Vanishing multi card reader

Question

I have been reading posts about problems with the multi card reader way back to 2006.  I did not know about them until I searched this fourm in Jan 2008.   I bought a new Dell Inspiron, delivered Jan 2008 that has the same problem with the card reader disappearing from computer.   To get it back I have to power down, unplug the power cord and push the start button before plugging the power cord back in.   Any one come up with a solution for this.  Possibly drivers from some where else.    I read one post that the plug was different on the Dell reader than on other readers and you could not replace it with a different brand.  Is that correct.   Dell support could not help.  They had me do the recovery and then told me to call Customer Service to replace the  reader.   I don't think replacing the reader will solve the problem if this has been  going on for a year.   Thanks for any suggestions.   John

Mary G · Answer

This might not have any effect, but worth trying--change the Power Settings by fiddling with the various Advanced power settings in Control Panel. The new vista power schemes have some odd selections such as power saving by turning off usb ports and select hardware. I've found some settings such as 'turn off hard drive' cause blue screens, while sleep and hibernation have hardware disappearing. In my case, my keyboard and dvd-rw drive would disappear after sleep. Also had trouble with the network card not waking which was solved by selecting 'allow windows to turn off this device to save power.' Then windows knows to turn it back on when waking. This is on the power management tab in Device Manager. Perhaps the card has a similiar setting--I don't have an internal card reader. Check it out.

bigjohnx · Answer

Thanks for you reply.  After reading your post I tried to change the power settings but the first time I plugged in the SD card all four drives vanished again.  The Compact Flash slot seems to work most of the time now.   John

Rebel9 · Answer

This problem has been reported elsewhere, and there SEEMS to be a solution.   When you finish using a card in one of the reader slots, do you 'safely remover hardware'? If so, this may be what's causing the disappearing act. The card reader is treated as a USB device, and when you 'safely remove hardware', the device (and the associated drive letters) disappear. When you 'Safely remove hardware' for the reader, you will actually remove the reader from the system until you reconnect at the next boot.   Try this. If you insert a card in 'Disk G' for example, right click the device and select 'Eject'. When the drive contents disappear, you can remove the card. Let us know if this helps.

bigjohnx · Answer

Tech support had me try that before he had me do the Factory recovery. John

mombodog · Answer

Don't forget to check the connector at the motherboard for the card reader, they are notroious for coming loose.

bigjohnx · Answer

It will not recognize the reader on a reboot.     I have to shut down. Unplug the power cord. Press  the start button with the cord unpluged. Plug the cord back in. Then press the start button.   Another way to get the reader drives back is to take the side panel off with the computer turned on and unplug the reader from the mother board and then plug it back in.   John

Rebel9 · Answer

The only other suggestion I can make then is to remove (uninstall) the card reader from Device Manager and then let Windows discover it again on the next boot.   Open Device Manager, click on View and select 'Devices by connection'. Expand the UMBus Root Bus Enumerator and you should be able to see the card reader. The individual readers will be listed below a UMBus Enumerator entry. Right Click on the UMBus Enumerator and Uninstall. Power down and then power up. Does this help?

bigjohnx · Answer

When the reader drives are not listed in My Computer they are not listed in    device manager either. John

bigjohnx · Answer

Follow up on my original post.   Called customer service.  The fellow I talked to was very courteous, and very professional.    They are sending me a new card reader.  Will see how it works out after I get it  installed.   John

Rebel9 · Answer

We'll keep our fingers crossed. Be sure to post back and let us know the outcome.

bigjohnx · Answer

I just did a search on Yahoo  for Drivers for TEAC CA 200 and this is what came up.  Anyone try this?   http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=Tech_Talk_XPS&message.id=29788         a new firmware has been relesed for the Teac CA200 HH  13-1 Media Card Reader files R175239.exe and R175612.exe  release date 08/01/2008

Warren H. · Answer

Message Edited by Warren H. on 01-24-2008 02:52 PM

bigjohnx · Answer

Update on card reader.  Installed the new one.  Tried it about 12 times between two different cards.  Thought problem was solved and even told Dell it was working when they called to ask about it.  I then installed New WinZip and then later tried the card reader again and had problems again but I don't believe it was the program that caused it.  I don't remember if I clicked eject. It seems now if I forget to click eject it still may be a problem.   John

bigjohnx · Answer

Update on the card reader.

I give up. Installed the second replacement reader. Same problem.

I discovered that the card reader works on my printer without any problem. Had not tried before saving pictures to the card.

Just get a printer with media card slots and foget about the Dell card reader.

John

Rich71 · Answer

I have the 19-IN-1 Media Card reader. Tried removing and re-inserting the motherboard connector. This seemed to reduce the error rate. Also, there is no "power connector" as shown in the manual.

Would like to try updating the driver. The Dell Support center on my machine does not show the device. Device Manager under USB controllers, “CA-200” and under CA-200 Properties, “TEAC, 6/8/2007, 1.1.0.0” Is this the driver that needs updating?

Downloaded R175239.exe “firmware…for…Teac CA200 HH 13-1 Media Card Reader. Wanted to confirm here before installing. Thanks.

Windows General

Vanishing multi card reader

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