I just bought an older computer just for playing age of empires on, :tongue: and there is only one thing wrong with it. The usb is shot... bleh. So that means no mouse for me! But I know there is an alternative if I use a pcmcia card that has usb ports, but I can't figure out how to make it work. Soooo how do I make it work? The computer has two pcmcia slots on it, and I don't know how to make either of them work. I'm a mac user and can't figure out dells to save my life (seriously I would be dead if I had a gun pointed to my head right now...)

Help please!

So... this is a laptop? Are you sure it's PCMCIA and not an ExpressCard slot? It'd probably be a fair old age if it's PCMCIA

If it'c PCMCIA, which IIRC only had one size, you'd just need to pick up a card with USB ports and slide it into the slot.

If it's ExpressCard, you have to be careful to pick out the right card size for your laptop, after that it's just a matter of sliding it in, same as above.

If it's a desktop, you need a PCI card. You open up the case, take off one of the protective sheaths from the back panel, and slide in the card into an open PCI slot. Snaps in and is very simple to do.

Yup a laptop. Old one, but it works great with age of empires.

Dell Inspiron 3700 Laptop
AC Power / Charger Cord
OEM DELL Rechargeable Battery (Doesn't hold a charge)

Dell Inspiron 3700:

Intel Processor (433Mhz)
128MB of Memory
6.4GB Hard Drive
CDROM
1 USB Port
2 PCMCIA card slots
Ethernet Adapter included

SOFTWARE INSTALLED
Windows XP Professional

It's old! That's why I have my mac for all the other stuff.

I'm not certain what would prompt you to buy such an ancient machine, especially as a laptop which are far more prone to problems than desktops. Seems like a lemon buy to me, unless you got it for like $50-$75 (and that price is IMO, still pushing it since I doubt the thing has much life left in it before kicking the bucket)

Anyway, in that case just get a PCMCI card that is for USB 2.0. It'll probably cost between $10-20 from a quick search on google for one.

It was only $40 from a friend and I tested it before I got it. So if it kicks the bucket, I can get my money back. Pretty safe bet anyway. I only wanted it for a couple of old games, and I am not buying a brand new computer for those.

And thanks! I am possibly going to get one later on if I get sick of the built in mouse.

Have you considered trying out http://www.codeweavers.com/?

It has a long enough trial for you to test if the programs you want to work will work in it, and if it does you won't have a need for the craptop anymore

You know if I learn any lesson on these forums it should be to consult the forum members about this stuff first before buying anything.... I am laying my pride and ego aside and am definitely going to try that now...

Again thank you for having such an expansive knowledge. I am still young and learning!