All cardbus USB 2.0 adapters that I have used gave instant errors wit no AC adapter connected.

Let me ask you:

1. Who makes your adapter?

2. Did it come with an AC adapter?

Bill

: : : Why? If the current is sufficient for USB 1.1? Does USB 2 require more?

: : Yes...USB 2.0 requires more from a Cardbus adapter than the interface can provide.

: Hmmm. So why is it then that not a single one of the Cardbus USB 2.0 adapters currently on the market require an external power supply for self-powered devices? I've checked all the manufacturers' websites I could find and they all offer only an OPTIONAL power supply for high-power devices requiring the full 500mA, and equally they all insist that no external power supply is needed if consumption doesn't exceed 300mA or so, or if the attached device has its own power adapter.
: Don't misunderstand me - I'm grateful for any help and I'm not trying to pick an argument with you, just trying to resolve this and would therefore appreciate an explanation why you think power is the issue here. As I said before, my HD is self-powered.

: : Bill

: : :
: : : : Bill

: : : : : : Are you sure you have the latest "Enhanced" USB 2.0 driver? You don't have a B1 or B2 designation, do you? Those are Beta. Go to Windows Update to be sure. If you must, manually update the driver and "Display a list". Select the non-"B" driver.

: : : : : The drivers are the latest from the manufacturers' website. or are you referring to Microsoft drivers? I thought MS don't do USB 2 drivers for Windows 9x? Either way, no "B" designation anywhere.

: : : : :
: : : : : : USB 2.0 cardbus adapters also require a power supply externally - especially on a laptop.

: : : : : The adapter has no power supply but the hard drive has a hookup to the PS2 port. Anyway, that would not explain why USB1 works fine and USB2 doesn't?

: : : : : : Yes - USB is hard-wired to sound and video, but Cardbus adapters may not be. It differs from laptop to laptop.

: : : : : I have managed, through Safe Mode, to assign the USB 2 enhanced host controller to a spare IRQ but the USB 1 Open Host controllers refuse to go there, displaying the infamous yellow exclamation marks. If I have USB 2 on IRQ 5 or 9 (the spare ones) and USB 1 (the cardbus external ports) sharing IRQ 11, Device Manager reckons everything works fine but the HD is chained to USB 1.1 (and works fine there) not USB 2. I assume that it because the whole thing hangs on the cardbus and therefore has to share the cardbus IRQ to work, or is that wrong?

: : : : : : : I have bought an external USB 2 HD and a USB 2 PCMCIA card for my laptop, a Toshiba Satellite 4090 running Windows ME.
: : : : : : : The drive works fine with the built-in USB 1.1 port. On the cardbus USB 2.0 port, it will work for a few minutes, then it is disconnected and Windows asks me to insert a disk in removable drive D. When disconnected and reconnected, the same thing happens.
: : : : : : : I've read most of the old messages here and have tried the following:
: : : : : : : update BIOS, reinstall Windows with p\i options, reassign IRQ for USB 2 manually (USB 2 no longer recognised though USB 1.1 works on card), disable serial ports to free IRQs etc.
: : : : : : : All USB ports are always assigned IRQ 11, sharing with video, sound, PCMCIA and infrared port. Reassigning them seems impossible as they're hardwired together, and reassigning the USB ports of the cardbus card in Safe Mode works for USB 2.0 but not USB 1.
: : : : : : : USB mouse works fine on the PCMCIA ports. The USB controllers are Intel for the built-in one, NEC for the cardbus ports.
: : : : : : : Any ideas?