card reader does not appear on desktop

Question

card reader does not appear on desktop

Hello all,
I have tried two card readers (SanDisk MobileMate SD and Nokia type:DD 10)and neither shows on the desktop. The little light glows when I plug it into a USB port, but the icon never appears on the desktop. I have used Spotlight to try to find them, but no show. I have looked for drivers on each manufacturer's website, but they are not for Macs.
I have quite a few music apps (Sibelius, easy beat, FretPet, etc.) and the Adobe Suite on my computer. Could any of these interfere?
I appreciate any help you can offer.
Deborah

iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Posted on Dec 27, 2005 5:20 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 27, 2005 5:28 PM in response to Deborah Barber

The card reader will not show up on your desktop until you put media in it.

Put a flash card in the reader and see what happens, if you have already done this, sorry I misread your post.

There is also a Finder Preferences setting for showing disks on the desktop.

Good luck.

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Answer 2

Dec 27, 2005 5:37 PM in response to Deborah Barber

Hi Deborah,

You don't say whether or not you have a card in the reader. If you don't, it won't show.

If you do have a card in it and it still doesn't show, open the "Go" menu in "Finder" and choose "Computer". If there's a card in the reader it should show up there. If it does show there but not on the desktop then you need to go to the "Finder" menu and click on "Preferences" and then make sure that under "Show these items on desktop" all of the things you want to show are checked.

If you already know all this, forgive me for assuming you don't. I couldn't tell from your post.

Good luck.

Rick

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Answer 3

Dec 28, 2005 9:08 AM in response to Steven Kutoroff

HI Steven,
From your suggestion, I tried disks with and without data. Still nothing.
I have Finder Preferences set to show everything.
I have a sneaking suspicion I have installed something - an app or plug-in - that is mucking-up the works.
Deborah

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Answer 4

Dec 28, 2005 9:11 AM in response to Richard Segedi

HI Richard,
I have looked at Preferences and they are set to show everything.
Could there be a driver out there somewhere that I need? I have done all the software updates from Apple that I thought might fix the problem, still nothing.
Thank you for your time and expertise.
Deborah

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Answer 5

Dec 28, 2005 9:30 AM in response to Deborah Barber

Hi Deborah

The one I use is a Delkin Devices USB CompactFlash reader-writer which I bought about 2 years ago. All I did was plug it into a USB port on my iMac and it works. A cousin of mine has a larger and fancier one, which has a light on it like yours (mine doesn't) which she has plugged into her iMac and there was no driver software necessary there either. When we bought ours we asked about Mac compatibility and were told all the card readers would work regardless of platform. Not being a techie I just assumed the clerks were right but maybe with some kinds of readers there are drivers necessary. Did you contact the manufacturer yet?

Rick

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Answer 6

Dec 28, 2005 9:37 AM in response to Richard Segedi

HI Richard,
I checked the manufacturers' websites and have e-mailed their support folks. My other USB items (MIDI, cameras, flashdrive) all showed up with no problems. I might just have to go Bluetooth to circumvent this particular problem. I have a new phone that plays MP3s and I want to put some podcasts and favorite music on the phone to help me through a stressful trip to NYC.
Thank you so much for your help and insight.
Deborah

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Answer 7

Dec 28, 2005 10:15 AM in response to Deborah Barber

For whatever it was worth, you're welcome 🙂

Rick

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Answer 8

Dec 30, 2005 7:40 AM in response to Richard Segedi

Thanks Richard.
I have also tried resetting my USB ports. No show.
I can see the written disk in Disk Utility, but it does not show on the desktop. So near, yet so far.
Deborah

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