CF-30 smartcarder reader testing?

G'day all,

I've got a CF-30E with a smartcard reader. I can't think of any conceivable use I'll have for the reader, so I'm thinking to pull it out and sell it (or swap for a dual passthrough kit for my Kodiak dock). I'd like to be sure it all works properly first, but I don't know how to test it.
I put an old credit card in the slot and the reader sees the card OK, but then Windows (7) trots off to find a driver for the card and, naturally enough, can't find one. Is this the practical limit of the testing I can do, or is there some really cheap card and software I could get to do a full test?

 

A smartcard has a microcircuit with contacts on the side of the card. Even with the right software it still needs that kind of card.

 

Back in ancient history (1998) I was given a used small dish satellite system that used smart cards for encryption.
After a few searches on the internet I ordered about $35 of parts from newegg and made a card reader. (Could not buy one anywhere.)
In 2009 they changed out all the cards and finally shut down the "hackers".
11 years of free everything TV was nice

 

I guess my old Visa is the right kind of card (with the visible contacts near one short side), because the reader sees it if I put it in the right way but not if I put it in backwards.

The question is, is this enough evidence to say that the reader is in good working order?

 

Yes if the reader "sees" the card, it is working correctly.
I don't know what good it will be to you because the smart cards today are way more encrypted then they were 15 years ago and take
very special software that would be next to impossible to find and probably illegal to use.
If you can remove it and install a more usable option in it's place then do it. I really doubt that you will sell or even find someone that
can use the reader because the cards are so specialized anymore.
Good luck with your project...

 

I'd say Yes with one caveat. I use card readers regularly and only had 1 fail. It was built into a Dell, and after a lot of use it sometimes would not read the card info correctly, even though it did see the card. I'd guess 1 of the contacts was dirty or intermittent. They eventually replace the laptop, probably sold it on eBay to someone they thought would never use the card reader . . . .

 

If you chose to remove the card:

1. It leaves a hole.
2. It makes it easier to upgrade the ram.

When/if you remove it do it without un-latching the two folded (40 element?)wide cables. They have a tendency to come un-laminated at the tip......then you will be looking for a cable or two.
After you pull the bottom you will see the folded cables...remove two silver and two black screws on one side (in the hard drive connector? Just so it is loose. Then remove the two black screws from the FP PCB. Work it up a ways until you can see the ten element cable connector on the mobo. Then unlatch it carefully and disconnect the cable (narrow one attached to FPReader) from mobo.

If this doesn't make any sense try writing it. I only did so because I de-laminated cable ends on two different MK 2's. I think Panasonic used lightweight cables due to the 360 degree fold. Since then I used above routine, only lifting enough stuff out of the way to replace ram, then reversing the process to leave the FPreader in the machine. No hole that-a-way.

FWIW and happy holidays.

Jeff
items with a ? are because I don't have a machine apart right now.
oh, yeah "smoosh" the thermal pads while you are in there.:hi2:

 

OK, thanks everyone. It's been educational! ) Sadlmkr, I'll keep your tips in mind!
If the card is obsolete and worthless then I might as well leave it in there. It's nice to know that it (probably) still works OK though, so when I sell the CF-30E I can keep a clean conscience. I have to sell something soon though - after deciding I wanted a Toughbook I've somehow ended up with 5 of them and the Missus is getting cranky...

 

Only five?
The ram under the smart card reader is probably 1024. (Gig)
It will take 4gb. Just saying.

 

Tell her she has nothing to worry about . I keep telling my girlfriend I have no problem at all. My girlfriend hates a mess so I went out and bought a stand and put them all on it...well I did have to buy another one because the one pictured got full some how :thumbsup:

 

That's probably a full year's supply of Toughbooks for Fleabay Australia. )

 

I can tell you they are a lot of Toughbook owners in Australia. I have sold a lot of parts over there this year.

 

Maybe you need a local distributor here, to get the freight costs down. ;-)

I guess there's a few thousand CF-18s and early 19s floating around. Telstra (the formerly government-owned monopoly telephone provider) used them. There was an interesting case study published about it, if I can find it I'll put up a new post.

They still seem pretty rare on the local fleabay though.

Chris