media card reader access disappears

[windsurferLA]

Hdwr: DELL Dimension E510, 3 GHz, 1 MByte RAM
Sfwr: WinXP-pro w/ SR2

Computer came with "13 in 1 Media card reader" that appears in "my
computer" as four hard drives. On start up and for hours there after,
it works fine for reading Compact Flash and other memory cards. However,
often, after machine has been idle for many hours, the "drives" no
longer appear when "my computer" is called up. I can get them to
reappear by re-booting the computer.

Is there a way to get them to reappear without having to re-boot the
computer?

 

[Guest]

what happens when you search for new hardware devices?
START -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager
Select Computer Name
Select Action -> Search

 

[Elmo]

Hdwr: DELL Dimension E510, 3 GHz, 1 MByte RAM
Sfwr: WinXP-pro w/ SR2

Computer came with "13 in 1 Media card reader" that appears in "my
computer" as four hard drives. On start up and for hours there after,
it works fine for reading Compact Flash and other memory cards. However,
often, after machine has been idle for many hours, the "drives" no
longer appear when "my computer" is called up. I can get them to
reappear by re-booting the computer.

Is there a way to get them to reappear without having to re-boot the
computer?

Open Device Manager and turn off the Power Save option for each USB hub.
That and other suggestions are given here:

USB Help sites:
http://www.usbman.com/WinME USB Guide.htm

General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310575

Troubleshooting for USB drives
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html

 

[windsurferLA]

It does not find the USB connected card reader when you search for new
hardware with or without a card in the card reader.

When access to the card reader is unavailable, and one examines system
devices, hardware, under "Universal Serial Bus Controlers" an "Unknown
Device," is listed, but nothing I seem to be able to do changes its
status. To get the card reader to re-appear, I needed to cold boot the
machine; a simple re-start did not work.

After a cold start, in place of "Unknown Device" is
"USB Composite Device." Examining its "details" gives
USB\VID_10D5&PID_0004\5&2E32EC62&0&2 if I did not make a mistake copying
the numbers. There is no option of defeat power saving feature.

In addition and also under
system|hardware|universal serial bus controlers
are five "USB Root Hub" listings. They provide an option to defeat power
saving feature. Of the five "USB Root Hub", three are blank. One list
the scanner plus two USB mass storage devices with a 96 ma and 500 ma
loads. Another One lists a "USB Composite device" with a 98 ma load.
Per the suggestion, I'm going to defeat the power saving option on this
USB Root Hub under the assumption that the external harddrive is the
mass storage device on listed on the other active root hubs. I want the
power shut off to my external USB harddrive when it is not being used,
so harddrive life is extended.

My thanks to you and Elmo for the suggestions.
WindsurferLA

 

[windsurferLA]

See my reply to Schmeitz's post.. I think you were right with problem
being related to power save option.
Thanks

WindsurferLA