouble making myself understood
a usb memory stick works fine

I think you should insist the vendor test it, or then give it back for a refund.

gave up, got a card that goes in the side of the laptop, worked first time.

http://svp.co.uk/products-solo.php?pid=515