Card reader MS/Pro/Duo CF/Multidrive USB - light on but

[jsam]

Saturday the 29th my machine decided it was time to hiccup. I booted up and it took ages and multiple attempts. I saw no messages, just hangs in various places. On what was to be the final reboot it must've taken four or five minutes to get to the loading Windows display. Anyway, after all that, it finally came back - except without the multi-card reader of the title. That was a bit of a bore as I was just about to start editing some digital photographs off my SD carfd.

Anyway, looks like my built-in multi-card reader isn't being recognised at all. No drive letters are assigned. The power lamp is on though. I've tried reseating it the once to no avail.

Anything obvious I should do before calling out an engineer?

John

ps Were an engineer were called out, could request other assistance? The following are not problems, they are enhancements to my system. So, yes, for these I would expect to pay:
1) installing another disk drive so that I'd have the two.
2) installing Vista (Home Premium or Ultimate) on that drive - so would have a dual boot capability.
2) installing a beefier graphics card. My Radeon X800 does not support the GPU of my favourite phot-editing software (http://www.dxo.com/intl/photo/suppor...dxo_optics_pro).
3) is there a BIOS upgrade?

[Davey W]

Hi jsam,

Was the updates provided earlier today any use?

I presume that the card reader was working fine prior to the initial problem which could either mean a failure of that device, or something else that is causing a knock-on affect with the card reader. It's likely a few things more would need to be checked before ascertaining the necessary action.

We could upgrade the parts you request however we could not upgrade your operating system. You would need to purchase a new licence, likely via the retail route.

Davey

[jsam]

As I emailed support tonight:

No success to be honest.

No real change; no harm done either to be fair. The email with the screen shots has been returned - text only follows:
---

I’ve added your suggestion, C:\Windows\Inf, to the end of the very long string, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DevicePath : %SystemRoot%\inf;%windir%\OEMdriver\1;%windir%\OEMdriver\2;%windir%\OEMdriver\3;%windir%\OEMdriv er\4;%windir%\OEMdriver\5;%windir%\OEMdriver\6;%windir%\OEMdriver\7;%windir%\OEMdriver\8;%windir%\OE Mdri ...


I have rebooted – and no change. Or did you mean replace that mammoth string?

My Device Manager looks like: <screen shot>

Moving on…

By the way, my Safely Remove Hardware is a bit odd too – remove my hard drive? This looks wrong: <screen shot>

I have now updated my BIOS to v13. I reboot and I get this: <screen shot>

It doesn’t seem to do much. Nothing installed. Is this my phantom SD/XD/CF card reader?

Back into device manager: <screen shot>

I’ve also grown a floppy disk. :-)

Any more ideas – in particular have I misunderstood the regkey?

John Samuel

[Davey W]

Hi jsam,

Which email address did you send it to? If possible, could you send a copy of it to me via davey@meshcomputers.com?

If you flashed the BIOS then you have likely reset the BIOS settings, or worse, haven't.

Resetting will enable options such as the floppy controller that you don't need. Flashing without resetting can lead to all sorts of problems as every option could literally be anything.

If I can get the pictures that were with the email I can advise on the card reader hopefully.

Davey

[jsam]

Davey -

Thanks for your help. I have forwarded you the relevant email. Yes, I reflashed and reset. I hve been in and turned off the floppy controller.

In addition to my other "interesting" (everyone sigh at once) issues, whilst in the BIOS setup I am experiencing lockups. In Windows, knock on wood, fine. In the BIOS sometimes things just freeze. I suppose it stops me from tinkering. :-) If you have any insight or wisdom to impart there I'd greatly appreciate that too, of course.

[jsam]

Ah dear. Matters are degenerating I'm afraid. Nearly 10 boots. Gets to Windows startup screen (horizontally scrolling three blue bars) - and halts.

It looks like a dodo. Whatever started the degeneracy on Saturday has taken the machine out altogether.

I shall call Mesh support in the morning.

Thanks, John

[jsam]

Well, I tried calling Technical Support. I accidentally got through to Platinum/Gold/Silver - who answered on the first ring (option 4 then 1). I was redirected to option 4 then 2. I've tried five times and each time the phone rings off the hook. Hmm. Ho hum. I've paid for three years on-site I shall just send an email asking (ok, demanding) it.

[Davey W]

Hi jsam,

I am arranging for an engineer to call you directly regarding the problem.

Davey

[jsam]

Thanks very much. Whether it was my earlier email or your intercession (more likley) I did get called. I'm to expect a call from an engineer within the next three working days to arrange a visit.

Interestingly, the lost usb ports have reappeared. Amazing. But the machine is intermittently hanging still. So the call out will still be required.

Once again, thanks for the help.

[jsam]

As of noon Wednesday the third working day will have elapsed - so I may well finish up calling the engineering team.

So, the original problem, lost card reader, appears to no longer be an issue.

But I'm left with a keyboard and mouse issue. In Windows the machine will periodically hang - I'll lose keyboard and mouse. Sometimes, after a few minutes, it springs back to life. Sometimes it reboots.

Interestingly it does the same now at BIOS level. The cursor keys work for a bit (although occassionally they seem to miss a stroke). But, inevitably, it will lock up within a very few minutes in the BIOS.

This problem wasn't there before.

Anyway, time for the man in the van...

[jsam]

Right. Got through to Technical Support (yes, me calling them). They're having problems getting parts (the motherboard is out of date). They wanted 24 more hours. I've suggested 48. To my taste the people in TS are trying to please me - and I value honesty more.

I have yet another silver bullet. That should read "conjecture that holds for a few boot cycles anyway". I'm using my mouse and keyboard on the PS/2 connectors. I've moved them to a couple of USB connectors and the system appears (famous last words) stable. Is it the usb-ps/2 adapters? Is it the ps/2 card? I don't know. I'm running a bit short on USB slots - but at least I can extend them.

[jsam]

I'll close this thread. My machine is now stable.

Davey, I appreciate your help - but, frankly, the resolution had nothing at all to do with Mesh. I spent two days on it myself. It all makes me wonder why I bought the on-site support.

I'm about to buy three more devices for wife and two kids. This time I'll to back to tier 1 suppliers.