Databook furnishes a BBS system containing recent version of the CardTalk software. Contact the Databook BBS by dialing in the USA area code 508 777-9819. The modem protocol is eight data bits, no parity one stop bit. The system will autodetect your baud rate up to 14.4 K baud.
Q: How do I assign a specific drive letter to the Desktop Adapter?
You must use CardTalk V3.15 or later. Add the switch /L:X. This causes CardTalk to assign drive letters starting at to the sockets starting at X to the sockets. For example /L:g on a two-socket TMB-250 causes CardTalk to use drive letters g: and h:.
Q: The 5.25" Conversion Kit doesn't fit in my PC. How do I install the Desktop Adapter into the 5.25" drive bay?
Contact your system manufacturer or the dealer where you bought your system. They can supply the adapter kit that will fit in your system.
Q: My PC locks up during the software installation while it says Checking Hardware. What's the problem?
The installation program contains software that is trying to detect the base address of the Databook adapter. This causes some systems to fail. You can disable this check by typing install /nosnoop.
Q: Why does my PC lock up as the system boots right after the drive letters are assigned?
When the drive letters are assigned, CardTalk checks if there is a PC Card in each socket. This generates a interrupt. CardTalk uses, by default, interrupt IRQ11. If there is an interrupt conflict, your system may hang. You can change the interrupt that CardTalk uses by adding the switch /scirq=X to the socket services driver (TMB240.SYS). Databook recommends trying 10 or 5. If you are really stuck, you can disable CardTalk interrupts by using the switch /scirq=0.
Q: I don't get any beeps or the BUSY light doesns't illuminate when I insert a card.
This could be an interrupt problem, see the previous question. It is also possible that the cables are not connected properly. Check that the two flat data cables are not twisted and that the drive-bay module has its power cable properly connected.
Q: I see a warning message that Memory Window at XXXX is in use when I boot the system. What does this mean?
CardTalk reserves memory windows for later use by PC Cards. During boot this range is checked and if it seems that something is already using this memory, CardTalk will present this warning. This is just a warning and the system will continue to operate. You should verify that the range you selected with the /MEMW option is available and excluded in the EMM386 driver. Sometimes network or display adapters use memory ranges for their hardware, in this case, change the /MEMW switch to specify a different range.
Q: What is the minimum number of drivers that I need to load in the CONFIG.SYS to get CardTalk to work?
CardTalk requires a socket services (e.g. TMB240.SYS), Card Services (CTALKCS.EXE) and the CardTalk SuperClient (CARDTALK.SYS) drivers. These occupy about 100K of system memory. All may be loaded using DEVICEHIGH. There is no mechanism to reduce this memory requirement. If the PC Cards you are using do no require a memory window, you may specify /MEMW without a range and remove this exclusion from EMM386. This will recover 32K of system memory.
Q: When I start Windows, I get the message: There are no installed Sockets Found in this Computer . What does this mean?
This message is generated by the CardTalk Control Panel when it fails to detect the presence of the CardTalk drivers. If you are not using the CardTalk drivers, remove the CardTalk control panel from your Startup group. If you intend on using the CardTalk drivers, go back to MS-DOS and verify that they loaded properly at boot time. Watch for error messages during boot.
Q: How can I use the CardTalk Control Panel to format an SRAM or FLASH Card if I don't know what the part number is?
The Control Panel provides a generic selection for manufacturer and part number. This scheme will work in every case.
Q: How do I get the latest version of CardTalk for my desktop adapter?
The current release of CardTalk for the TMB240, TMB250 and the TMD650 is version 3.15. It is available on the Databook BBS. Older versions may also be available.
Q: Does Windows 95 work with my Databook Socket?
Yes, Windows 95 has built-in support for the Databook chipset. Any additional drivers are available from Microsoft.
Q: Does Windows NT work with my Databook socket?
Although there are no current drivers for the Databook chipset under Windows NT, Microsoft is developing them. Databook is not writing drivers for Windows NT. These drivers are being produced and supported by Microsoft.
Q: Does OS/2 work with my Databook socket?
Although there are no current drivers for the Databook chipset under OS/2, IBM is developing them. Databook is not writing drivers for OS/2. These drivers are being produced and supported by IBM.
Q: Can I make the device drivers use less space?
The minimal set of drivers necessary to load CardTalk is Socket Services (TMB240.SYS), Card Services (CTALKCS.EXE), and the CardTalk Superclient driver (CARDTALK.SYS). Together, these drivers take up a total of about 100k of memory. They can all be loaded into upper memory using an EMM Manager such as EMM386.
Socket Services Driver (TMB-240.SYS)
DEVICEHIGH=C:\CARDTALK\TMB240.SYS [/io:address] [scirq=x]
Options: /io:address is the base I/O address in hexadecimal, where address is a three-digit hexadecimal number from 100 to 7F0. The default is 240.
/scirq=x sets the status change interrupt number (the default is IRQ11), where x is a one digit decimal number between 3 and 15 (or 0). If you have more than one controller in your system, you should have one interrupt for each of them. (scirq=x,y...)
Card Services Driver (CTALKCS.EXE)
DEVICEHIGH=C:\CARDTALK\CTALKCS.EXE This driver has no options
Super Client Driver (CARDTALK.SYS)
DEVICEHIGH=C:\CARDTALK\CARDTALK.SYS [/a] [/serial=x] [comyirq=z] [/noshare] [/ata=qqq] [/idle=ttt] [/memw=nnnn-nnnn] [/iow=nnn-nnn] [/xirq=x,y...] [/nocheck] [/n:partitions] [/L=letter]
/a Enables the annunciator. (BEEP)
/serial=x Assigns a PC fax/modem to port COMx, where x is a one-digit decimal number from 1 to 4.
/comyirq=z Assigns the IRQz to COMy.
/noshare Dissables IRQ pulse to level conversion (if enabled in Socket Services).
/ata=qqq Changes the default ATA I/O base address from 180 to qqq.
/idle=ttt Sets the ATA card spin down time in seconds, where ttt is a decimal number.
/memw=nnnn-nnnn Sets the memory address, where nnnn is a four-digit hexadecimal number. The maximum size of a single memory window is 64K bytes, i.e. d000-dfff.
/io=mmm-mmm Sets the I/O address, where mmm is a three-digit hexadecimal number. The maximum size of a single I/O window is 40 bytes, i.e. 300-33f
/xirq=x,y... Sets the IRQ(s) that are unavailable for use by the PCMCIA devic or in use by another device, where x,y... are one-digit decimal numbers between 3 and 15. Separate each one from the others by a comma.
/nocheck Dissables the resource checker that tests memory and I/O resources to see if they are avaiable. If the resource checker detects another device at that location it displays the following message:
WARNING - Memory Window at xxx0h possibly in use by another device.
or
WARNING - I/O Window at xxxh possibly in use by another device.
/n:partitions Sets the number of partitions for all PCMCIA sockets.
/L=letter Sets the base driver letter for the PCMCIA device, where letter is a letter higher in the alphabet than the last drive letter currently in use. If you select a letter that is currently in use CardTalk will automatically substitute the next available drive letter.
Q: My PC-Card Fax/Modem is on COM3. How do I change the interrupt so that the modem doesnt interfere with COM1?
Use the /com3irq=5 switch on CARDTALK.SYS. This will change the IRQ for COM3 from the default of IRQ4 to IRQ5. You can try other IRQs if you like. Dont forget to change the Windows setting for COM port IRQ using the Control Panel - Ports applet.
Q: I get two beeps when I insert my modem. What does this mean?
This means that CardTalk does not recognize that your card is a modem. There are three possible problems, your card may be broken, defective or non-compliant. CardTalk may need to be upgraded. Finally your adapter may not be installed correctly, cables may be reversed or not fully connected.
Q: I get three beeps when I insert my modem. What does this mean?
This means that CardTalk could not find and available COM port. Only COM1 through COM4 are supported. You can use MSD to check what COM port hardware you have in your system.
Q: Do I have to install any of the software that came with the modem?
No. The CardTalk drivers will initialize the modem and assign a COM port to it without the need for additional software.
Q: I get two or three beeps when I insert the network card. This means that CardTalk doesnt recognize the LAN card. How do I get CardTalk to recognize my card?
Your LAN PC-Card should come with software that includes a Card Services Client Driver. This software works with CardTalk Card Services to initialize the card. By itself, CardTalk will not automatically recognize your LAN card. You need to load the LAN cards Card Services Client Driver after the CardTalk software loads.
Q: How do I specify the IO Range and Memory Range that my network card will use?
You can specify IO and Memory ranges by using the /IOW and /MEMW switches on the CARDTALK.SYS line in your CONFIG.SYS file. CardTalk uses a default IO range of 300-31F and a default memory window of D000-D7FF. You can specify up to a 40 port IO window and a 64K memory window. Be sure that the memory range and IO range match what is designated by your LAN software.
Q:: Can I specify an IRQ for my network card?
CardTalk does not specify an IRQ for the LAN card to use. The LAN cards Card Services Client driver will request a particular interrupt and CardTalk will allocate it. Please refer to your LAN software manual on how to specify an IRQ.
Q: I get Invalid Media when I do a DIR on my ATA Card. What's wrong?
CardTalk doesn't recognize that an ATA card has been inserted. There are a few reasons why this could be happening. One reason is that the default ATA address that CardTalk uses is being used by another device. If this is so, then use the /ATA switch on the CARDTALK.SYS line in your CONFIG.SYS to specify a different address. The valid addresses are between 100 and 200. The default address is 170. The other reason could be that the power or data cables are not connected properly on your desktop adapter. Please double-check your cable connections.
7 Why don't I get one beep when I insert my ATA Card?
This is probably a card recognition problem. See question above. Because the system is beeping improperly when you insert the ATA card, it could also be a problem with the Socket Change Interrupt. CardTalk uses IRQ11 by default to detect when a card has been inserted. You can change the interrupt that CardTalk uses by adding the switch /scirq=X to the socket services driver (TMB240.SYS). Databook recommends trying 10 or 5. If you are really stuck, you can disable CardTalk interrupts by using the switch /scirq=0.
Q: My ATA Card is compressed with STACKER(tm), but I don't see the stacked files. How can I see the compressed files?
You have to run the Stacker software after the CardTalk software initialized the ATA card. This is the way that Stacker will find the compressed drive.
How do I get the latest CardTalk drivers for my Laptop PC?
Databook does not distribute software for notebook computers. You will not find drivers for your notebook computer on the Databook BBS. If you need a software upgrade, please contact your notebook computer distributor for the appropriate upgrade.