Card reader stops me from Booting

[Babel17]

I have a digital camera which uses Flash Memory. I also have a Flash Card
reader to transfer the images from my card to my computer. The card reader
has worked without problem on my Windows 98 machine for a year.

Yesterday I moved the card reader to my Windows XP machine. The machine
recognized the reader and I successfully transferred some images from the
card to my XP hard drive.

This morning I tried to boot and could not get past the first screen, which
is the "Gateway" screen. I turned the machine off and back on a few times,
and still couldn't get past the "Gateway" screen. Since the last change I
made to the machine was plug in the card reader, I then turned the machine
off, and unplugged the card reader. No problem; the machine booted
normally. I then turned the machine off, reinserted the card reader into
the USB port, and again I couldn't get past the first screen. Again I
unplugged the reader and the machine booted normally.

What am I doing wrong ?
Can I only use the card reader if I plug it in after the computer has booted
?
Is this another limitation of Windows XP ?
Is there anything different that I should be doing ?

I'd like to use the card reader on my XP machine, but plugging it in each
time only after I boot seems a bit silly.

 

[=?iso-8859-1?B?UmVu6Q==?=]

Sounds like you should go to your computer's BIOS and set the boot
sequence to "HDD, CD-ROM, don't try others".

 

[Babel17]

Don't want to sound like a simpleton, but how do I go to my computers BIOS ?

 

[Richard]

To get into the bios, you need to hit an F (F2, F3, etc)
key on the first startup screen in the boot (startup)
process. You should see a message somewhere that
says "hit F(#) to enter setup" or "to enter BIOS." If it
gets to the XP start screen, it's too late. If you have
any more problems, please post a reply.

Richard

 

[=?iso-8859-1?B?UmVu6Q==?=]

Don't want to sound like a simpleton, but how do I go to my computers
BIOS ?

That depends on your computer's manufacturer. I think with Gateway,
you have to pound the F2 key as soon as you see the memory being
counted, or directly after you turned on your computer, but before you
see the Windows splash screen.

 

[Babel17]

Thank you, Rene & Richard.
This task sounds like something I'll have to wait for a weekend to try, as
it is new to me & I'll need some uninterrupted time.
I'll give it a try next weekend.
Thank you.

Babel.

Remove "DELANY" to reply by e-mail.

 

[Peter Hutchison]

I have a digital camera which uses Flash Memory. I also have a Flash Card
reader to transfer the images from my card to my computer. The card reader
has worked without problem on my Windows 98 machine for a year.

Yesterday I moved the card reader to my Windows XP machine. The machine
recognized the reader and I successfully transferred some images from the
card to my XP hard drive.

This morning I tried to boot and could not get past the first screen, which
is the "Gateway" screen. I turned the machine off and back on a few times,
and still couldn't get past the "Gateway" screen. Since the last change I
made to the machine was plug in the card reader, I then turned the machine
off, and unplugged the card reader. No problem; the machine booted
normally. I then turned the machine off, reinserted the card reader into
the USB port, and again I couldn't get past the first screen. Again I
unplugged the reader and the machine booted normally.

What am I doing wrong ?
Can I only use the card reader if I plug it in after the computer has booted
?
Is this another limitation of Windows XP ?
Is there anything different that I should be doing ?

I'd like to use the card reader on my XP machine, but plugging it in each
time only after I boot seems a bit silly.

Change the boot sequence in BIOS, and make sure Removable drives are
further down the list.

Peter Hutchison
Windows FAQ
http://www.pcguru.plus.com/