My Sandisk USB CF and SmartMedia readers are causing havoc in Win2k SP1 -- I'm ready to kill something :(

[NFS4]

I'm almost afraid to use them anymore...I don't recall having so many problems with them before installing SP1, but now it has just gotten unbearable:|

First off, they are plugged into my powered 4-port USB hub. They do the same thing if plugged into my keyboard USB hub or straight into the system.

I plug the things in and they seem fine. I transfer files back and forth no problem. But the other day, I was transferring images off my SmartMedia reader and Win2k blasts up a disk error with the reader and SHUTS DOWN MY WHOLE USB BUS!! :| Not to mention that, I LOST ALL THE PICTURES ON THE SMARTMEDIA CARD:|:| It similar things like this keep happening over and over when I use it.

Now I did a clean install of Win2k on Saturday. I plugged the CF reader up for the first time tonight and Win2k found it and installed the drivers, etc. I was tranferring MP3's over to my 32MB CF card for use in my PDA and the damn thing blasted up error after error and again SHUT DOWN MY ENTIRE USB BUS, taking out my scanner, FF wheel, mouse, and everything else attached. Had to reboot after being up for 3 days with no problems

This is really starting to piss me off and I don't know what to do. It's doing this stuff on a clean install of Win2k

Under event manager, there about 100 disk error messages spanning less that 1 one-hundredth of a second. Here's are some of the errors:


The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Harddisk1\DR4.

Windows - Delayed Write Failed : Windows was unable to save all the data for the file \Device\Harddisk1\DP(1)0-0+5\. The data has been lost. This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try to save this file elsewhere.

An error was detected on device \Device\Harddisk1\DR4 during a paging operation.

Windows - Delayed Write Failed : Windows was unable to save all the data for the file F:. The data has been lost. This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try to save this file elsewhere.

{Lost Delayed-Write Data} The system was attempting to transfer file data from buffers to \Device\Harddisk1\DP(1)0-0+5. The write operation failed, and only some of the data may have been written to the file.



Athlon 600 @ 735
Abit KA7
256MB RAM
Via 4-in-1 4.25a
USB Filter 1.08
Win2k Pro

 

[dl]

is the via 4.25a a beta? have you tried to reinstall 4.24? dunno if that's the problem though...

look in the event viewer and find out the exact error code, then search at MS Technet for some answers...

if all else fails...you could give it away at your 10K party

 

[NFS4]

Giveaway? Hell no I paid $38 for SM reader and $26 for the CF reader.

More details:

1) The CF reader worked just fine in Win98 with no problems (when I was dual booting).
2) The CF reader has built-in Win2k drivers.
3) The CF reader worked just fine (by itself) in Win2k.

--make transition to single Win2k boot--

4) SM reader requires Win2k drivers (in beta) which I got from Sandisk's website
5) SM reader introduced the first host of problems
6) With CF reader and SM reader installed together, they would start uninstalling and reinstalling themselves magically at random intervals. Even with the CF or SM plugged in seperately, they would do this.

--install SP1, same problems--

Fast forward to this week.

7) SM reader gives new error messages while transferring image files to my computer from 32MB SM card to computer
8) Does exact same thing on my roomies machine (PIII 550, BX, Win2k SP1)
9) SM reader trashes all data on 32MB SM card--had to reformat in camera.
10) Performed clean install.
11) Plug CF reader in tonight (haven't even tried hooking up the SM reader yet or installed its drivers) and it started giving similar errors to #7
12) SM card and CF card work fine in the respective camera and PDA
13) My other USB devices work fine (4-port USB hub, FF wheel, keyboard/hub, mouse, joystick, scanner)

 

[dl]

I suggest checking that SM Reader and make sure you don't have a HW problem...

also, looks like you have a lot of USB devices...make sure they're not drawing more power from the host bus than they're supposed to...sometimes this causes device disconnection...

Have you tried installing the old VIA drivers?

 

[dl]

also, check your pagefile size...

 

[NFS4]

<< also, looks like you have a lot of USB devices...make sure they're not drawing more power from the host bus than they're supposed to...sometimes this causes device disconnection... >>


You know, I didn't even think of that BUT.........

1) The hub is powered
2) The scanner has its own power supply
3) The FF wheel has its own power supply
4) The Keyboard/Hub is plugged directly into the computer
5) Mouse is plugged into 4 port hub (along with scanner and wheel) and shouldn't hog too much power.

But I will check on the power usage.

Pagefile is 480 min/max, always has been

 

[NFS4]

Under device manager, these are the only devices I have plugged in now to the 4-port hub

Scanner / required 100 mA
Logitech Wheel / required 2 mA
Mouse required / 100 mA
One port free

Nothing is plugged into the keyboard/hub at the moment. I get problems when trying to plug into either of the two ports on the keyboard as well with the readers.

 

[NFS4]

NE1?

 

[dl]

working on it bud, gimme a few mins(sorry, went to play some ut)

did you remove via 4.25a and reinstall 4.24???

 

[NFS4]

Same thing with 4.24, and all the other releases.

 

[NFS4]

I'd rather let Win2k handle ACPI...besides, I'm not gonna let two punk-ass Readers get me down. Hell, I'll sell them and get a Zio brand CF and SM reader. They're only $26 a pop.

 

[GL]

If you say that you have the same problems on you roomies machine, then the problem shouldn't be with the VIA 4-in-1s (he's using a BX chipset right?). And if the cards aren't giving problems in your camera and PDA then these are the possible problem areas:

1) I'd look at not installing the SM drivers and going without your SmartMedia support. Completely remove the drivers and see if the CF reader works properly. If it does, you know the culprit.

2) The readers might be bad, although this is a longshot. I've never dealt with these devices but ensure that all the connections are snug (between media and the reader, and between reader and the computer).

3) Try plugging the SM reader directly into the USB ports on your computer. The drivers might have problems when the reader is plugged into the hub.

Edit: Shoulda read your first post thoroughly...you've already tried number 3!

Other than that, good luck. Since you're saying all the problems started with the SM reader, then I'd say that is the culprit. I'd try number 3) because I've heard of some devices not working properly when they're plugged into hubs.

-GL

 

[dl]

M$ says don't do it...but what the heck...have you tried installing 98 drivers for these devices?

If this doesn't work, I'm gonna havta escalate this problem to 2nd level support and let these forum members deal with it

 

[NFS4]

Well, I did just plug the CF in by itself as stated above. I did a clean install, and the CF reader was the only thing I plugged in (no SM reader involved) and it all went to hell (as usual).

There seem to be many factors involved in this problem, but its hard to point a finger.

My guess is that it is either SP1, (I know the SM drivers are f*&amp;ked), or the drives are bad (not likely).

 

[NFS4]

Well, I plugged the CF reader back into my keyboard hub and it is currently converting MP3's into WAV's on-the-fly to my CF card for my PDA.

Let's see how long it lasts :Q

 

[NFS4]

It's working now...it appears that the Keyboard Hub is now up to snuff

 

[youseelabruin]

i have somewhat of the same problem.
sandisk CF card reader always installs itself on upon reboot
the reader consistently kills my intellieye usb mouse (and my USB bus too assume)
i am using the CF reader on my mitsu900u monitor's usb hub.
i am using w2k with sp1
i never used Sandisk drivers since w2k automatically installs it.
i have a asus bx mobo

hope you find out what the problem is too because i am interested. right now i have to leave it unplugged or else it kills all usb devices.

but.. fortunetaly it has never wiped out any of my CF cards while using it... knock on wood.

 

[NFS4]

Damn, that sounds JUST like my problem :Q

Wel, I have taken pictures and plugged and unplugged it about 5 times in the past 30 mins and it has been fine (both the CF reader and the SM reader). We shall see

 

[Auric]

Why didn't you get a dually like the MicroTech CameraMate instead of two seperate readers? I got one many moons ago and it has been trouble free. I think Antec makes some cheap ones too.