SD card reader hell.

[Guest Palindrome]

I bought a PNY 6in1 USB Card Reader from PC World the other day. It doesn't work on my PC so I tried to return it and was told to check the documentation I got with my receipt (let me make it clear that I got my receipt at the usual time, after I had paid) that says they will only refund damaged items. But in anycase I've got to get the thing working. I sent this email to PNY support:

Windows XP SP1

Athlon 2000+

512Mb DDR Memory

Radeon 8500

Sound Blaster Live 5.1

USB Ports: US Robotics ADSL Modem, Microsoft Mouse, HP Scanner, SPV

Smartphone Sync Cradle.

I'm using the PNY USB 6in1 Flash Reader with 256Mb and 8Mb SD cards.

When I insert either card the light on the Reader lights up green and the

autorun starts. I am able to browse the SD card for about 5 seconds before the light goes off and the card Explorer window freezes or cannot display any of the files on the card.

I've tried:

-Closing any programs that are running in the background inc. Norton

Antivirus, sync software and Zonealarm.

-Removing all the USB connectors from the back of the PC and pluging the

Card Reader into each of my 6 USB sockets on the back of the comuter.

-Installing, removing, reinstalling etc. the drivers off your website.

-Checking compatibility: I notice that on your support website it does not

mention Windows XP but on the product box it does say it is compatible with XP

-Connecting the USB plug after Windows has started.

-Adjusting the USB power management settings as suggested on you support site.

I've restarted the PC after each failed attempt and after installing the

drivers.

This is very frustrating but I'd like to get the Reader working and not

return it to the shop. Any help you could give would be gratefully

recieved.

My thanks.

When they wrote back back (in badly translated French) they considered the most likely thing to make it work was to plug it into a hub. Now, on the support site it states quite plainly that you should connect it into the back of the PC and not through a hub. I certainly don't want to risk buying a hub only to find that doesn't solve the problem and I don't need it.

So I throw myself on the expertise of this great forum. I have spent the last 2 days messing with this infernal machination card reader and I'm sick of mass storage devices and removeable drives and wishing I had got an IDE internal job. Help me, please. Sob, sob.

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

Almost a cross post :lol:

personaly I would not try using a hub as you may well be creating even more problems.

Have PC world tested the unit to see if it works? if not and it does not work on your PC then

as far as you are concerned it is faulty.

[Guest Palindrome]

PC World tested it and it worked fine on their Packard Bell. It's a sad day when a Packard Bell works better than my lovely Mesh PC. Perhaps I can use it as a rugby ball and have my own England V Ireland match in the living room, and then return it when it definitely is faulty. Would prefer to get it working as watching vids on the bus and playing mp3s on the living room amp is fantastic.

One last desperate try: Format the harddisk and plug it in first. Thanks again awarner.

[Guest HelloDave]

With companies like PC World the general refund policy seems to be "if the customer complains enough give them what they want". In other words go in and ignore the muppet (not insulting - I used to be one! :lol:) at the customer service desk - they don't have authority to do anything; go straight for a manager and keep asking for people further up the chain of command until you get what you want. Generally once you get to someone high enough they're too busy to argue over a small item like your card reader so they'll just refund you. If they don't then point out that it isn't fit for the purpose it was sold for and you'll take it further etc etc - talk like that only scares managers though; ordinary staff couldn't give a monkey's becuase it isn't their store or their head on the block!

Once you've got your refund go out and buy a Belkin SD card reader - mine works perfectly, and installs as a mass storage device under 2000/XP, so no messing around with drivers and it appears as another removeable drive on your system so you can browse the card straight from explorer.

[Guest Palindrome]

Nice one. I'll get my best stubborn b***ard face on and go terrify the managers.

[Guest Vector]

Don't you just love pc world :twisted: :lol:

[Guest HelloDave]

Nice one. I'll get my best stubborn b***ard face on and go terrify the managers.

You know it makes sense! :lol:

To give you an example: where I used to work a woman came in once with her son, who was wearing a pair of obviously worn out trainers. She came up to customer services, told her son to put his shoes on the desk and then asked for a refund because they were "broken". She didn't have a reciept and couldn't even prove she'd bought them in the store, never mind the fact they were obviously worn out through abuse! There was no way we would give her a refund, and so the store manager was duly called, who also refused to refund her. This obviously wasn't good enough, and after swearing and insulting anyone within range she phoned up our head office there and then in the middle of the shop, and demanded a refund from them. Rather annoyingly (for us), head office agreed rather than argued, and told the manager to give her her money back!

Now i'm not suggesting you go into PC world and do this, but it proves that if you're persistent then anything is possible! And you've actually got a reciept and a product in a resaleable condition! ;)