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FIX: The PCMCIA card does not work as expected after you suspend and resume three times on a portable computer

Article ID: 822242 - View products that this article applies to.

SYMPTOMS

If you repeatedly suspend and resume the operating system of a portable computer, the multifunction Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card does not work as expected.

For example, if you suspend and resume a second time, the PCMCIA card stays turned on. If you suspend and resume a third time, other unexpected behavior may occur. This unexpected behavior may include the following:

Device-specific program software does not detect the PCMCIA card.
The PCMCIA card is not listed in Device Manager.

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CAUSE

This problem occurs because the Serial.sys driver does not interact correctly with certain Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) basic input/output systems (BIOSes).

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RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time    Version         Size     File name
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   14-Jun-2003  00:41   5.1.2600.1234   60,800   Serial.sys

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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MORE INFORMATION

Steps to reproduce the behavior

Suspend and resume.
1. The first time that you suspend, the PCMCIA card turns off.
2. The first time that you resume, the PCMCIA card turns on, and the program works.
Suspend and resume.
1. The second time that you suspend, the PCMCIA card stays turned on.
2. The second time that you resume, the program works.
Suspend and resume.
1. The third time that you suspend, the PCMCIA card stays turned on.
2. The third time that you resume, the program has problems interacting with the PCMCIA card, and the device is not available. No indicator lights appear on the portable computer.

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