my dell doesn't have the right connections for card reader - how to rewire?

[Unique]

i picked up a cheap internal memory card reader and when installing it to my dell 3100 i found that the dell didn't have the same 5 pin connector (a single row of 5 pins), but had it's own dell 9 pin connector (2 rows of 5 with a pin missing). i didn't realise the dell had a non standard connector. i couldn't squeeze the connector onto the dell mobo as there is raised plastic around the pins (a bit like an IDE port on the mobo)

i don't use flashcards often, but it's handy to have. i have an external reader but it's untidy and a PITA to use, so a tidy cheap internal solution sounded great

what i was wondering is if i can take an old USB cable and match up the wiring and connect the reader to one of the usb ports on the pc (i can stick the cable out the back of the pc and into the back usb sockets). is this easy to do, or is there a ready made and relatively cheap adapter cable i can use instead? and can i rewire myself with tape instead of soldering? doing a bit of googling i saw some DIY solutions that required one of the old dell cables to chop up, but i don't have this and it's an old pc

or is there a cheap £5ish reader that fits internally in the floppy drive slot, but uses standard usb connection?

cheers

[GoNz0]

can you put up a pic of the offending plug and socket ?

by rights the 5 pin will take up one side of the 9 pin

[Unique]

http://tekmandan.tripod.com/id1.html

that link shows the kind of thing i'm after, but i don't have one of the 9 pin cables to butcher

http://tekmandan.tripod.com/sitebuil...dapteruse1.jpg

on the left looks like the end i have on the card reader

http://tekmandan.tripod.com/sitebuil...headerpins.jpg

that's whats on the mobo. the raised plastic is what's stopping me plugging it in. i'd prefer not to try and break off the raised parts as i might damage something else. i'm not that light handed

http://www.amazon.co.uk/LUPO-Interna...dp/B003BVKBBI/

that looks like it has the 9 pin, but i'm not 100% sure. i'd rather not buy another reader when i already have one, so rather try some DIY


thanks

[GoNz0]

thats no normal USB header, from that page you linked to

that is has 2 MM pin centers instead of the conventional 2.56 MM or .1 inch pin centers that a normal USB header would. No standard connector will fit this header.

does the board not have proper usb headers anywhere else ?

[GoNz0]

is it this board http://www.impactcomputers.com/jc474.html

if it is then your out of luck for internal pins

but, providing you have the original reader, cut and chop the cables together to fit the new one ?

[Unique]

from memory, that looks like the mobo. i got the pc without the card reader so don't have the cables to butcher, so i was hoping i could do a hack job by using a usb cable tacked to the end of the card reader cable, and poke the cable out the back of the pc and connect round the back. is that possible?

the difference in sizing between pins is probably why i couldn't fit it in

from what you say, i presume it's pointless me getting the other reader from amazon as that won't fit either? so that at least saves me money and hassle buying that one

i looked all over the board and couldn't see any other place the card reader would fit, and i checked the online manual. there is some pins sticking out near the front usb connector, but it wouldn't connect there either. i presume it's another non standard dell thing

thanks for your help

[kalniel]

You should be able to buy a PCI USB card which has internal headers.

[Unique]

i was thinking about that. i already have one in an old pc i don't use, but i have the pci slots used for my soundcard and a sata card. i've only got the one pci-e x1 slot left, which i might later use for another sata port

[GoNz0]

or buy a usb hub and card reader.

[Unique]

http://www.mrusb.com/Motherboard-Cab.../prod_167.html

i found the cable i need on the above site and amazon, but both places are out of stock!

does anyone know any other good places to find things like this?

[Unique]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Akasa-EXUSBI...dp/B003BCDYI4/

i found what i need, £6 delivered. hopefully this works!

thanks for everyones help

[Unique]

in the end i pulled the cable from an ancient usb mouse, and just stuffed the ends of the cable (so if it didn't work i hadn't wrecked the card reader) into the holes on the card reader connector, put a bit of electric tape on to top it coming loose and it works perfectly. it was pretty simple and worked first time. fortunately i had a spare usb socket on the back