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RJL
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Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 71
Problem (not) reading memory card
      #393595 - Mon May 05 2008 07:26 PM

I'm having problems reading a new 4gb SD HC Jessops memory card.
My desktop PC just won't recognise it. The PC is running Windows XP with all the latest patches. It's a socket 754 AMD Athlon 64 2800+, just over 2 years old.

I've tried putting it into the internal multi-card reader and also into an external adaptor, connected to a USB port.

The card is for a new camera and I have never been able to read this card. I can read 1gb SD cards, no problem.

I can read the card if I use the camera software, but I prefer not to. I've formatted the card, but it still doesn't work.

Exactly the same thing happens when I use my laptop.

Is is a problem with the card or are my PCs incompatible?


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BurrWalnut
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Reg'd: Tue
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Re: Problem (not) reading memory card [Re: RJL]
      #393601 - Mon May 05 2008 07:53 PM

Here is my complete arsenal of USB (Unreliable Serial Bus) solutions. Some you may have tried and some may not be relevant. Not in any particularly logical sequence, here they are:

1. Right-click My Computer > Properties > Hardware Tab > Device Manager to see if the drive shows up under ‘Disk drives‘. If so, right-click it > Properties > Policies Tab and check if you have a ‘Quick Removable’ check box. A USB external drive should have a check in this box. Reboot if you’ve changed anything.
2. Try restarting the computer with the USB drive already plugged in and powered up.
3. Try an ‘Autoplay’ repair, here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...amp;Hash=LJ6SCR
4. Right-click My Computer > Manage > Disk Management. If the disk is listed or hidden, right-click its graphic and change the drive letter to one nearer the end of the alphabet.
5. Control Panel > Add New Hardware and let the wizard find it.
6. Look here, particularly numbers 3 and 4 here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/871233/
7. If you have one, or can get hold of one, try using a ‘Live’ Linux CD to determine whether the problems are hardware or operating system related, i.e. if your USB ports work in Linux, then it isn't a hardware problem.
8. I‘ve been told that certain files should be in C:\Windows\Inf. I have 8 names each with an extension of .INF and .PNF, i.e. 16 files altogether: irstusb, usb, usbport, usbprint, usbstor, usbvideo, wceusbsh and wdma_usb.
9. Also, these driver files are present in Windows\System32\drivers\ . They have an extension of SYS and there are 13 of them: usb8023, usbcamd, usbcamd2, usbccgp, usbd, usbehci, usbhub, usbintel, usbport, usbprint, usbscan usbstor and usbuhci.
10. Have a look at USB troubleshooting tips here http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbstick_e.html
11. Check the BIOS for these three settings:
Look for ‘USB 2.0 Voltage’, low, med, high or max‘. If it’s present, set it to max.
Check that USB legacy support is Enabled.
Under Plug and Play or Peripherals, there may be an option to clear the stored data of PCI/USB devices.

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───────────────────────────────────
Fine English furniture is the new rock 'n' roll

The Chippendale Society


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RJL
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Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 71
Re: Problem (not) reading memory card [Re: BurrWalnut]
      #393659 - Tue May 06 2008 08:46 PM

Thanks for the info. I tried 1-6, couldn't do 7, no Linux Cd. Looked at the link in 10 and tried 11, but couldn't find the relevant section!

None resolved problem, but thanks for spending the time posting the answer.


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BurrWalnut
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Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 3458
Loc: London, England
Re: Problem (not) reading memory card [Re: RJL]
      #393686 - Wed May 07 2008 08:21 AM

I’m sorry none of the remedies worked for you but, as you have found, these USB errors are extremely difficult to repair.

There is a ‘penultimate resort’ repair that I haven’t mentioned because if it doesn’t work, it can leave you with no USB ports. As your other USB devices/ports are working it‘s not worth risking. By the way, the ultimate repair is to reload Windows.

Is there any chance of exchanging the 4GB card for 2 or 4 smaller ones?

--------------------
───────────────────────────────────
Fine English furniture is the new rock 'n' roll

The Chippendale Society


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RJL
regular


Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 71
Re: Problem (not) reading memory card [Re: BurrWalnut]
      #393798 - Thu May 08 2008 01:15 PM

The problem seems to be because the 4gb SDHC card is FAT32 (I think) and not FAT16. I tried it on several PCs at work and none could read it. Then someone had a Sandisk Micromate so we put the card into that and it was readable!

I think the Micromate (and camera) must effectively make the card appear as FAT16 to the PC.

Cheers.


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BurrWalnut
Chippendaler


Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 3458
Loc: London, England
Re: Problem (not) reading memory card [Re: RJL]
      #393852 - Fri May 09 2008 08:31 AM

Ah!

I had completely forgotten an incident that happened about 2 years ago. I was on a course and was given a ‘state of the art’ 8GB MP4 player to use for recording speeches, conversations and the like. After the course I decided to put some stills and videos on it. The details are very hazy but I had similar problems with the differing FAT systems. As far as I can remember I formatted it within the MP4 as Windows didn’t recognise it.

So, thanks to you, I can add “Check the file structure of the device” to my list of USB solutions.

Incidentally, that MP4 player is stuffed in a drawer somewhere along with all the other 'useless' gadgets I have bought or been given and only used once.

EDIT: I've just retrieved the said player and it is formatted to FAT32. It's playing Sloop John B by the Beach Boys, now Elizabethan Serenade by Mantovani. It's quite good, I might bring it back to life.

--------------------
───────────────────────────────────
Fine English furniture is the new rock 'n' roll

The Chippendale Society

Edited by BurrWalnut (Fri May 09 2008 09:11 AM)


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RJL
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Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 71
Re: Problem (not) reading memory card [Re: BurrWalnut]
      #393882 - Fri May 09 2008 03:49 PM

Well I'm glad to have been of help, didn't expect to be !!!

Enjoy the music.


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