IBM 1GB CF and Reader Problem

[jamesmartinez]

I purchased an ACOM DATA compact flash USB reader that supports both type 1 and type 2 CF cards. It works fine with the 16mb CF card. However, when I insert the IBM 1gb CF card, Windows XP (and Windows ME) hangs until I unplug the card from the reader.

Has anybody else had this problem? I've tried installing the driver that came with the reader but it detects the USB drivers already installed and stops the installation. Do I need additional drivers for the 1gb card?

I can't seem to find any reference to this problem on the ACOM DATA web site nor the Microsoft Support Database.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

James

[oops]

I had a problem with Windows 98 but not Xp. My computer would not see my D30 or my card reader unless I started my computer with them already attached. The D30 would work then, but the card reader would always hang regardless of the card used. I then read in the D30 software manual that Windows 98 upgrades, which mine was, would not work with the D30 and assumed the same was true for the card reader. Windows Xp, on the other hand, has never had a problem with either.

However, Xp is a different bird, altogether. If software and/or drivers are not specifically marked as compatible, it "may" not work. Try the following:

1. Under My Computer>System>Device Manager locate your card reader and click to remove it from your system. Do a re-start and try installing it again. I don't have a lot of faith in this working because if it didn't work the first time, well...

2. Check the card reader site for Xp driver up-grades.

3. Try the microdrive in the D30 attached to the same computer- this should eleminate a drive question if it works ok in the camera.

4. Double check that the driver was installed in the correct sequence, ie. "don't attach the card reader until the driver is installed, turn off the computer and attach the reader, boot the computer" etc.

5. Try the free Breeze Downloader with card reader selected. Maybe 1gig is confusing the card reader's software.

6. Make sure no other usb device is plugged in at the same time, especially scanners and zips.

I am by no means a cutting edge expert on these things, I have just been in the same frustrating spot trying to get a usb device to work correctly. Once I discovered the "no Windows 98 upgrades" issue I knew I was doomed. With Xp I thought I was home free until I discovered the "must be XP certified" crap but fortunately havn't found anything yet that won't work.

Good Luck!

Chris

[jamesmartinez]

Hi, Chris.

I tried steps 1-4 but I have the same problem.

I think the card reader is not able to read the microdrive even though the package it came in said that it reads both type 1 and type 2 compact flash cards.

I left a message with their tech support as their web site has no mention of Windows XP.

Regards.

James

[mflaherty]

I use a SanDisk ImageMate CF reader (~$30 U.S.). It works flawlessly with my 1GB Microdrive and all other CF cards I've used with it. The reader does behave slightly differently with the Microdrive than with standard CF cards, however. With the Microdrive, I always get a warning about plugging/unplugging in a disk without properly stopping it first (I only get the message when plugging IN - never when unplugging the Microdrive). No such messages with standard CF cards. Nevertheless, after I click on OK for that warning message, all works perfectly. So, there is clearly something different about the Microdrive that causes readers to view it differently than standard CF cards. I'm using Windows ME. I like this reader so well that I purchased a duplicate for use with other systems I own.