All drives can be flashed with a laptop.
You don't say why flashing didn't work on a laptop, was the drive not accessible, did jungleflasher not work, did it freeze etc.
At the moment I don't know of anyone who has flashed with an express card, I think they are all JMB chipsets, which I have been told most are OEM SIL chipsets, but can't confirm this as I don't have an express card yet, am awaiting delivery.
You can flash with an express card slot by using an express card to pcmcia adaptor, all this info and more is in this thread
Avoiding The Via Freeze including alternative drivers for SATA chipsets, ICH7 included.