Using a Linksys WPC11 Wireless LAN Card with HPC2000

Applies To

• Windows CE 3.0 (Handheld PC 2000)
• Linksys WPC11 v1, v2.5, v3

Overview

The Linksys WPC11 Wireless Network card is not officially supported under Windows CE 3.0 HPC2000. Likewise not all versions of the WPC11 card (1, 2.5 or 3) have supported Windows CE drivers available.

This article describes steps you can take to install and configure a WPC11 Wireless NIC if the drivers available from the Linksys web site do not allow your HPC2000 device to connect to the Wireless Network.

Note: This article has been replaced by CESDH0007 which contains updated information on Linksys WPC11 drivers for the Handheld PC.

Downloads

• WL100 Wireless PC Card (802.11b) Driver

How-to Guide

Before beginning please ensure that you have a full backup of all the files on your device. We recommend that you also check the Linksys web site for updated drive information with regards to support for HPC2000 based devices. A link is provided at the end of the article.

NB: This information contained in this article is not supported by HPC:Factor, Linksys or Compaq. Use at your own risk

1. Download the WL100 Pocket PC 2000 driver file SP16044.exe from the CESD download menu
2. Double click SP16044.exe to begin the setup process on your host system
3. Remove the WPC11 from your Handheld PC and install the drivers to their default location
4. Soft reset your Handheld PC to complete the installation and register the driver files
5. Insert the WPC11 PCMCIA NIC into your device. You will be prompted to use the device. Tap OK
6. HPC2000 will not be able to locate a driver for the Wireless NIC and will prompt you with a dialogue asking you to specify a driver name. In the driver name box type: WL100NDS.dll
7. Tap OK
8. Open My Handheld PC and browse to \Windows\Startup
9. Delete the entry for WL100 Status Icon. The WL100 Status program is a Pocket PC application and will crash if run under HPC2000
10. Setup your Network Configuration options in the Control Panel Network Applet. The WPC100 will be listed as a WL100NDS1: Compaq WL100 Wireless LAN Card

Once you have made changes to your network configuration close the Network Control Panel applet and eject the WPC11 NIC. Then reinsert it to enable the changes.

Note: The driver hack may have adverse affects in the security schema of your wireless network environment. Secure SSID (closed SSID) and WEP are affected by the changes and in many cases will not function.

Links

Linksys: http://www.linksys.com/

Acknowledgements

With thanks to Monica Erdody for working with us on this support article.