Problems with Card Reader

[yosik]

Hi,
I just got a multi card reader, USB 2.0. My OS is Win2k. When I plug it in, I get the "New Mass Storage" message, but then my computer freezes. I tried again and again with no result. My USB card is 1.1.
Any idea as to what to do? I thought it would just be plug and play, but it doesn't seem that way....

Thanks
Yossi

[Corey]

That's a drag, I wonder if a driver update would help?

I have a multicard reader here which is USB too, but it worked right out of the box (XP). I've read that Win2K/WinME occasionally have anomalies with stuff like this but that sometimes you can get it working after a little noodling.

[yosik]

Yes, it IS a drag...
SHouldn't need a driver on win2k...But in any case, I can't even get to the point where I could try and upgrade a driver. My computer freezes completely as I plug the device. Only way is to reboot...
Thanks anyway, Corey.
Yossi

[Corey]

Bummer...

[Intrigued]

It sounds like the system (computer) in question may not be able to supply enough power (current) to the card reader. If you have such, I would next use the card reader's power cable (or are you?).

Did that work?

And, systems running Win ME and newer should see the card reader and the seperate drives.

[yosik]

Intrigued,
The key word here is SHOULD.
I nailed the problem to USB 1.1 compatibility. On another machine, also win2k, but with usb2.0, it worked like a charme. And yes, usb2.0 SHOULD be compatible with 1.1.....
Thanks for your time and thoughts.
Yossi

[Intrigued]

Intrigued,
The key word here is SHOULD.
I nailed the problem to USB 1.1 compatibility. On another machine, also win2k, but with usb2.0, it worked like a charme. And yes, usb2.0 SHOULD be compatible with 1.1.....
Thanks for your time and thoughts.
Yossi

So, it's actually the card reader's software and not windows 2000? Or?

If so... then that fits what I have found and stated before here (the originating software/hardware's driver is to blame, quite often, and not the Windows OS itself.).

What model and version is it? Who manufacturers it? (the USB 1.1) There may be even some documentation on that company's Website, including maybe discussions in their forums (if they have them of coruse).

In any event, glad to hear you have found a solution.

[yosik]

Not exactly, Intrigued.
The card reader is USB 2.0 and works smoothly attache dto a USB 2.0 port. As to the other machin (my home computer) it has USB 1.1 ports only, as part of the original board. So what could be the culprit is the card reader (no software there, just the hardware) not being backwards compatible to usb 1.1.

Yossi

[Intrigued]

Not exactly, Intrigued.
The card reader is USB 2.0 and works smoothly attache dto a USB 2.0 port. As to the other machin (my home computer) it has USB 1.1 ports only, as part of the original board. So what could be the culprit is the card reader (no software there, just the hardware) not being backwards compatible to usb 1.1.

Yossi

Does the "home" machine have any exclamation marks in the Device Manager?

[yosik]

Intrigued
I don't get to that stage. When I plug the card reader in, the computer recognizes it, but freezes immediately.
Yossi

[Corey]

When I was in the computer store today I saw a little thing for $15 which claims to make a USB 1.1 port USB 2.0 compliant. I think it was called a port/hub, by Dlink I think. Not sure if that would work, maybe not...

[yosik]

Thanks Corey,
Looking into it.
Yossi

[Ted Sullivan]

It's really inexpensive and easy to add a USB 2.0 PCI card to your system. It should coexist fine with your USB 1.0/1.1 ports, but the speed difference is gigantic (like dialup vs broadband). It's definitely worth doing if you use USB for tranfering from memory cards etc.

[Intrigued]

Intrigued
I don't get to that stage. When I plug the card reader in, the computer recognizes it, but freezes immediately.
Yossi

Ah, resource issue. I like to handle those in person, not over the telephone or on a message board.

I did as the other two guys suggested (for the reason of more speed) and installed a USB 2.0 PCI card myself. You should be able to use any PCI slot, but in reality that does not always ring true for PCI hardware I have found.

Also, as a side note, I have found that (speaking USB Hub now) when you have a USB Hub (even powered!)... it may not get your USB equipment going properly. Some USB hardware needs (I have read such in manuals no less) to be plugged into one of the USB ports on the computer. Just a heads up while we are on the topic. I have ran into this problem only once, thankfully.

[yosik]

Been there, done that. No help.
Next step is to check a usb 2.0 PCI card....
Yossi