Re: Drivers for HP Notebook N3438

Frank Slootweg wrote:
> Richard Bonner <ak621@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Frank Slootweg wrote:

> > > I think a new card would not cost more than a few tens of (US) dollars.
> >
> > **** Is such a card even still available?

> Probably harder than when modems were still the default, but I think
> you should be able to find one.

*** Thanks, I shall try some of the local stores this week.


> > > > I am also under the impression that not just any cards will fit.
> >
> > *** I have never had a notebook apart save for an ancient 286 one. I
> > had the impression companies made them to use only their hardware. Thanks
> > for the insight.

> I am not talking about taking it apart, but about *inserting* a PCMCIA
> card in a (externally accessible) PCMCIA slot. According to the PDF
> manual on HP's website [1] this model has at least one "PC Card, CardBus
> enabled" slot. PC_Card/Cardbus is a superset of the older PCMCIA, i.e.
> the former can accomodate the latter, but not the reverse. So yes, you
> should be able to insert a PCMCIA modem card.

*** Excellent. As you can tell, hardware is not my forte. (-: When I
get back to work where the notebook is, I will check for this.


> BTW, the manual also says that the Audio System is "16-bit, Sound
> Blaster Pro-comptatible", so I think you should be able to use DOS
> drivers for the SB-Pro, which should not be too hard to come by.

*** Hmm, I have an SB card in another computer and tried those drivers
but kept getting error messages like "Not Found" when I tried to load my
controller software. I will check the configuration again to see if I can
get it to work.


> [1] AFAICT, this is the right manual:
> <http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/bpi04347.pdf>

*** Thanks for that. A manual came with the notebook, but it is very
sketchy.


> but be sure and look around on the HP site, i.e. <http://www.hp.com> ->
> Support & Troubleshooting -> for product: Pavilion N3438 -> click ">>"
> search button -> Manuals. I don't know what is different between the
> two Reference Guides and the two Setup Guides.

*** I can check that. I had a lot of trouble with the HP website but
it was because I had used the wrong model number. I don't understand why
the sticker on the bottom gives a model number different from the actual
one.

Richard Bonner
http://www.chebucto.ca/~ak621/DOS/
.