Xircom PCMCIA Ethernet Card Fails to Initialize in WFWG

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

Xircom Ethernet or Ethernet+Fax cards on some PCMCIA-equipped devices do not work correctly with Windows for Workgroups. Although the drivers appear to load successfully, the card fails to initialize and therefore you cannot communicate with the network.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the Netcard= setting in the [Network Drivers] section of your SYSTEM.INI file points to either CECFG.EXE (for the Ethernet card) or CEMCFG.EXE (for the Ethernet+Modem card)or CE2CFG.EXE (for the Xircom Credit Card Ethernet Adaptor IIps). The Xircom card will fail the NET DIAG test with these drivers present. If you are using these files and cannot access your network, it means the PCMCIA controller hardware and the card and socket service software are incompatible under Windows for Workgroups.

This problem does not affect all hardware and software combinations under Windows for Workgroups, so the problem does not occur with all Xircom PCMCIA products.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, remove the CECFG.EXE, CE2CFG.EXE, or CEMCFG.EXE filename from the Netcard= line in the [Network Drivers] section of your SYSTEM.INI file.