PCMCIA problem driving me CRAZY!!!

[Metalhead01]

The Good News: I finally got my laptop today!

The Bad News: I can't install Gentoo!

Here's the deal: I've got an orinoco wireless card that worked beautifully when I booted with Knoppix to test everything out. When I try running the Gentoo install, however, something really weird happens.

I install the orinoco module, and the PCMCIA kernel modules as well. (insmod pcmcia_core, insmod i82365, insmod ds). That part goes off without a hitch. It's when I run the next command that funky things start happening.

When I type "cardmgr -f", the screen goes blank, and the computer stops working. Totally. The fan is still on, but neither the CD-ROM or the hard drive are doing anything. I've let it sit for about 5-10 minutes without it doing anything at all.

I've also tried going through the PCMCIA module sequence without installing the orinoco module first. When I do that, the everything on the screen vanishes and is replaced by vertical white lines.

The technical specs for my laptop can be found at http://www.xtremenotebooks.com/index.php?section=specs&model_id=194

Has anyone ever come across this, or am I simply going crazy?

[Metalhead01]

bump

[Metalhead01]

The Good News: I finally got my laptop!

The Bad News: I can't install Gentoo!

Here's the deal: I've got an orinoco wireless card (the ones sold in the computer store) that worked beautifully when I booted with Knoppix to test everything out. When I try running the Gentoo install, however, something really weird happens.

I install the orinoco module, and the PCMCIA kernel modules as well. (insmod pcmcia_core, insmod i82365, insmod ds). That part goes off without a hitch. It's when I run the next command that funky things start happening.

When I type "cardmgr -f", the screen goes blank, and the computer stops working. Totally. The fan is still on, but neither the CD-ROM or the hard drive are doing anything. I've let it sit for about 5-10 minutes without it doing anything at all.

After two days and nearly a half-dozen distros, here's how things currently stand:

1. Gentoo-Won't recognize the PCMCIA network card at all. Tried using orinoco and orinoco_plx drivers; none work. Finds and uses the hard-line network card fine. Won't boot after installation; comp. says there's no boot record.

2. Red Hat-Won't boot from CD at all. The CD is good; tested on desktop.

3. Slackware (REALLY Weird)-Begins to boot from CD, then comp. restarts.

4. SuSE-Installs fine, but won't connect to network through PCMCIA.

5. Mandrake-Hard time getting network started from PCMCIA card. Works, but requires constant tweaking of network settings.

The technical info for said laptop is here:
http://www.xtremenotebooks.com/index.php?section=specs&model_id=194

Still fighting with this damn thing right now. I don't know if this'll help or not, but here's what happens when I try loading the pcmcia drivers.

Here's exactly what happens when I try loading the PCMCIA modules:


# modprobe orinoco
# insmod pcmcia_core
Linux PCMCIA Card Services 3.1.33
kernel build: 2.4.19-gentoo-r7 #4 Wed Jun 5 07:09:05 Local time zone must be set--see zic manual page 2002
options: [pci] [cardbus]
# insmod i82365
Using /lib/modules/2.4.19-gentoo-r7/pcmcia/i82365.o
Intel ISP/PCI/Cardbus PCIC probe:
PCI: No IRQ known for interrupt pin A of device 00:08.0. Please try using pci=biosirq
PCI: No IRQ known for interrupt pin A of device 00:08.1. Please try using pci=biosirq
TI 1420 rev 00 PCI-to-CardBus at slot 00:08, mem 0x10000000
host opts [0]: [ring] [pci + serial irq] [no pci irq] [lat 192/64] [bus 2/5]
host opts [1]: [ring] [pci + serial irq] [no pci irq] [lat 192/64] [bus 6/9]
ISA irqs (scanned) = 5 polling intercal = 1000 ms
# insmod ds
Using /lib/modules/2.4.19-gentoo-r7/pcmcia/ds.o
# cardmgr -f


(inverted bar code appears on the screen, comp frozen)



If anyone knows ANY way I can get Gentoo installed and working with my wireless PCMCIA card, please let me know.

[mdwatts]

Have you tried (searching etc.) the Gentoo mailing list/usergroup?

[Metalhead01]

No luck. And here's something REALLY weird I discovered:

I tried doing a Debian install later on using the Ethernet card built in. It installed fine, but wouldn't boot. I got a "Hard disk boot sector invalid" error. So I put in a FreeBSD install disc, rebooted, and to my amazement, Debian began running! It still froze when trying to load the PCMCIA card, though.

[JohnT]

It would seem that you've got to assign an IRQ in the bios for the card. If there is does it coincide with linux configs?