Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

[kjacobs]

Here is a new one....for me, at least.

I am running Puppy 4.1.1 and I just inserted an SD card into the card reader on my machine. I cannot find the SD card anywhere. I tried to mount it, but it is not available to mount. The card reader also has a usb port on the front and it works fine. Any ideas on what to do or look for to fix this?

Thanks.

[Fossil]

kjacobs,
Can we assume the card reader is built in to the computer? Can it read any other media card via Puppy? Is this the first time this SD card has failed to be recognised? Does the card still function without any problems within your camera?
Perhaps the card has been damaged in some way. Has it ever been reformatted within the computer or within the camera? What about the strip of contacts running along the card's edge - are they clean and free from dirt or finger grease? Very unlikely, but has the card been subjected to any strong magnets or electro-magnetic devices?
Otherwise, check the reader's connection to the computer's motherboard, just on the off-chance of something having worked loose.

[davids45]

G'day,
Further to Fossil's suggestions, try "hard-earthing" the computer to remove any static build-up affecting the reader.
Turn off the computer at the power-point but leave it plugged in to the point. With the power still OFF, push in the computer's on button for about 5 seconds. You may see a few LEDs quickly flash.
Then turn on the power and re-start the computer. Works with Medion computers and their non-Linux-friendly card readers.
David S.

[kjacobs]

Sorry, yes the card reader is installed in the computer. I think the problem must be specifically with the SD card slot, as the usb port on the reader works fine as does the CF card slot. The cards came out of a working camera, which we use all the time. So, it appears that I have a bum card slot, although the card reader LED does light when I insert a SD card. It just will not allow me to mount the SD card. Funny that when I had Ubuntu installed a month or so ago, I used that same SD card slot to move files from a hard drive to the SD card. Rats....

Any other ideas? Thanks for the input and help.

[Sit Heel Speak]

On a Dell Inspiron E1505, which has a built-in SD card reader slot, Puppy 4.11-k2.6.25.16 running from live-CD, the SD card reader is visible.

If I boot with my SD card in the reader, it gets a drive icon in the HotPup row. It is labelled "mmcblk0p1". If I boot without my SD card in the reader, and after the desktop comes up I then insert the SD card, HotPup gives it a drive icon, as it should. Removing the SD card makes the icon disappear. So, all is OK.

lsmod shows the sdhci sd reader module to be loaded.

Perhaps if you issue

[kjacobs]

Thanks for the ideas...I tried the modprobe sdhci command in a terminal. Nothing happened. I typed lsmod and a long list of stuff came up. Not sure what to make of it, though...

[Sit Heel Speak]

[Fossil]

Assuming the camera is a recent model, you could just try attaching it via USB cable to the computer. Something I don't like doing. What of the card itself; can it still be read by the camera? Does it contain 'valuable' photos? If not, consider reformatting it in the camera, and trying again. Otherwise, if it is the SD slot which has died; replace the internal reader or, there are small flash-card sized SD readers on the market, which plug directly into any USB slot.

[kjacobs]

My computer is a HP Pavilion a532x with AMD 2800+ and 1GB ram. When I type modprobe sdhci it just gives me a # command prompt on the next line, nothing else.

I have tried 2 different cards with the same results, both perfect working cards. Yes, I could plug the camera in, but the reader should take care of it. I may have to pick another reader if this one is bad....

[Sit Heel Speak]