SD Reader Problem w/ W3j

I've had the W3j for about 2 weeks, and last night I tried to use the SD reader to transfer some files onto an SD card for use in my PDA. When I first popped the card in and clicked it, it prompted me to format it, but it was already formatted. Popping it back into my PDA, it seemed to be fine.

I then tried a Sandisk USB reader, and the card was recognized just fine.

I checked the Asus website and found some Ricoh drivers for the card reader and installed them (it was using MS drivers, which were installed by the recovery disk). After that, it wouldn't even recognize that the card was inserted, and the MMC reader in control panel is showing as non-functioning (though the SD reader shows as functioning properly).

Anyone else having any trouble with this? Thx!

 

That's odd, but not like something I've never seen with the card readers. It's a driver issue and that stock driver should certainly work. I know you had a W3v before this, and you never had a problem with that, did you? I'd try again to delete all drivers from the system and remove it from the device manager altogether...... then start over. If you still have problems, give Asus a ring because it's these types of questions they would be able to figure out in a second.

 

Actually, I hadn't used the card reader on the W3v much, though I did use a PC/CF adapter for CF cards from my digicam. Usually, I will copy files directly to the PDA via MS' ActiveSync & Explorer & the PDA's cradle, but I haven't set up Outlook & Activesync on my new W3j yet, and I just wanted to copy over some audio files, so I popped the card into the reader.

I'll give Asus a call when I find another card to test with... I don't want to accidentally re-format this one during any troubleshooting.

 

Sometimes when we're building a system, that little Ricoh driver craps out for some reason.. it's the tinest little file, but for whatever reason, it can never give a million people a problem and nothing but for one unlucky person..... but it's software.. even though the driver is small, the physical hardware is even smaller..... I've never seen anything happen to one of those.

 

Try downloading ricoh drivers directly? Have you formatted or changed drivers on your w3j? Cant say this is inherent.

 

Okay, no one else is having this problem?

I'm going on vacation Thu, and would like to not have to bring my Sandisk reader to transfer stuff from my digicam if I can avoid it.

Can someone with a working SD Card post the driver info (version #) from device manager?

Eddie - I reformated from the Asus CD when I first got the LT because I swapped the HD. When the 'default' drivers didin't work, I d/l'd the latest Ricoh files from Asus, and those aren't working either. Are you saying I can get them direct from Ricoh? I'll try and find them and install them tonight.

Justin - I tried contacting Asus through the website, but after a couple of days I just got a reply to call the 800 number. The problem is that the 800 number is only open while I'm at work, and it's really not practical for me to bring the notebook to work and work on it there, especially since I can't get internet access there for it, which I'm guessing I'll need.

 

I remember the z70va had of few of these problems. Not inherent but a few customers had an issue where the card reader just would not work. A yeart later it turned out that asus released a new driver for the rocoh reader and that fixed the issue. I imagine it is possible some of these units got a different chip or something that is why the existing driver dont work. Who knows. Check the support page for your model see if the driver there does anything different. Have you tried another sd stick?

 

I tried 2 different SD cards, and the Ricoh driver I d/l'd was V1.01.04 under the W3j 'Utilities' (not Drivers?) from the Asus USA website. The SD cards work fine when I use my Sandisk reader via USB, so I'm pretty sure it's not the cards themselves.

 

I think you may want to rma it. They will ask you if you reinstalled windows ofcourse and your answer is obvious. If you have a hard time calling them during work hours pm me i can give you the instant message info for the main tech there. Sorry i cant post it in a live thread he will hate me

 

I'm not sure I want to RMA it...I've spent the last month getting it set up, including having to use up a license for an app that I probably won't be able to re-use if I re-format or end up with a new PC. It seems like a minor driver issue, I just wish I can figure out what the problem is.

Some more info -
I re-installed the drivers, and went through a couple of reboots (I was prompted to reboot again after the first reboot...weird).

If the SD card is in the slot when I boot up, it's recognized, though my DVD drive is then moved from E: to F: (C: and D: partitions on the main HD). Removing and re-installing the card results in it not being recognized again. If the card is not in the slot during boot, it won't ever be recognized.

The MMC Controler shows up as having a problem in Device Manager, though the SD controller shows as working. Odd....

Thanks for the suggestions, though.

 

What if you try without the partitions. Have you tried using another type of card in the slot? ms?

 

Who uses MMS cards?

Seriously...I only own SD and CF cards. I refuse to purchase devices with anything else because I don't want to be buying new cards all the time (though I may have to cave in soon and go mini-SD).

I gave up playing with it a little after midnight last night, but maybe I'll poke around with it a little more tonight when I get home, but I have to pack for my trip. I'm very reluctant to recover the whole thing at this point, and I don't have a re-partitioning program, but you did give me an idea - maybe there's a conflict on that 'E:' drive? I'll try popping out the DVD and see if the errors in the card reader go away...

Edit - I just noticed the Ricoh Driver for the W3j is V1.01.04 for XP, but the one for the W3v is 2.3 for Win2k (though I had a W3v, and it came w/ XP). Maybe I'll give that one a shot...