doug Posted April 9, 2008 Report Share Posted April 9, 2008 Family treated me to a digital Photo frame for my birthday. Now this works very well using my memory stick - always on my key ring holder. It also works vell on the XD card from my camera. I thought it would be more convenient to buy a dedicated memory chip so I could copy over selected photos for display. So I purchased a Kingston 512 SD card. This is where I'm having trouble. When I try to copy over photo's with it plugged into my card reader it's very slow and erratic in receiving the images. Sometimes I just keep getting errors such as "card not inserted" or error copying file. When it does work it's very slow in copying over. Putting the card into the photo frame and the images seem to be OK.Is it possible that the card is faulty and should I just get it changed or are SD cards slower and less reliable than other types. In which case any suggestions as to what to go for? The photo frame will take MMC/SD and CF types. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted April 9, 2008 Report Share Posted April 9, 2008 I have a sat-nav and a digital camera, both of which use SD cards.Last year I bought a 4 GB card to take on holiday - but it would not work in either the camera or the Sat-nav. It was found by Windows when inserted in my USB card reader and would accept file transfers without a problem. However - I tried loading it with some photos to try and trick the camera into displaying them - but no go.I eventually returned it to the supplier who admitted that some cameras were very fussy about the type of card. Apparently they come in various speed ratings. I was persuaded to buy a Sandisc high speed card at 30% extra cost - but it has worked fine so I have no complaints.I also have a digital SLR camera which uses compact flash cards - but I do not detect that CF is any faster or better than SD - by rumour just more robust in extreme conditions.I wonder whether you have a dodgy card or a cheap slow speed one. Have you tried other cards to make a direct comparison. If so - and it fails to perform - then send it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted April 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2008 Thanks Alan, giving me food for thought. May contact son-in-laws to borrow the cards from their cameras. I think they are both SD. At least that will give me the possibility of comparisons and elimination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 That seems to me to be a very engaging thought......fast cards....fast electrons. Could that lead to fast electricity or even fast water. It's quite a wonderful idea.I look forward to the outcome of your experimentation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted April 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2008 Well Catgate and all. It looks as though my problems are down to my card reader. It's a combined USB 2.0 3 USB ports with multi card reader slots. Now I don't think I've had a problem up 'till now. I originally purchased it to read the CF cards from my Canon camera. but I lost the canon camera while on holiday. So I bought a Fuji camera in Singapore, in anticipation of the insurance coughing up - which they did on return. At the same time I purchased an X-reader whatsit that I plug the XD card into and in turn plug that into one of the 3 USB ports on the combination unit. This has not given any problems at all. I can read and write to the card with no difficulties. I have now tried 2 types of cards in the basic reader - the original SD card plus one from one of my sons-in-law and the one i just purchased and a CF card from the other son-in laws camera. they all give the same problems. The card reader is very slow and erratic in recognising the cards and sometimes wont even see their presence. So I wont be able to claim a replacement but I don't know what steps to take next. I don't remember any problems reading the CF cards from the Canon camera that I lost, So if anyone out there can make any suggestions i will be very grateful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted April 12, 2008 Report Share Posted April 12, 2008 I assume the card reader is built into the computer in one of the 3.5 slots. On my last computer I had a combined floppy, card reader and 2 USB slots unit built into the computer. Once upon a time - I pulled a card out of the slot in forgetful mode - without first using the "Safely Remove Hardware" button. The card reader never worked properly again but I managed to salvage the card by re-formatting it. I eventually saved up my pennies and bought a replacement card reader (without the floppy drive) for less than a tenner and they all lived happily ever-after.Perhaps your card reader has somehow got itself corrupted and is now destined for land fill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted April 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2008 More money then! The card reader is not built in but plugs into a USB 2.0 port on the back of the PC. The X-reader plugs into that but seems to be working OK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted April 12, 2008 Report Share Posted April 12, 2008 Do I understand this correctly.You have a standalone USB multi card reader that can read SD cards (and others) which also has spare USB ports on it.You have a USB XD card reader separately.You plug the multi card reader into a vacant USB port at the rear of the computer - then plug the XD reader into a vacant USB port on the multi card reader. Presumably because you do not have a free USB slot on the computer - which is why you daisy chain.The XD reader works OK proving that the USB ports on the multi card reader function. But the multi card reader does not work.If this is your set up - it makes the point that the multi card reader is duff. You can get a new one for less than a tenner. Pinch it from the housekeeping - we promise not to tell her. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted April 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2008 Correct and will do. Can I blame you if she finds out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted April 13, 2008 Report Share Posted April 13, 2008 It is quite amazing, to me, how any of this stuff works at all. We have a multi card reader that plugged into the linux machine and worked "straight out of the box". But plugged into the W98SE box it insisted on being "installed" as per. I put it down to the the compliance and amenability of the electrons involved. It only needs one electron to start playing silly beggars, and go down the wrong wire, and all those following it will go down the wrong wire after it. If they just happen to get anywhere the BSD fairy, and waken her up, then Bingo, you're in for all sorts of trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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