Please help me find the right PCMCIA to USB adapter
I have an Adaptec SlimSCSI 1480B Cardbus PCMCIA card. Its specs are here: http://www.adaptec.com/en-us/support/_eol/scsi_port_cardbus/apa-1480b/
It is described in the specs as having a CardBus 32-bit PCI interface on the PCMCIA side. I'm unable to determine from this whether that means it's PCI Express or not.
It currently connects to an old laptop that has a PCMCIA slot, but of course newer laptops do not. I would therefore like to try connecting it to a USB port, using a PCMCIA to USB adapter, of which there are several out there. I realize that finding Windows 10 drivers for the card may be a problem, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. (I'm hoping the Windows 8 drivers will work...)
Can someone point me to an appropriate PCMCIA to USB adapter that will work with this card?
It is described in the specs as having a CardBus 32-bit PCI interface on the PCMCIA side. I'm unable to determine from this whether that means it's PCI Express or not.
It currently connects to an old laptop that has a PCMCIA slot, but of course newer laptops do not. I would therefore like to try connecting it to a USB port, using a PCMCIA to USB adapter, of which there are several out there. I realize that finding Windows 10 drivers for the card may be a problem, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. (I'm hoping the Windows 8 drivers will work...)
Can someone point me to an appropriate PCMCIA to USB adapter that will work with this card?
ASKER
OK, so that gets us partway to knowing what product to get, right?
Well, no and yes.
You are wanting to go from USB to Cardbus. There are plenty of adapters going the other way ...
Very few going the way you want. The only ones I can find are card readers which is not what you want ...
You are wanting to go from USB to Cardbus. There are plenty of adapters going the other way ...
Very few going the way you want. The only ones I can find are card readers which is not what you want ...
ASKER
Yes, I found card (memory) readers as well. But it seems to me that this HAS to exist, or had to exist at one time.
There's something like this https://sewelldirect.com/u142-usb-to-cardbus-adapter-for-3g-high-speed-modem-pcmcia-cards but that isn't what you want.
A wild idea is
USB to ExpressCard (and these do exist) and then
ExpressCard to Cardbus from https://sewelldirect.com/learning-center/adding-pcmcia
Examples of USB to ExpressCard
http://www.manhattan-products.com/hi-speed-usb-to-expresscard-34-adapter#
http://www.amazon.com/SIIG-USB-to-ExpressCard-JU-EP0012-S1/dp/B001KUOW9O/ref=pd_sim_147_1/186-8041607-1210447?ie=UTF8&dpID=41VrRKDH%2B%2BL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1AES1VK7MGB39BMY2J9P
and there are examples of ExpressCard to Cardbus as well.
But the question is then, will it all work and I suspect it won't. Too many adapters.
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Do the laptops in question have an ExpressCard slot? Then an ExpressCard to Cardbus adapter might do the trick.
A wild idea is
USB to ExpressCard (and these do exist) and then
ExpressCard to Cardbus from https://sewelldirect.com/learning-center/adding-pcmcia
Examples of USB to ExpressCard
http://www.manhattan-products.com/hi-speed-usb-to-expresscard-34-adapter#
http://www.amazon.com/SIIG-USB-to-ExpressCard-JU-EP0012-S1/dp/B001KUOW9O/ref=pd_sim_147_1/186-8041607-1210447?ie=UTF8&dpID=41VrRKDH%2B%2BL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1AES1VK7MGB39BMY2J9P
and there are examples of ExpressCard to Cardbus as well.
But the question is then, will it all work and I suspect it won't. Too many adapters.
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Do the laptops in question have an ExpressCard slot? Then an ExpressCard to Cardbus adapter might do the trick.
ASKER
Unfortunately, they don't have an expresscard slot. That WOULD make it easier, for sure.
I'm going to take a shot at the PCMCIA card --> PCMCIA to Expresscard --> Expresscard to USB... will be a few days to get the equipment, but I'll let you know what happens.
I'm not optimistic but, if this works, it'll be EPIC.
I'm going to take a shot at the PCMCIA card --> PCMCIA to Expresscard --> Expresscard to USB... will be a few days to get the equipment, but I'll let you know what happens.
I'm not optimistic but, if this works, it'll be EPIC.
ASKER
Well, I tried PCMCIA -> Expresscard -> USB and it didn't work. :( Tried it on an XP machine, a Win7 machine, and a Win10 machine... no go on any of them. Rats!
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ASKER
I am thinking you're right. It most likely means I have to keep my an old laptop with a PCMCIA slot(!) alive forever.
It's not. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Card