SD Card Reader says the card is write-protected

[Guest]

Hi all,

I am hoping someone can help me with a very frustrating problem.

I have an HP Pavillion zt3000, running Microsoft Windows XP Pro.

I cannot copy any files to the SanDisk SD Card (1GB) using the SD Card
reader embedded in the notebook. It throws the "Cannot copy xxxx file.
The Disk is write-protected. Remove the write-protection or use another
disk" message.

So far these are the troubleshootings I have done.

1) SD Card is not locked. I double-checked it numerous times.

2) I have already isolated the problem exists with the SD card reader
and not the SD Card itself. When I plug in a separate SD card reader
via USB, copying to/from the card works just fine. The
problem only exists with the SD Card reader embedded in the notebook.

3) I have downloaded the SD Card Reader program (SP24430.exe) from HP
site that installs the drivers needed. Rebooted and tried again, the
problem still exists.

4) I have already downloaded and updated the ROM and BIOS to latest
from HP site.

Btw, I am trying to use the SD card to transfer files from my laptop to
Treo 650.

[Rick Jones]

I am _not_ an expert on SD cards nor on Pavillions, but do you get the
write protected message for all SD cards you try?

rick jones
--
denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, rebirth...
where do you want to be today?
these opinions are mine, all mine; HP might not want them anyway... :)
feel free to post, OR email to rick.jones2 in hp.com but NOT BOTH...

[Guest]

HP guy told me to try couple things.

1) he told me the same thing you suggested, so I tried with my
co-worker's Palm One SD card and that worked FINE!

2) And then he told me to download this HP Enhancement Software for XP
SP2, so I did, but that didn't make my problem go away.

So I am left with the conclusion that HP zt3000 Notebook's SD card
reader is INCOMPATIBLE with SanDisk's SD card.

Anyone got a good idea?

[Rick Jones]

frank409@gmail.com wrote: HP guy told me to try couple things.
1) he told me the same thing you suggested, so I tried with my co-worker's Palm One SD card and that worked FINE!

Good. At least it is now known that the reader in the laptop isn't
completely toast.

Does your SanDisk card work in your co-workers equipment? (Sorry if
you covered that in the original post)
2) And then he told me to download this HP Enhancement Software for XP SP2, so I did, but that didn't make my problem go away.
So I am left with the conclusion that HP zt3000 Notebook's SD card reader is INCOMPATIBLE with SanDisk's SD card.

That is a plausible hypothesis (I might put it in the other order :) ,
but first I'd also try another example of a SanDisk SD card of the
same size if you can borrow one, and then perhaps one of the same size
as your co-worker's Palm One SD card. (Assuming it was a different
capacity).

My Photosmart 812 camera is at home right now, (which is where I have
an SD card) so I cannot look to see if write protect is an electical
switch on the card, or something more like the old 3.5" hard floppy
thing that involved physical stuff. If the latter, perhaps there are
some mechanical tolerance issues involved.

I'm also not sure if there may be different versions of the "SD
standard." There are all sorts of versions/options in stuff like SCSI
which makes compatibility, well, fun...

rick jones
--
portable adj, code that compiles under more than one compiler
these opinions are mine, all mine; HP might not want them anyway... :)
feel free to post, OR email to rick.jones2 in hp.com but NOT BOTH...