Problem with built-in card reader.

[ray_whiley]

I hope that someone can help me with this problem - and that this is the right forum in which to request help for it!

I know nothing about the mysteries of how computers work; I'm just a happy user (usually). Suddenly my computer thinks that there is a CF card in my built-in card reader when I switch on. Booting is very, very slow and I eventually arrive at a desktop background with no icons. After inserting a CF card (which I did because the indicator light was on) and using 'Safely remove hardware' on that drive, all returned to normal.

I've had a look at Device Manager and see the message 'USB controller - Windows cannot use this device as it has been prepared for safe removal but not removed'. I guess this is the cause of the problem! - yet inserting and safely removing a card has not cured it.

There is an option to disable the USB controller. Is this the right thing to do - and then using a plug-in card reader which I have - or do I have to go for a costly repair job? If I disable it can it be enabled again or will it have vanished for ever?

This does relate directly to Trainz as without it I can't make any more models from photographs!

Advice welcomed - thank you.

Ray

PS if things get worse I may not be able to see replies fro a time.

 

[fran1]

Ray,
Go into control panel, programs and features, you'll find the card reader (in my case realtek usb card reader). Try deleting it from the list, windows should install drivers for it when you next re start the comp.
I'll come back with another idea in a minute, you can also find the reader in devices and printers.
Oh, don't disable USB controller or you'll not be able to use the portable one.
As I said devices and printers, now hardware, properties, policies should have quick removal lit/ticked. Next is driver, no point disabling it so uninstall, as it's a microsoft driver (well mine is, check first) it will re install the driver automatically.

 

[ray_whiley]

Thank you very much, fran1 - I will certainly try your suggestion.

Sorry for not replying earlier. I needed to do some scanning of documents and had problems with my very old laptop (Windows 98) which took a long time to resolve - but I got there in the end - more by luck than knowledge!

Ray

 

[ray_whiley]

Hi, fran1 - I've had a look in the control panel and there is nothing named 'programs and features' or 'devices and printers' etc.

I've looked in device manager and found under USB controller, 'USB mass storage device' - which is the wording I get when I 'eject
hardware safely'. This is marked with a yellow exclamation mark, and when I go to 'properties' it says
'Windows cannot use this hardware device because it has been prepared for "safe removal", but it has not been removed from the computer. (Code 47)
To fix this problem, unplug this device from your computer and then plug it in again.'

Is this the same as your recommendation but with different wording? As it's built-in, I can hardly unplug it! The only choices given ar 'Use this device (enable) which is ticked' and 'Do not use this device' (disable) - is disable the same as unplugging?

Thanks again.

Ray

NB - I'm using Windows XP.