Media Card reader - where does it go??

jamesgoss · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:05

Hi all,

Rebuilt the computer yesterday, but have forgotten where to plug the one cable of my media card reader! I tried it on one of the USB pin ports on the mobo, but the power light isn't even on. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

mollymoo · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:09

so it doesn't work on usb what make and model is it

jamesgoss · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:14

I'm afraid I don't know! I specced it as a custom build from a small company a couple of years ago...I'm trying to inspect pics I have of my mobo to identify where the hell it'd gone

edit: pics are useless!

mollymoo · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:27

Can you take a picture of the card reader cable and plug at the end ?

jamesgoss · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:37

good idea, will do in a little bit!

oggmonster · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:40

Thats strange :S Usually card readers are always USB. Did you try it on a different USB header?

jamesgoss · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:50

oggmonster said:
Thats strange :S Usually card readers are always USB. Did you try it on a different USB header?

That was my first thought. I'll attempt that at the same time as taking a photo. Obviously if that doesn't work, you guys'll be seeing the photo!

oggmonster · 31 Jul 2009 at 13:53

Yeah give that a go, if not could possibly be broken?

Nikumba · 31 Jul 2009 at 14:23

Some older readers, used the floppy power connector to get juice, then USB for connectivity

oggmonster · 31 Jul 2009 at 14:25

Nikumba said:
Some older readers, used the floppy power connector to get juice, then USB for connectivity

Oh yeah good point!

Jamesgoss: that could possibly be your answer!

jamesgoss · 31 Jul 2009 at 14:59

guys, you won't believe this...I put the USB connector plug upside down! The shame! Thanks for trying to help me out though...I'll chalk this one up to experience. It was my first build after all!

oggmonster · 31 Jul 2009 at 15:06

doh! You had a smack-the-forehead moment!

Glad it's all sorted now!

Nikumba · 31 Jul 2009 at 15:22

upside down??

I thought mobo usb ports were keyed so you couldnt do that??

But glad you got it sorted

Kimbie

StevenRaith · 31 Jul 2009 at 15:54

Nikumba said:
upside down??

I thought mobo usb ports were keyed so you couldnt do that??

But glad you got it sorted

Kimbie

If it uses a single row of pins, it won't be keyed.

IE
. . . .
. . .

Is the pin layout of a full USB header, with the eight pin being absent so that eight pin USB connectors will key correctly.

The four pins are used for the USB connection itself, and I think the bottom three are extra control lines for running mutiple ports or something, as a two port front panel outlet would. A single USB device wouldn't need that - the fact that you can get four pin USB header --> single USB socket adaptoids too, for mounting bluetooth keys internally etc, supports my mental process/theory on this.

A single row connector as a few card readers use only connects to the top four-pin row, so the usual eighth pin key on the bottom row is no help. And it's obviously easy to install it back to front if you don't note the pin-outs!

I'm postive that's what my card reader has, but I'm too lazy to take the side off to check, seeing as our man here has worked it out himself