• Registered: 2011-11-03
  • Posts: 3

Topic: HDSPe Expresscard won't work with Dell m6600

It's the strangest thing... both units are brand new.  When I connect the RME expresscard, the laptop slows to a crawl, just short of freezing up.  It doesn't recognize the RME card.  If I pull the card, the laptop goes right back to normal, and operates perfectly again. 

I tried inserting the card while the laptop is off, and it's the same problem... animated windows logo slows to a crawl and the computer won't boot.

I searched the forums, but can't find any comments.  Has anyone else experienced this? 

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Dell m6600
Core i7 2720Q
16G RAM
Winodws 7 64bit
NVidia Graphics

  • From: near Paris, France
  • Registered: 2009-01-15
  • Posts: 19

Re: HDSPe Expresscard won't work with Dell m6600

Hi

I experienced same issue with RME Expresscard on my Dell Vostro 3700 (i5, Win7, but anyway). During one year Dell waranty service tried to solve but never succeeded, in spite of changing the expresscard itself, its receiver, the mother board, both memory sticks, and many software trials. They finaly gave up, RME saying it's Dell problem and Dell telling it's RME's fault. My solution has been to resell the expresscard and buy a Fireface UC, which is a real happiness.

Good luck. Don't waste your time.

Carenne

  • Registered: 2011-11-03
  • Posts: 3

Re: HDSPe Expresscard won't work with Dell m6600

Thanks Carenne... you're right it's a lost cause.  I returned the RME expresscard.  Though there is a somewhat happy ending.  I bought a $50 Expresscard to Cardbus adapter on Amazon, and my old RME pcmcia/cardbus interface runs perfectly.  Who knew.  It gives my Dell a hideous bulge on the left side, but again, it works flawlessly and I can get a little more life out of my multiface before dropping another 1 to 2k on a more modern interface.

It's the StarTech.com ExpressCard to CardBus Laptop Adapter CB2EC in case anybody is interested.

Thanks again!

4 Reply by megapiano (edited by megapiano 2012-12-09 15:54:20)

  • Registered: 2012-12-09
  • Posts: 3

Re: HDSPe Expresscard won't work with Dell m6600

Hi...wow so I see I am not alone!...the problem still occurs with the Dell Precision M6700...every time I try to insert and install the RME HDSPe ExpressCard, the laptop slows to a crawl and basically is frozen and locked up until I remove the RME HDSPe ExpressCard.  This is even before any device detection and driver installation.

Another guy in the Dell forums wrote this: "BIOS not compatible with ExpressCard Workstation M4500...I have a Dell Precision Mobile Workstation M4500. The standard for the number of bus lines available for the ExpressCard is 0 to 255 or 256 lines total. The M4500 only has 0 to 63 or 64 lines total. If you have no intention of supporting the full functionality of the ExpressCard standard, then don't put a useless slot in the machine, or fix it."

Anyway, it seems like some kind of systematic problem!  I will try and follow up on this from the Dell Forum side...maybe there is some kind of BIOS or chipset update (or even motherboard change?) that would help, but in the meantime I will try the StarTech.com ExpressCard to CardBus Laptop Adapter Steve mentioned (thanks for the heads up!).  If anyone has any further updates or experiences, please let us know!  Thanks!