WHITE PAPER
February 1998 |
|
Prepared By |
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Portable Software |
|
Marketing |
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Compaq Computer |
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Corporation |
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C O N T E N T S |
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Platform PC Card |
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Support .......................... |
3 |
Supported PC Card |
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Features ......................... |
3 |
CardBus Support .................. |
3 |
Enhanced Power Management 4 |
|
Extended Feature Set............ |
5 |
Supported PC Card |
|
Types ............................. |
6 |
CardWare® 5.0 |
|
Availability ..................... |
6 |
Additional PC Card |
|
Support Resources ......... |
7 |
PCMCIA Association ............. |
7 |
Compaq PC Card Solutions |
|
Program .............................. |
7 |
World Wide Web Resources ... |
8 |
Frequently Asked |
|
Questions ....................... |
9 |
List of Tables ............... |
10 |
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Compaq Portable PC Card Support for Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
Compaq delivers the highest quality portable computer solutions for Windows NT 4.0 Workstation. The purpose of this White Paper is to describe unique features Compaq provides with respect to PC Card functionality.
To enable CardBus PC Card functionality for Windows NT 4.0 on portable platforms, Compaq provides CardWare® 5.0 licensed from Award Software International. PC Card support is an area of hardware functionality where only a limited feature set is inherently supported by the operating system. CardWare® 5.0 is an award winning application that greatly expands the level of PC Card functionality under Windows NT 4.0. This White Paper will highlight supported Compaq platforms and key features, as well as other initiatives that contribute to a comprehensive PC Card solution for Compaq portable customers using Windows NT 4.0.
This is the second edition of the document. This edition includes minor updates to include the Armada 4200 as well as the Armada 7800 platform.
This document is intended for external audiences with a need for information about the Compaq implementation of PC Card support under Windows NT 4.0.
1
WHITE PAPER (cont.)
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NOTICE
The information in this publication is subject to change without notice.
THE COMPETITIVE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PUBLICATION IS BASED ON DATA AVAILABLE FROM PUBLIC SOURCES AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION. COMPAQ COMPUTER CORPORATION SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INACCURACIES, ERRORS, OR OMISSIONS IN INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THIRD PARTY SOURCES, SUCH AS PUBLICATIONS OF OTHER COMPANIES, THE PRESS, OR COMPETITIVE DATA ORGANIZATIONS.
THIS PUBLICATION IS MADE AVAILABLE ON AN “AS IS” BASIS AND COMPAQ SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL ASSOCIATED WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. IN NO EVENT WILL COMPAQ BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF OR RELIANCE ON THE MATERIAL CONTAINED IN THIS PUBLICATION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. COMPAQ RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS OR CHANGES TO THIS PUBLICATION AND THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HEREIN DESCRIBED AT ANY TIME, WITHOUT NOTICE OR OBLIGATION.
This publication does not constitute an endorsement of the product or products that were tested. The configuration or configurations tested or described may or may not be the only available solution. This test is not a determination of product quality or correctness, nor does it ensure compliance with any federal, state or local requirements. Compaq does not warrant products other than its own and then, only as strictly stated in Compaq product warranties.
ARMADA, Compaq, LTE, Deskpro, Presario, ProLiant, and ProSignia are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
LTE 5000, MultiBay, and Netelligent are trademarks of Compaq Computer Corporation.
Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Microsoft, Windows NT are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
©1998 Compaq Computer Corporation.
Compaq Portable PC Card Support for Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
Second Edition (February 1998) First Edition (October 1997) 0298/B
2
NOTE:
Direct enablers are basic software drivers provided by a PC Card vendor. These drivers allow the peripheral to be used under native Windows NT 4.0. Contact your PC Card vendor directly for information about the level of Windows NT 4.0 support offered.
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WHITE PAPER (cont.)
PL A T F O R M PC C A R D SU P P O R T
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 is pre-installed on select models within the Armada 1500, Armada 7300, Armada 7700 and Armada 7800 families. The operating system is supported on all models within the Armada 1500, Armada 4100, Armada 4200, Armada 7300, Armada 7700, Armada 7800 and LTE 5000 families. Table 1 summarizes which versions of CardWare® 5.0 are supported on each portable family. Note that PC Card features inherently supported by Windows NT 4.0 are supported across all product families (see the section titled Supported PC Card Features for more information). Using a PC Card under Windows NT 4.0 without CardWare® 5.0 requires basic software drivers for the PC Card peripheral called direct enablers1 and that the PC Card be inserted into the slot prior to turning on the notebook. Using a direct enabler offers support for a specific PC Card and only for a limited set of features and functionality when compared with PC Cards operating under CardWare® 5.0. Hot PC Card insertion, auto-configuration and CardBus are examples of features not supported through the use of a direct enabler, but are supported by CardWare. See the section titled Supported PC Card Features & Card Types for more information about PC Card features supported under CardWare® 5.0 versus those offered by the native operating system.
SUPPORTED PLATFORMS
Supported Platforms |
Windows NT 4.0 Native |
CardWare® 5.0 for |
CardWare® 5.0 for |
PC Card Support |
Windows NT 4.0 (v2.0x) |
Windows NT 4.0 (v2.1x) |
|
|
|
|
|
LTE 5000 Family |
ü |
û |
ü |
|
|
|
|
Armada 4100 Family |
ü |
û |
ü |
|
|
|
|
Armada 4200 Family |
ü |
û |
ü |
|
|
|
|
Armada 1500 Family |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|
|
|
|
Armada 7300 Family |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|
|
|
|
Armada 7700 Family |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|
|
|
|
Armada 7800 Family |
ü |
û |
ü |
Table 1 - PC Card support by Compaq portable computer family
SU P P O R T E D PC C A R D FE A T U R E S
CardWare® 5.0 greatly expands the set of PC Card features over those inherently offered by Windows NT 4.0. Table 3 summarizes major features by specific versions of CardWare® 5.0 and compares this expanded feature set with the limited set offered by Windows NT 4.0. The following is a discussion of key areas where CardWare® 5.0 provides additional value and makes PC Card technology, namely CardBus and enhanced power management, more usable for Compaq portable customers.
CardBus Support
One of the key hardware technology advancements introduced with the Armada 1500, Armada 4200, Armada 7300, Armada 7700 and Armada 7800 families is CardBus support, which paves the way for higher performance PC Card devices. CardBus is based on the widely accepted PCMCIA Association industry standard for 32-bit PC Cards. These devices are able to take advantage of
1 Due to the way direct enablers are designed, they can compromise system integrity and render other PC Cards unusable. Compaq recommends caution when using direct enablers.
3
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