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ski4404

20 Posts

209547

January 24th, 2008 13:00

Media Card Reader Malfunction

Hi, I just got a new XPS 420 system and I'm having some issues with the built in media card reader.

The problem is this: Boot into Vista and I can see all of the media reader drives in My Computer. They have the customized icons displayed as well. Device manager also shows the device.

If I put an SD card into the reader, immediately all of the media card drive letters disappear and a message is displayed that a USB device attached to the system is malfunctioning.

Device manager now shows the device as Unknown Device. Rebooting does not fix the problem. After reboot, the device is still shown as unknown device. I was able to get it working again through a combination of uninstalling the driver, shutting down the system and reinstalling the driver.

I think this has something to do with having other USB devices plugged in at the front panel, but I haven't had to time to prove that theory yet.

I've seen other posts related to this on this board but no one seems to have had the problem resolved yet.

Help please!

Message Edited by ski4404 on 01-24-2008 10:33 AM

eskymi

1.1K Posts

January 24th, 2008 13:00

Go to downloads and drivers. Select your model DESKTOP, XPS, 420 and then look for the CHIPSET drivers. There is an update that states it fixes issues pertaining to USB port malfunctions.

Maybe this will help you.

JWayde

69 Posts

January 24th, 2008 16:00

I'd be curious to know if this works.  I have exactly the same problem with my XPS 410, and the only thing that works is to reseat the media card and reboot.  This works for awhile before it goes west again and I have to do it all over again.
 
I'd be interested to know if the reader itself fits snugly into the machine; mine is loose.  While I had the case off, I have attempted to screw it tighter, but it's as tight as it goes.

pempey

24 Posts

January 24th, 2008 17:00

New 420 (1 week old).  Same thing happened to me.  Awoke out of sleep, I put SD card in.  It failed.  Open "computer" and see no drives and get notification of USB failure and finding of unknown device.  USB failed as my external harddrive (plugged into port on back) also vanished.   I was assuming it was a power management/awaking from sleep issue, but multiple reboots did not restore the media cards or the USB (external drive).  I opened PC and disconnected cable going from the media reader to motherboard and replugged it in.  Rebooted and back to normal.  Still not sure what happened.

JWayde

69 Posts

January 24th, 2008 17:00

Don't be surprised if it happens again.  It rather is beginning to sound like inferior hardware, which is kind of disappointing.
 
Even more disappointing is that Dell has farmed out most of their support to India.  Three out of four times I call them, I get India.  Frankly, that's even more disappointing than inferior hardware.

Davet50

6 Operator

 • 

14.4K Posts

January 24th, 2008 20:00


JWayde wrote:
Don't be surprised if it happens again.  It rather is beginning to sound like inferior hardware, which is kind of disappointing.
 
Even more disappointing is that Dell has farmed out most of their support to India.  Three out of four times I call them, I get India.  Frankly, that's even more disappointing than inferior hardware.

 

Are you calling the XPS support numbers here?

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_other&thread.id=331770

This is not overseas support..


613JDM

131 Posts

January 25th, 2008 01:00

I just tested out my media card reader with a SD card, Pro Duo and USB memory stick connected to the front panels at the same time and did not experience any problems at all. This is my 4th day owning the 420 and you guys have experienced it right away? My guess it can be a faulty device and should be replaced ASAP.

ski4404

20 Posts

January 25th, 2008 04:00

Yes, could be faulty hardware. The updated chipset drivers did not solve the issue.

JWayde

69 Posts

January 25th, 2008 10:00

Yes, these are the US numbers listed on my service tag, and like I said, it's mostly India when you call that number, especially if it's in the afternoon.
 
JW

Dave9

1 Rookie

 • 

322 Posts

January 25th, 2008 13:00

When calling the XPS number you need to punch in your 11 digit service number not the 7 digit service tag as you get shipped to regular support.  Don't ask me how I know this.  Ok, I'll tell ya.  I didn't listen to the message and punched in my service tag when they asked for service number which switches you to XPS support.

JWayde

69 Posts

January 25th, 2008 13:00

Thank you, Big Dog!  I will definitely use the 11-digit in the future.  :smileywink:

lorrel

3 Posts

January 26th, 2008 15:00

I've had the XPS420 for about 2 months now and ove the thing.
I had a problem with my card reader one morning.  The grand daughter was using one of the readers the night before to look at pictures. Don't know what she did, however the next day when I inserted a card it did not work. Called Dell CS and after the tech uninstalled the drivers and reinstalled from the machine, it still did not work. He had me download the 58 meg set of drivers (Cab200 with BlueTooth) from the Dell site. Since it would take about an hour to download, he said to reload the drivers once it downloaded, and that should take care of it. Well after downloading rather than do that, I tried a fix myself. Keep in mind he had uninstalled the drivers and the hardware device was showing as an unknown device.
I unpluged the machine, opened the case and unplugged the gray cable from the device to the motherboard at the motherboard.  Let it unplugged for about 5 minutes. Re-plugged the cable and closed up the case. Powered the XPS back up. It took more time than usual to boot up, but once booted, everything was back to normal. The card readers worked, at least the two I use.  I never did reinstall the drivers from the dell site.  Guess the machine just pulld the original drivers somehow.

JWayde

69 Posts

January 26th, 2008 15:00

This is exactly the same issue I have with my media card reader, exactly!  It works fine for awhile, then without warning, I'll stick in my card and all the devices associated with that card reader will disappear from My Computer; a reboot will not fix it.  I have to do as you did:  open the case and unplug the cords and then reboot.  It fixes the issue until the next time it decides to do it.
 
I'd be curious if anyone's tried the driver fix (which was not suggested to me when I called about the issue, BTW) and if that works long-term.  If not, I'm not really enthused about downloading the drivers and possibly having even more problems of one sort or another.
 
I'm tempted to just buy a USB card reader because it's not my idea of a good time having to crack into the case periodically to reseat cables.  Not what I'd term a long-term fix.
 
J.W.

Wes S

18 Posts

January 27th, 2008 15:00


@pempey wrote:
New 420 (1 week old). Same thing happened to me. Awoke out of sleep, I put SD card in. It failed. Open "computer" and see no drives and get notification of USB failure and finding of unknown device. USB failed as my external harddrive (plugged into port on back) also vanished. I was assuming it was a power management/awaking from sleep issue, but multiple reboots did not restore the media cards or the USB (external drive). I opened PC and disconnected cable going from the media reader to motherboard and replugged it in. Rebooted and back to normal. Still not sure what happened.





Based on my experience, it WILL happen again.

I have an XPS-410 Quad-core, etc with the TEAC reader. I have contacted Dell support twice (and basically have little complaint) and went through all of the steps that they recommended.

The first time, we finally got to disconnecting and reconnecting the cable from the MB to the reader. Rebooted and all looked good, so considered the problem fixed. Wrong.

The next time I went to use it, it was unavailable again. Another call to Support and a long-winded session that included updating the chip-set software and re-flashing the BIOS and the tech decided to send a new card reader.

This arrived the NEXT DAY! and thanks to some really nice design (congrats DELL) the tool-less install took all of five minutes.

Booted up and success....until it failed again. Once this thing goes to sleep or is shut down, the problem resurfaces. I have tried all number of combinations of shutting down and restarting including complete power down, with removal of the AC power and discharge of residual and rebooting and the card reader is still not found in Device Manager.

The only thing that appears to get it back is disconnecting and re-connecting the internal USB cable. Other USB memory devices such as my outboard WD hard drive, my Franklin modem (that looks like a memory device), Lexar Flash drives, and external card reader, etc. are all found, all of the time.

My Vista Home Premium is fully updated and looking for other drivers comes up empty.

While it's highly disappointing have this problem, knowing that I'm not alone is slightly comforting.

Dave9

1 Rookie

 • 

322 Posts

January 27th, 2008 16:00

My latest on my 720 bluetooth is the keyboard & mouse go away and dell claims it is because my 2 printers are on 9 ft usb cords instead of being closer than 6 feet.  If that is a problem then whey do the printers not have the problem.  He says it messes up the bluetooth and there is nothing wrong with it except I have to shorten the cords. 

pempey

24 Posts

January 27th, 2008 17:00

On my end, my BT mouse completely failed 2 days ago as well (perhaps a separate issue as keyboard was fine). Called XPS support and I brought up the media card reader to question whether it's a linked issue as it contains the BT radio. So they're sending a new kb/mouse kit and new media reader. Will reply back is problem represents itself. Off note, although I'm not sure it's the correct answer yet, Dell XPS support at 800-232-8544 was very responsive and in the US. In the past, when my card reader failed (only once in my 2 weeks of ownership) it took out external USB hard drive too. Neither would function (even with multiple reboots). Re-plugging in card reader fixed it. I only had the external drive attached. No other USB devices.

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