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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: jayfish on Saturday 18 July 15 14:25 BST (UK)

Title: Using a card reader.
Post by: jayfish on Saturday 18 July 15 14:25 BST (UK)
I`ve just bought a Belkin card reader hoping to transfer some photos from an acquaintance`s  TDK 4GB card to my computer.

However, when I try to push the card in the SDHC slot on the card reader there`s some resistance.
I`m worried that if I force it, I could damage the card and the photos on it.

I`m obviously doing something wrong as per usual  ;D......but what??

Jay.




 
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: dawnsh on Saturday 18 July 15 14:39 BST (UK)
We've got several types of reader at home and all cards are a snug fit but not forced,

make sure the card is in the right way up  :-\
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: jayfish on Saturday 18 July 15 15:05 BST (UK)
I  had the card label visible on top with cut off corner to the right - and the small gold-coloured bars  underneath go headfirst.    ???  Is that right ?

Jay
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: RJ_Paton on Saturday 18 July 15 18:07 BST (UK)
I  had the card label visible on top with cut off corner to the right - and the small gold-coloured bars  underneath go headfirst.    ???  Is that right ?

Jay

Different readers have different methods but all require the "bars" to be inserted into the reader - if it doesn't work by the method you described try inserting the card with the bars facing upwards
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: japeflakes on Saturday 18 July 15 18:40 BST (UK)
Which model card reader have you got from Belkin?
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: jayfish on Saturday 18 July 15 19:13 BST (UK)
It`s  the Universal 2.00 USB reader and according to the blurb -
reads CF/Microdrive, MS/MS Duo, SD/MMC/MiniSD/SDHC/SDXC/Micro SD


No instructions in the box so no help there.  ::)

Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: RJ_Paton on Saturday 18 July 15 19:25 BST (UK)
If it is this one it's contacts face down
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: jayfish on Saturday 18 July 15 20:41 BST (UK)
No. it`s approx.4ins /flat / black with white ends / white usb cord approx 2ins attached to right end.
 [apologies re imperial measurements ]  :-[



Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: dawnsh on Saturday 18 July 15 20:52 BST (UK)
Have you tried turning the card over to see if it fits the other way up/down?
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: jayfish on Saturday 18 July 15 20:55 BST (UK)
Yes, but that seems even worse.
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: jayfish on Saturday 18 July 15 21:06 BST (UK)
Just tried googling it and it says  there should be two usb cords supplied - for desk use and for travel.

There`s only the one attached to the reader itself so  I`ll return it to Tesco tomorrow.

Thanks to all who replied.



Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: joyland on Saturday 18 July 15 22:53 BST (UK)
A lot of readers have some resistance when card is 3/4 in because of spring action to lock it in. To remove it you press it in against resistance so it pops out. 99% of readers the contacts are face down.Hope that helps.
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: japeflakes on Sunday 19 July 15 07:28 BST (UK)
Like this?
If you look in the "slots" does the way look clear, no contacts sticking up etc
Can you try a non-important card?
Yes, you can damage things, do you know anyone with another card reader that works to see what that feels like
Lots of computers have card readers built in
Good luck

Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: Ray T on Sunday 19 July 15 08:56 BST (UK)
I have that particular Belkin card reader but I don't use it any more as my new computer has one built in. From memory, the SD card slot is particularly slack and the card seems merely to rest in position rather than have any pressure applied. I didn't particularly like it for that reason although it seemed to work fine.

Insert the card with the reader plugged into your computer and see if anything shows up.
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: japeflakes on Sunday 19 July 15 10:08 BST (UK)
http://www.tesco.com/direct/belkin-universal-card-reader/794-9607.prd

I do not see any mention of a 2nd lead if this is the one
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: Ray T on Sunday 19 July 15 10:22 BST (UK)
Mine came with two leads. They're effectively the same except that one is longer than the other.

If it's any help, when it's fully inserted, only the first 13 mm of the card goes into the reader.
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: dawnsh on Sunday 19 July 15 11:00 BST (UK)
Take the sd card with you when you go back to Tesco and ask them to insert it for you too see if they think there is a problem.
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: jayfish on Sunday 19 July 15 12:00 BST (UK)
 Having put my specs on for a further closer inspection, there`s a cutaway just millimetres down on the left hand side of the card reader with a tiny dark grey projection at the top of it....... the point of resistance. (?)

Tesco gives no product information  but John Lewis`site says two leads.   
So That`s why the contents seemed loose in the box !!
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: japeflakes on Sunday 19 July 15 12:06 BST (UK)
Package Includes:
Universal Media Reader USB 2.0 Cable (Attached)

From Belkin site.
Could you have misread USB2 as 2 cables?

Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: jayfish on Sunday 19 July 15 15:24 BST (UK)
 Copied from John Lewis`s site:
Belkin's Universal Media Reader allows you to transfer pictures, movies, music, and more from your tablet, smartphone, digital camera, MP3 player, or other media devices etc; etc; etc.
plus the following.......
Includes 2 USB cables for desktop use or travel.   ???

I took the reader back to Tesco today for a refund, and the assistant kindly opened another box and there was only the mini attached lead as per the photo on the box front.   ::)

What`s  Tesco`s photo printing service like? ;D
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 19 July 15 15:57 BST (UK)
It looks to me that the John Lewis`s site have made the error of misreading USB2 as 2 cables.

Stan
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: Ray T on Sunday 19 July 15 17:21 BST (UK)
Copied from John Lewis`s site:
Belkin's Universal Media Reader allows you to transfer pictures, movies, music, and more from your tablet, smartphone, digital camera, MP3 player, or other media devices etc; etc; etc.
plus the following.......
Includes 2 USB cables for desktop use or travel.   ???

I took the reader back to Tesco today for a refund, and the assistant kindly opened another box and there was only the mini attached lead as per the photo on the box front.   ::)

What`s  Tesco`s photo printing service like? ;D

Problem here is that we don't actually know which card reader you bought. Belkin make more than one.

I doubt whether Tesco's printeing service is any better or any worse than any of the other "el cheapo"  printers. It depends how fussy you are. The main problem from my point of view is that the proportions of the print they make is likey to be different from the proportions of the sensor in your camera and different again from the proportions to which you might choose to crop the photograph.
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: Ray T on Sunday 19 July 15 17:22 BST (UK)
It looks to me that the John Lewis`s site have made the error of misreading USB2 as 2 cables.

Stan

I think it likely that JL are selling a different product.
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 19 July 15 17:27 BST (UK)

I took the reader back to Tesco today for a refund, and the assistant kindly opened another box and there was only the mini attached lead as per the photo on the box front.   ::)


I think it likely that JL are selling a different product.

This is the image from John Lewis

Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: Ray T on Sunday 19 July 15 17:59 BST (UK)
That looks like a posher version than the one I have - the one pictured first in this thread. My bet would be that Belkin has changed the design but JL haven't changed the blurb.
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: jayfish on Sunday 19 July 15 18:25 BST (UK)
The  Belkin card reader on sale at JL is the model I bought from Tesco.

As Stanmapstone says, it  looks as though JL have misread  2.0 USB as  2 x USB leads.

The reason for the card reader kerfuffle ?
All last winter a beautiful pure white starling came to feed every day with the usual flock of `ordinary `starlings. 
The other day when comparing notes with another local bird lover re our garden visitors I mentioned the white starling. 
He said he`d taken a photo of it and kindly took the card from his camera  for me to take a copy.
I can hardly wait!  But obviously I don`t want to risk damaging his card.
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: Rosinish on Sunday 19 July 15 19:05 BST (UK)

The other day when comparing notes with another local bird lover re our garden visitors I mentioned the white starling. 

Hope you get your reader problem fixed.

Just want to say I'm glad not to be the only one to have seen a white (albino) starling..................many years ago but in Scotland.

Annie
Title: Re: Using a card reader.
Post by: jayfish on Sunday 19 July 15 19:30 BST (UK)
Thank you Annie.

Sadly we`ve not seen it since.
 
Possibly/probably it didn`t survive our Saddleworth winter. :'(