Anyone with a Compaq WL100, please help.

Plaz · 05-11-2006

The short version:

Windows blue screened while updating the firmware on my WL100.

I need a .PDA dump from a working WL100.

or

Interesting/spectacular ways to dispose of an annoying piece of hardware.

The long winded, full blown Version:

About a month ago, I bought a WL100 from ebay and found that it wasn't working correctly with KisMAC. Upon further reading, I discovered that the card needed to be flashed to the latest firmware.

And this is when my battle began..

The WL100 came with Station firmware 0.6.2 (Old firmware, doesn't even support 104/128 WEP). Ok. Just flash the firmware, and it'll be good to go... Oh wait, only thing I have with PCMCIA is a Powerbook G4. Much googling ensued. Most of it led to one conclusion: Flash with an x86 laptop.

So then I spend a few days hunting for a x86 laptop, eventually I tracked down an Inspiron 9300 that my friend was selling. Snatched it for good price.

Got home, loaded drivers.. Windows bluescreens after inserting the card. A quick google search reveals that XP and compaq's WL100 drivers don't play well together. Eventually, I got the card working with XP with some other drivers. But the Compaq firmware update just would not work. I tried various firmware loaders that I've read here and around Google to no avail.

Eventually, I wiped the Dell and installed Win2k, still no luck flashing. By this point, I'm about ready to beat my head on the wall.

Then came my lowest moment yet. I wiped the laptop once again and installed *gasp*

Windows 98se.

I swore off 98 many, many moons ago. But what choice did I have? (Well, linux obviously)

Ok. Fresh Windows98 install, Check. Many, many visits to Windows update, check. WL100 Drivers, Check. Big mug of coffee, check. Time to flash this thing... Fired up the Compaq WL100 firmware updater, it found the card, no problems. Yay! Time to flash this little sucker. I hit proceed, and took a sip of coffee.

The progress bar moves along slowly . . . . I have a grin on my face. It moves a little more . . . then gets to 100%. I let out a sigh of relief, the ordeal was finally over. I finally have my updat... WTF!?!?

BSOD.

I calmly rebooted the Dell. 98 loads. Hrm, no green light. Ejected and reinserted the card. No green light. Opened device manager, no WL100 present, and no ()&$*& green light Then a feeling of impending doom crept over me, much the same feeling every male in america would get if Oprah Winfrey ran for president. I felt sick to my stomach.

I jumped out of my chair, spilled coffee on my legs and the laptop, shouted various four letter words not safe for television. Then proceeded to jump around like a Kangaroo that just fell into a vat of amphetamines because of the pain in my legs and utter frustration.

I took a few days off from the card after that.

I walked into my office. The WL100 lay there, silently laughing at me. It then occured to me that, maybe, just possibly, I should consider just buying a diffrent card that is compatible. Nah, I already put too much time and money into this irritating little endavor. I'm not gonna stop now.

Look out google, I'm on a mission. I found a way to ressurect dead cards after much searching at http://linux.junsun.net/intersil-prism/ and followed it closely. DOS seemed to be my last bastion of hope. Sadly, the Dell I bought doesn't have a floppy drive.

Well, 2 USB thumbdrives later I have a bootable DOS drive with all the firmware that goes to a Prism2 8002 model. Intersil's official DOS flashing utility and a program called "Legacy.exe" that get PCMCIA working under DOS.

After much fiddling with, I have the damned thing flashed and the green light gloweth once more. Unfortunately, all the .PDA files I've found around the net aren't quite right for a WL100. All the tinkering I have done with them doesn't seem to work.

Always back up the firmware and .PDA files before flashing, kids.

The only thing I have left is to:

Ask for some kind soul's help by dumping the .PDA from his/her WL100 and posting or sending it to me.

Or

Filming the last few minutes of this little piece of hardware's existance.

I am open for Firmware or ideas. =)

-- Ian

audit · 05-11-2006

Here's an idea, get another card. I'd be damned if I'd go through all that crap for any card other then an Orinoco or CISCO card.

brwrdrvr · 05-11-2006

Quote:

Filming the last few minutes of this little piece of hardware's existance.

That's my vote. Wrap that sucker up with an explosive. Det. Cord works nicely

Plaz · 05-18-2006

I'm guessing no one has a WL-100. Ahh well.

So.... How should I go about destroying this thing? =)

streaker69 · 05-18-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plaz

I'm guessing no one has a WL-100. Ahh well.

So.... How should I go about destroying this thing? =)

Check out here. http://members.netjunkies.net/streaker

Under Technical Documents and then Data destruction for some ideas.

05-11-2006	#1 (permalink)
Plaz Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2	Anyone with a Compaq WL100, please help. The short version: Windows blue screened while updating the firmware on my WL100. I need a .PDA dump from a working WL100. or Interesting/spectacular ways to dispose of an annoying piece of hardware. The long winded, full blown Version: About a month ago, I bought a WL100 from ebay and found that it wasn't working correctly with KisMAC. Upon further reading, I discovered that the card needed to be flashed to the latest firmware. And this is when my battle began.. The WL100 came with Station firmware 0.6.2 (Old firmware, doesn't even support 104/128 WEP). Ok. Just flash the firmware, and it'll be good to go... Oh wait, only thing I have with PCMCIA is a Powerbook G4. Much googling ensued. Most of it led to one conclusion: Flash with an x86 laptop. So then I spend a few days hunting for a x86 laptop, eventually I tracked down an Inspiron 9300 that my friend was selling. Snatched it for good price. Got home, loaded drivers.. Windows bluescreens after inserting the card. A quick google search reveals that XP and compaq's WL100 drivers don't play well together. Eventually, I got the card working with XP with some other drivers. But the Compaq firmware update just would not work. I tried various firmware loaders that I've read here and around Google to no avail. Eventually, I wiped the Dell and installed Win2k, still no luck flashing. By this point, I'm about ready to beat my head on the wall. Then came my lowest moment yet. I wiped the laptop once again and installed gasp Windows 98se. I swore off 98 many, many moons ago. But what choice did I have? (Well, linux obviously) Ok. Fresh Windows98 install, Check. Many, many visits to Windows update, check. WL100 Drivers, Check. Big mug of coffee, check. Time to flash this thing... Fired up the Compaq WL100 firmware updater, it found the card, no problems. Yay! Time to flash this little sucker. I hit proceed, and took a sip of coffee. The progress bar moves along slowly . . . . I have a grin on my face. It moves a little more . . . then gets to 100%. I let out a sigh of relief, the ordeal was finally over. I finally have my updat... WTF!?!? BSOD. I calmly rebooted the Dell. 98 loads. Hrm, no green light. Ejected and reinserted the card. No green light. Opened device manager, no WL100 present, and no ()&$*& green light Then a feeling of impending doom crept over me, much the same feeling every male in america would get if Oprah Winfrey ran for president. I felt sick to my stomach. I jumped out of my chair, spilled coffee on my legs and the laptop, shouted various four letter words not safe for television. Then proceeded to jump around like a Kangaroo that just fell into a vat of amphetamines because of the pain in my legs and utter frustration. I took a few days off from the card after that. I walked into my office. The WL100 lay there, silently laughing at me. It then occured to me that, maybe, just possibly, I should consider just buying a diffrent card that is compatible. Nah, I already put too much time and money into this irritating little endavor. I'm not gonna stop now. Look out google, I'm on a mission. I found a way to ressurect dead cards after much searching at http://linux.junsun.net/intersil-prism/ and followed it closely. DOS seemed to be my last bastion of hope. Sadly, the Dell I bought doesn't have a floppy drive. Well, 2 USB thumbdrives later I have a bootable DOS drive with all the firmware that goes to a Prism2 8002 model. Intersil's official DOS flashing utility and a program called "Legacy.exe" that get PCMCIA working under DOS. After much fiddling with, I have the damned thing flashed and the green light gloweth once more. Unfortunately, all the .PDA files I've found around the net aren't quite right for a WL100. All the tinkering I have done with them doesn't seem to work. Always back up the firmware and .PDA files before flashing, kids. The only thing I have left is to: Ask for some kind soul's help by dumping the .PDA from his/her WL100 and posting or sending it to me. Or Filming the last few minutes of this little piece of hardware's existance. I am open for Firmware or ideas. =) -- Ian

05-11-2006	#2 (permalink)
audit Country Boy. Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Deep in the Woods. Posts: 1,965	Here's an idea, get another card. I'd be damned if I'd go through all that crap for any card other then an Orinoco or CISCO card. __________________ audit Blackberry Outage Mail List. Be the one of first people to know about RIM outages.

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05-18-2006	#4 (permalink)
Plaz Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2	I'm guessing no one has a WL-100. Ahh well. So.... How should I go about destroying this thing? =)