Win 7 PC does not always detect presence of SD card in reader

[Mortimer]

My PC has a built-in card reader which normally detects when an SDHC card is
plugged in: it pops up a "new drive" dialogue and the drive letter in
Windows Explorer displays the disc volume label and allows me to click on
the entry to see the top level folder.

But sometimes it doesn't. On those occasions the LED beside the drive still
lights up but the pop-up and the display of the volume label does not work.
Repeatedly plugging/unplugging the card may sometimes allow it to work after
many attempts, but normally the only recourse is reboot the PC or use the
card reader in my laptop which I have shared for this purpose so I can
access it across the network.

Has anyone got any suggestions?

The reader *can* read SDHC (as opposed to SD), given that it normally works.
It affects more than one SDHC card. I don't think I've got any SD (non HC)
cards to compare.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

My PC has a built-in card reader which normally detects when an SDHC card is
plugged in: it pops up a "new drive" dialogue and the drive letter in
Windows Explorer displays the disc volume label and allows me to click on
the entry to see the top level folder.

But sometimes it doesn't. On those occasions the LED beside the drive still
lights up but the pop-up and the display of the volume label does not work.
Repeatedly plugging/unplugging the card may sometimes allow it to work after
many attempts, but normally the only recourse is reboot the PC or use the
card reader in my laptop which I have shared for this purpose so I can
access it across the network.

Has anyone got any suggestions?

The reader *can* read SDHC (as opposed to SD), given that it normally
works. It affects more than one SDHC card. I don't think I've got any
SD (non HC) cards to compare.

Does it vary according to what's on the card? Just wondering if you may
have at some point, in answer to the popup question "what should I do
with ...", selected both "do nothing" and "don't ask me again", for
certain types of content. (Though if that's the explanation, I don't
_think_ it would explain why replugging sometimes works.)

 

[Mortimer]

Does it vary according to what's on the card? Just wondering if you may
have at some point, in answer to the popup question "what should I do with
...", selected both "do nothing" and "don't ask me again", for certain
types of content. (Though if that's the explanation, I don't _think_ it
would explain why replugging sometimes works.)

No. The card always has the same type of contents: DCIM top-level folder and
pairs of JPG and NEF (Nikon raw) files below there. It does it for various
cards, some from a different digital camera (just DCIM and below there JPGs)
or from a video camera (the normal folder structure that you get with
AVHDC).

Good try, though.

And if I'd answered "do nothing, don't ask" I'm sure Windows Explorer would
still be able to see the card's volume label and explore its files/folders.

The card that I was having problems with this morning eventually worked, and
continued to work as I unplugged it, took some more photos, replugged it,
unplugged, took more and replugged it. It's as if it got into a Strange
State (a concept that Windows and Apple seem to have trademarked) and then
righted itself.

 

[Anthony Buckland]

My PC has a built-in card reader which normally detects when an SDHC
card is
plugged in: it pops up a "new drive" dialogue and the drive letter in
Windows Explorer displays the disc volume label and allows me to click on
the entry to see the top level folder.

But sometimes it doesn't. On those occasions the LED beside the drive still
lights up but the pop-up and the display of the volume label does not work.
Repeatedly plugging/unplugging the card may sometimes allow it to work
after
many attempts, but normally the only recourse is reboot the PC or use the
card reader in my laptop which I have shared for this purpose so I can
access it across the network.

Has anyone got any suggestions?

The reader *can* read SDHC (as opposed to SD), given that it normally
works. It affects more than one SDHC card. I don't think I've got any SD
(non HC) cards to compare.

Since I've had analogous problems with USB thumb drives
(cures: try replugging, or if that fails more than once
a time get a new drive and strive to copy your data to it),
I Googled your problem, as no doubt you have. A frequent
theme to responses I saw was "get an SDHC card reader",
which you've done in a sense by using your laptop. At that
point, if it were me, I'd say using and networking a laptop
that reads the card was a solution, and I'd go on to other
problems. I've spent enough time in mathematics to realize
that there's a trade-off between elegance and getting the
job done that sometimes has to be made.

 

[jbm]

My PC has a built-in card reader which normally detects when an SDHC
card is
plugged in: it pops up a "new drive" dialogue and the drive letter in
Windows Explorer displays the disc volume label and allows me to click on
the entry to see the top level folder.

But sometimes it doesn't. On those occasions the LED beside the drive still
lights up but the pop-up and the display of the volume label does not work.
Repeatedly plugging/unplugging the card may sometimes allow it to work
after
many attempts, but normally the only recourse is reboot the PC or use the
card reader in my laptop which I have shared for this purpose so I can
access it across the network.

Has anyone got any suggestions?

The reader *can* read SDHC (as opposed to SD), given that it normally
works. It affects more than one SDHC card. I don't think I've got any SD
(non HC) cards to compare.

I had exactly the same problem a few weeks ago, including the symptoms
you describe in your later post. Pushing it in and out a few times
eventually solved the problem.

The cause was ME!!! I am a heavy smoker, and like the rest of the room,
a film of grease and tar had built up onto everything. Since I don't use
the SD reader very often, it had obviously become well coated with tar.
I have two USB ports on front of the computer, and one of those caused
problems. They are now used in rotation. I occasionally have a similar
problem in the living room with the CD player, where the lens becomes
obscured.

Question, does any manufacturer supply SD cards with emery contacts?

There is one way to clean up the contacts, but you have to be VERY,
VERY, VERY careful doing it. Get a tube of Copper Ease Grease, and with
a needle, apply the tiniest amount (pin head size or less) to each
contact on the card. Now push the card in and out half a dozen times,
and that will break up the film on the contacts in the computer and
leave a film of electrically conductive grease on each contact. You do
have to very careful though not to allow too much Copper Ease into the
housing which will allow the contacts to jump across. Haven't tried it,
but a tiny amount of WD40 may do the trick, and won't allow the contacts
to jump. DO NOT USE ordinary grease unless you want to buy a new computer!!!

The ultimate cure is to use the connections on a regular basis
(weekly?), just sliding the card in and out if you don't have data to read.

jim

 

[Wolf K]

On 02/10/2012 7:35 PM, jbm wrote:

[...]

I had exactly the same problem a few weeks ago, including the symptoms
you describe in your later post. Pushing it in and out a few times
eventually solved the problem.

The cause was ME!!! I am a heavy smoker, and like the rest of the room,
a film of grease and tar had built up onto everything. Since I don't use
the SD reader very often, it had obviously become well coated with tar.
I have two USB ports on front of the computer, and one of those caused
problems. They are now used in rotation. I occasionally have a similar
problem in the living room with the CD player, where the lens becomes
obscured.

[...]

Model railroaders have known about this since the 1950s at least. Many
of them, even heavy smokers, have forbidden smoking in the train room....

HTH

 

[choro]

I had exactly the same problem a few weeks ago, including the symptoms
you describe in your later post. Pushing it in and out a few times
eventually solved the problem.

The cause was ME!!! I am a heavy smoker, and like the rest of the room,
a film of grease and tar had built up onto everything. Since I don't use
the SD reader very often, it had obviously become well coated with tar.
I have two USB ports on front of the computer, and one of those caused
problems. They are now used in rotation. I occasionally have a similar
problem in the living room with the CD player, where the lens becomes
obscured.

Question, does any manufacturer supply SD cards with emery contacts?

There is one way to clean up the contacts, but you have to be VERY,
VERY, VERY careful doing it. Get a tube of Copper Ease Grease, and with
a needle, apply the tiniest amount (pin head size or less) to each
contact on the card. Now push the card in and out half a dozen times,
and that will break up the film on the contacts in the computer and
leave a film of electrically conductive grease on each contact. You do
have to very careful though not to allow too much Copper Ease into the
housing which will allow the contacts to jump across. Haven't tried it,
but a tiny amount of WD40 may do the trick, and won't allow the contacts
to jump. DO NOT USE ordinary grease unless you want to buy a new
computer!!!

The ultimate cure is to use the connections on a regular basis
(weekly?), just sliding the card in and out if you don't have data to read.

jim

WD40 may well do the trick OR there is a special spray for cleaning
electonic circuits which vaporises more or less instantly and removes
grime from contacts etc in the process. In the UK it is available from
shops such as Maplins. But I'd spray the contacts it with the computer
OFF. It works with cheap radio, amp volume controls that are not sealed
in, band selector contacts etc etc. It is good stuff for removing grime. --
choro
*****

 

[Gene Wirchenko]

[snip]

Model railroaders have known about this since the 1950s at least. Many
of them, even heavy smokers, have forbidden smoking in the train room....

Unless it is the train that is smoking:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=model+train+smoke+generator

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

 

[charlie]

WD40 may well do the trick OR there is a special spray for cleaning
electonic circuits which vaporises more or less instantly and removes
grime from contacts etc in the process. In the UK it is available from
shops such as Maplins. But I'd spray the contacts it with the computer
OFF. It works with cheap radio, amp volume controls that are not sealed
in, band selector contacts etc etc. It is good stuff for removing grime. --
choro
*****

Cleaning the contacts in the reader is a temporary fix.
Use either electronic cleaner or grain alcohol, and mate the card and
socket while wet with cleaner. (Power OFF of course)

Replacing the reader or reader socket is likely needed for a more or
less long term cure.

There is not enough wiping force to keep the contacts clean, or the
contact material is contaminated.

In the 70's there was a rash of base metal (under the very thin gold
plating) that was contaminated with silicon. The silicon migrated thru
the "pores" of the gold plating,
and caused all sorts of poor connections in various connectors.
At the time, circuit card edge connectors were the most severely
impacted, including full "mil spec" connectors from reputable mfrs.

You would clean the connectors, get everything working properly,
and just a couple of months later have to do it all over again.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Charlie.

The original TRS-80 that I bought in 1977 used edge connectors, which we had
to clean often. We gave them the "Pink Pearl" treatment, using the pink
rubber erases that we used to correct the mistakes that we accountants were
always making. I saw a package of Pink Pearls in an office supply store
recently; it brought back fond (?) memories. ;^}

The important part about the Pink Pearl treatment on our computers,
printers, etc., is that IT WORKED!

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2012 (Build 16.4.3503.0728)) in Win8 (RTM Ent Eval)


"charlie" wrote in message

WD40 may well do the trick OR there is a special spray for cleaning
electonic circuits which vaporises more or less instantly and removes
grime from contacts etc in the process. In the UK it is available from
shops such as Maplins. But I'd spray the contacts it with the computer
OFF. It works with cheap radio, amp volume controls that are not sealed
in, band selector contacts etc etc. It is good stuff for removing
grime. --
choro
*****

Cleaning the contacts in the reader is a temporary fix.
Use either electronic cleaner or grain alcohol, and mate the card and
socket while wet with cleaner. (Power OFF of course)

Replacing the reader or reader socket is likely needed for a more or
less long term cure.

There is not enough wiping force to keep the contacts clean, or the
contact material is contaminated.

In the 70's there was a rash of base metal (under the very thin gold
plating) that was contaminated with silicon. The silicon migrated thru
the "pores" of the gold plating,
and caused all sorts of poor connections in various connectors.
At the time, circuit card edge connectors were the most severely
impacted, including full "mil spec" connectors from reputable mfrs.

You would clean the connectors, get everything working properly,
and just a couple of months later have to do it all over again.

 

[Strobe]

I had exactly the same problem a few weeks ago, including the symptoms
you describe in your later post. Pushing it in and out a few times
eventually solved the problem.

The cause was ME!!! I am a heavy smoker, and like the rest of the room,
a film of grease and tar had built up onto everything. Since I don't use
the SD reader very often, it had obviously become well coated with tar.
I have two USB ports on front of the computer, and one of those caused
problems. They are now used in rotation. I occasionally have a similar
problem in the living room with the CD player, where the lens becomes
obscured.

Question, does any manufacturer supply SD cards with emery contacts?

There is one way to clean up the contacts, but you have to be VERY,
VERY, VERY careful doing it. Get a tube of Copper Ease Grease, and with
a needle, apply the tiniest amount (pin head size or less) to each
contact on the card. Now push the card in and out half a dozen times,
and that will break up the film on the contacts in the computer and
leave a film of electrically conductive grease on each contact. You do
have to very careful though not to allow too much Copper Ease into the
housing which will allow the contacts to jump across. Haven't tried it,
but a tiny amount of WD40 may do the trick, and won't allow the contacts
to jump. DO NOT USE ordinary grease unless you want to buy a new computer!!!

The ultimate cure is to use the connections on a regular basis
(weekly?), just sliding the card in and out if you don't have data to read.

Most folks have some surplus USB cables lying around that were once needed for
devices that they got rid of years ago.

Snip a big connector off one of these (make sure none of the wires short
together!), and leave it plugged in to protect the computer USB contacts until
you need to use them.


BTW, I just read that you can now buy real USB memory that's factory-made to
look like a frayed stump of cable.

 

[Mortimer]

I hadn't thought of it being electrical (bad contacts). I assumed that the
removal and reinsertion worked because it it triggered the SD driver
software to reinitialise, rather than because it happened to make a better
electrical contact. Yesterday and today when I've taken photos and wanted to
send them, the cards from both my cameras have worked every time, whereas
the other day the reader was having intermittent problems with both cards.

I saw the same problem with a friend's computer (Vista) which was
card-specific: two cards (his) would not work in his PC but would work in my
laptop, but another card (mine) would work in either. And that was 100%
reproducible. The cards had not worked in his PC for a while so he'd got
into the habit of connecting a USB cable from his camera to his PC whenever
he wanted to transfer photos.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

The cause was ME!!! I am a heavy smoker, and like the rest of the room,
a film of grease and tar had built up onto everything. Since I don't
use the SD reader very often, it had obviously become well coated with
tar. I have two USB ports on front of the computer, and one of those
caused problems. They are now used in rotation. I occasionally have a
similar problem in the living room with the CD player, where the lens
becomes obscured.

Question, does any manufacturer supply SD cards with emery contacts?[/QUOTE]
[]
(Yeuch. But

My netbook (Samsung NC20, but the principle must apply elsewhere) has an
SD card reader at the front, just under the edge. It has a plastic dummy
SD card in it, with a slightly enlarged outer edge, which seals the slot
(you can get it out as it has a fingernail groove, like a penknife
blade). You might be able to get these somewhere (if only as a spare
part from Samsung). And similar bungs for USB slots.

(Or you could just leave an - even non-functioning - card or USB plug
in, which would give _some_ protection, but wouldn't have the raised rim
to seal the slot, thus letting gunk in _around_ the contacts, which
could then be pushed onto them. I've just tried putting

dummy SD card

into ebay, and there are lots: on the ones that have a raised rim, the
bumped part is at different distances from the "contacts", presumably to
suit how much the card sticks out on various readers. I couldn't find
anything looking for "USB bung" or "USB seal", but the latter found
various things like USB wifi adapters, bluetooth adapters, or the bits
of wireless mice etc., that should cover the socket.)