General warning about cheap card reader.

[FrustratedUser]

I got this reader 2-3 months ago and didn't use it for some time.
Then a month ago I started taking lots of pics while my father visited and this reader fscked up at least 2 cards. Inserting and removing the (SmartMedia) cards resulted in a 'locked' card and the pics were gone forever.

Just FYI.

 

[Corporate Thug]

that sucks

live and learn though

 

[FrustratedUser]

It's now disconnected. Using the camera instead.

I guess you get what you pay for.

 

[hawkeye81x]

Good thing I got me a sturdy SanDisk reader. So far no problems.
Guess these things happen to a guy with a handle like FrustratedUser

 

[HiTek21]

I bought a cheap 20 dollar PQI 6 in 1 reader never had problems transfering stuff off the card but the damn reader stopped working. It kept crashing my PC when I plugged it in. I bought an IWill one from frys because it was 30 - 10 rebate and its been working like a charm. If you leaved it plugged in for awhile it gets kind of warm.

 

[FrustratedUser]

The reader was posted in a hot deal so I guess at least a few more people got this POS.

 

[IGBT]

I got the SanDisk device at costco..forgot what I paid for it..works good and looks good sitting here between two LCD monitors..the power on amber LED is blindingly bright so I put a piece of black tape over the thing..got tired of seeing white spots when I looked away from the monitors....

 

[joinT]

Just fyi.. There is an app for formatting/fixing corrupt Card memory.

mediarecover.com

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: joinT
Just fyi.. There is an app for formatting/fixing corrupt Card memory.

mediarecover.com

cool thx! To late now but it might come in handy some time.

 

[Viper GTS]

Did you stop the device before you pulled the card, or did you just yank it?

Viper GTS

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Did you stop the device before you pulled the card, or did you just yank it?

Viper GTS

Just yanked it. Why should I stop the device before taking it out. It kind of makes things a bit cumbersome.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Did you stop the device before you pulled the card, or did you just yank it?

Viper GTS

Just yanked it. Why should I stop the device before taking it out. It kind of makes things a bit cumbersome.

HAHAHAHAHA

why don't you just pull the cpu out of it's socket while the PC is running, after all it is quite cumbersome to have to shut the PC off, unplug it and THEN remove the cpu.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Did you stop the device before you pulled the card, or did you just yank it?

Viper GTS

Just yanked it. Why should I stop the device before taking it out. It kind of makes things a bit cumbersome.

HAHAHAHAHA

why don't you just pull the cpu out of it's socket while the PC is running, after all it is quite cumbersome to have to shut the PC off, unplug it and THEN remove the cpu.

Do you stop the device when you pull a floppy?

So long as the device is not actively reading the card, why is it bad to pull it? I've never stopped my readers (It would be a bitch, because it's an internal reader and I'd have to reboot to get it seen again) and I've never had this problem pulling a CF card. Of course, I always wait until the reader is done with it.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Did you stop the device before you pulled the card, or did you just yank it?

Viper GTS

Just yanked it. Why should I stop the device before taking it out. It kind of makes things a bit cumbersome.

HAHAHAHAHA

why don't you just pull the cpu out of it's socket while the PC is running, after all it is quite cumbersome to have to shut the PC off, unplug it and THEN remove the cpu.

Do you stop the device when you pull a floppy?

So long as the device is not actively reading the card, why is it bad to pull it? I've never stopped my readers (It would be a bitch, because it's an internal reader and I'd have to reboot to get it seen again) and I've never had this problem.

i always wait for the floppy to stop spinning before i pull it. as to readers, it's like all usb peripherals, i always stop them (i can't remember that usb thingy) before i pull em.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Did you stop the device before you pulled the card, or did you just yank it?

Viper GTS

Just yanked it. Why should I stop the device before taking it out. It kind of makes things a bit cumbersome.

HAHAHAHAHA

why don't you just pull the cpu out of it's socket while the PC is running, after all it is quite cumbersome to have to shut the PC off, unplug it and THEN remove the cpu.

Do you stop the device when you pull a floppy?

So long as the device is not actively reading the card, why is it bad to pull it? I've never stopped my readers (It would be a bitch, because it's an internal reader and I'd have to reboot to get it seen again) and I've never had this problem.

i always wait for the floppy to stop spinning before i pull it. as to readers, it's like all usb peripherals, i always stop them (i can't remember that usb thingy) before i pull em.

Like I said, then what of internal card readers? If you stop them, you have to reboot to get them seen again. No, I doubt stopping the reader is required, as I've never seen any instructions to do so. And if it was a requirement, internal readers would be worthless.

Just as with a floppy, wait until the device stops accessing the card before you pull it.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Did you stop the device before you pulled the card, or did you just yank it?

Viper GTS

Just yanked it. Why should I stop the device before taking it out. It kind of makes things a bit cumbersome.

HAHAHAHAHA

why don't you just pull the cpu out of it's socket while the PC is running, after all it is quite cumbersome to have to shut the PC off, unplug it and THEN remove the cpu.

Do you stop the device when you pull a floppy?

So long as the device is not actively reading the card, why is it bad to pull it? I've never stopped my readers (It would be a bitch, because it's an internal reader and I'd have to reboot to get it seen again) and I've never had this problem.

i always wait for the floppy to stop spinning before i pull it. as to readers, it's like all usb peripherals, i always stop them (i can't remember that usb thingy) before i pull em.

Like I said, then what of internal card readers? If you stop them, you have to reboot to get them seen again. No, I doubt stopping the reader is required, as I've never seen any instructions to do so. And if it was a requirement, internal readers would be worthless.

Just as with a floppy, wait until the device stops accessing the card before you pull it.

My point exactly. Why should I have to stop the USB device to unplug the card? Next time I need to use it I have to unplug the cable and insert it again to have the comp recognize it? Stupid. Is that really the way they intended people to use them?It does not say anything about this in the manual.

 

[Bootprint]

I don't think you need to stop the device, just you should eject it from the explorer.

 

[joinT]

Originally posted by: Bootprint
I don't think you need to stop the device, just you should eject it from the explorer.

You need to "safely remove hardware" - stop the drive, then eject the card.
You do NOT need to unplug & replug the USB cable OR reboot your machine - when you plug a piece of media back in, it will detect & "start" the device.

 

[RossMAN]

I never use card readers, they're just to inconvenient for me and I'm a lazy ass.

I prefer USB from digicam to PC. Thank goodness for rechargeable batteries.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I never use card readers, they're just to inconvenient for me and I'm a lazy ass.

I prefer USB from digicam to PC. Thank goodness for rechargeable batteries.

Canon's software sucks big fat donkey dicks. I'd rather just use a card reader. It's a LOT faster and easier.

 

[StageLeft]

That sucks!

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: joinT

Originally posted by: Bootprint
I don't think you need to stop the device, just you should eject it from the explorer.

You need to "safely remove hardware" - stop the drive, then eject the card.
You do NOT need to unplug & replug the USB cable OR reboot your machine - when you plug a piece of media back in, it will detect & "start" the device.

Really? Show me a card reader or media manual that says this must be done.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I never use card readers, they're just to inconvenient for me and I'm a lazy ass.

I prefer USB from digicam to PC. Thank goodness for rechargeable batteries.

Canon's software sucks big fat donkey dicks. I'd rather just use a card reader. It's a LOT faster and easier.

Software Shmoftware! I just hook mine in and Windows sees it as a storage device and I grab the files from within windows explorer.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I never use card readers, they're just to inconvenient for me and I'm a lazy ass.

I prefer USB from digicam to PC. Thank goodness for rechargeable batteries.

Canon's software sucks big fat donkey dicks. I'd rather just use a card reader. It's a LOT faster and easier.

Wow that's rather graphic and detailed :disgust:

Even on my Canon A40/S200 I don't use Canon's software, it's all built into Windows XP.
(Start -> Control Panel -> Scanners and Cameras)

The trick is to plug the USB cable into digicam then into PC, turn on digicam and assuming you're using XP it should recognize it and offer to d/l all your pics to a specific folder.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I never use card readers, they're just to inconvenient for me and I'm a lazy ass.

I prefer USB from digicam to PC. Thank goodness for rechargeable batteries.

Canon's software sucks big fat donkey dicks. I'd rather just use a card reader. It's a LOT faster and easier.

Wow that's rather graphic and detailed :disgust:

Even on my Canon A40/S200 I don't use Canon's software, it's all built into Windows XP.
(Start -> Control Panel -> Scanners and Cameras)

The trick is to plug the USB cable into digicam then into PC, turn on digicam and assuming you're using XP it should recognize it and offer to d/l all your pics to a specific folder.

Hey, that was the NICEST thing I could say about their software. :|

I'll give that a try. My question is: why can't they make it so XP just sees it as a card reader/removable drive???

BTW, I have a card reader built into my printer. So it's just real easy to pop the card in there and have it recognized by XP as a removable drive... then I simply copy the files over.