Memory card reader locks up my PC. What in the world??

February 13, 2020, 07:31 PM

Good evening.

I bought a USB card reader this evening, and it's been a hassle. As soon as I plugged it in, my [wireless USB] keyboard and mouse stopped working. I couldn't reboot with it plugged in.

So I unplugged it and started over, plugging it in only after the PC was booted and I was logged in. As soon as I connected the reader, the PC locked up again.

I have an external hard drive which uses a similar cable, so I connected the reader to the drive cable. All's well! It works like it should.

I'll likely not need the external drive and the reader at the same time, so I think I have a solution, but it stinks that I have to half-@$$ it like that.

So... what could be wrong with the reader's own cable that locks things up?

February 13, 2020, 09:23 PM

jimmy123x

quote:
Originally posted by vthoky:
Good evening.

I bought a USB card reader this evening, and it's been a hassle. As soon as I plugged it in, my [wireless USB] keyboard and mouse stopped working. I couldn't reboot with it plugged in.

So I unplugged it and started over, plugging it in only after the PC was booted and I was logged in. As soon as I connected the reader, the PC locked up again.

I have an external hard drive which uses a similar cable, so I connected the reader to the drive cable. All's well! It works like it should.

I'll likely not need the external drive and the reader at the same time, so I think I have a solution, but it stinks that I have to half-@$$ it like that.

So... what could be wrong with the reader's own cable that locks things up?

One (or more) wire is going to the wrong pin on the plug.

February 13, 2020, 10:52 PM

smschulz

You could try a different slot.
Does it lock up with or without the media card in it?

February 14, 2020, 02:24 AM

Phelen_Kell

check the pins then check the driver.

February 14, 2020, 02:27 AM

Paten

USB cables are cheap. The link you posted shows a picture that looks like it's a micro usb 3.0 cable. Just buy another one from Amazon.

UGREEN Micro USB 3.0 Cable

February 20, 2020, 06:33 PM

vthoky

quote:
Originally posted by Paten:
USB cables are cheap. The link you posted shows a picture that looks like it's a micro usb 3.0 cable. Just buy another one from Amazon.

UGREEN Micro USB 3.0 Cable

Thank you, Paten. The new cable solves it -- no lockups now.