On a Windows Vista-based computer, a 16-bit PCMCIA card may not work, and a Code 12 error may be logged in the device properties

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SYMPTOMS

When you use a 16-bit PCMCIA card on a Windows Vista-based computer, the card may not be installed correctly. Or, the card may not otherwise function correctly. When this issue occurs, a yellow circle and exclamation point may be displayed next to the device in Device Manager (Devmgmt.msc). Additionally, a status message that resembles the following may be displayed on the General tab of the device properties:

This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use. (Code 12)
If you want to use this device, you will need to disable one of the other devices on this system.
The device instance does not exist in the hardware tree.

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CAUSE

This issue may occur if the card's installation file (.inf) or the card's hardware specifies a specific memory I/O range.

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WORKAROUND

You may be able to work around this issue by editing the .inf file. For example, comment out the section of the .inf file that specifies a specific address.

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MORE INFORMATION

Windows Vista requires that 16-bit PC Card devices support shareable PCI interrupts. A 16-bit PC Card device cannot request a specific range of I/O space in Windows Vista. It can request only a specific amount of I/O space.

For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/PCMCIA-IRQrouting.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/PCMCIA-IRQrouting.mspx)

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