Compatibility with Signature Mini external HD and Printer

[lucadelcarlo]

This will be a simple one for forum members...
What would a T23 require in order to be compatible with

1) a modern printer
2) a Signature Mini portable hard drive

At present, the Signature Mini external hard drive isn't visible. It's running solely on USB power, but an optional 500ma AC power adapter is available. Do I need this or is the old USB 1.1 the problem? The printer ( a newish HP F2480) responds very slowly at first, then prints a small section of the page and gives up. Again the USB? Thanks in advance!

[RealBlackStuff]

The printer may require USB2.0.
You can get PCMCIA USB2.0 adapters for this.
The hard disk should run off 1 USB port with external power connected, or use a USB-splitter cable and connect it to the two USB ports.

[lucadelcarlo]

Thanks for the response. Is there any PCMCIA USB2.0 card members of the forum tend to prefer, particularly when one slot is taken by a wireless card?
Cheers

[nikki605]

Thanks for the response. Is there any PCMCIA USB2.0 card members of the forum tend to prefer, particularly when one slot is taken by a wireless card?
Cheers

You probably want to consider a "flush" PCMCIA type card. Several are discussed here:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=63834

[lucadelcarlo]

I've inserted the new AKE flush mount 2.0 cardbus into the bottom slot of my T23 slot, but it's not working properly. Even when powered by its cord connected to the thinkpads usb 1.1, the AKE doesn't want to function. However, when inserted into the top slot, everything is fine. The issue is, of course, that both the wifi PCMCIA card and the AKE must run together, but as it stands, I only get functionality from the one top slot.

The supplied driver on mini CD would not run, yet the device works without it in one of the slots, so I assumed it's plug n play.

What might the issue be that's preventing both cards from working properly? It's easy to imagine what an inconvenienvce it is to continually swap out cards in order to go online, then again to print, then to use an external USB 2.0 hardrive.

[RealBlackStuff]

Run PC Doctor on it and swap the PCMCIA card(s) inbetween tests.
A new/used PCMCIA cage is dirt cheap on eBay. You can use one from any T2x model.
That's the only other option I can think off, but I'm not sure if that's the problem.