AlanHo Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Rather than hijack dougs thread on a similar problem I thought it best to start here with a clean sheet.I have an internal card reader in my computer in place of a floppy drive. It is connected to an internal USB port. When I boot the computer it shows as 4 separate drives in Explorer - one for each memory card type.I have two problems with it. When I insert a memory card - the autoplay window pops up - which I cancel - I can then see the card and its contects using explorer, and copy photos to and from the card with no problem. When I have finished using the card I use the "safely remove hardware" button - at which point all four drives instantly vanish from Explorer. If I then re-insert the card - the autoplay window fails to appear and the drives do not show in Explorer - or in Control Panel Disk Management. The only way I can re-use the card reader is to reboot the computer and start all over again.I have a second problem. I mentioned in Dougs thread that I had damaged an SD card by failing to use the safely remove button - but had rescued it by re-formatting. Sure enough - the card now works fine in the camera but refuses to show up in the internal card reader. If I click on the drive to try and see it - the computer locks up and I have to use task manager to get free. I rebooted the computer with the card in the reader - and the computer froze solid at the BIOS post screen. Surprisingly - this errant card works fine in an old plug-in USB card reader and can be used to copy photos no problem - but this external reader also vanishes from Explorer after the safely remove hardware button is used.I therefore seem to have two card readers that behave differently with the errant card - but both go off into a terrible sulk when I use the "safely remove hardware" button.Can anyone throw any light on this......please....it's driving me nuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Alan - I have the same problem with removing hardware with my present iffy card reader. Haven't had time to go shopping for a replacement yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 - but had rescued it by re-formatting.Did you reformat in the camera or on the computer?edit:- No, I do not know if it would make any difference, but it is another straw to clutch at in this Tsunami of technology Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted April 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 I first reformatted in the camera and took photos without problems - until I tried to transfer them using the internal card reader. I then used the external reader to transfer the pics - and reformatted the card there to see if it made a difference. It didn't.Meanwhile a spare SD card can be used in the camera and both the card readers OK - except only for the problem that the card reader goes into permanent hiding after I safely remove the card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Alan, I just found (with my one eye!) the same problem which you are experiencing, in the following thread on another forum ....HERE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Thanks for keeping an eye open on this problem Irene. Just read the replies on that link and have a slightly better understanding of how the "safely remove hardware function" works. As my card reader is an external gadget I've clicked on the quick removal option. So if I read correctly I can now just remove the SD card by just unplugging it after writing a file. Anyone confirm this?It could be that my problem was being caused by leaving the external reader plugged in all the time. Have just been having a play an by plugging the reader in after the PC has booted it's reading and writing a lot faster. Alan doesn't have this option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted April 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Irene - you are a sweetheartFor years I have suffered from an inferiority complex. At a stroke, you have just cured me - I now know that for all those years I really HAVE been inferior and the complex has vanished.It's bad enough - as a fully qualified chauvinist - to be put right on a technical matter by a female - but totally cringe worthy when it's one who currently keeps only one eye on the problem.I feel so stupid now not to realise what the "Safely remove hardware" button was really doing. I will now await pops arrival on the scene to put us all right. He has ofttimes mentioned the care needed with memory cards and USB devices.Slinks off into a dark corner to lick his wounds. ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 :lol: :lol: It's always a pleasure to be of assistance. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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