New Sandisk CF not compatable with older Sandisk USB readers (SDDR-75)

Hi,
I've been merrily using my Sandisk card reader (SDDR-75) to download
photos from my 256 mb simpletech compact flash card, with no problems.
I find a good deal on a 512 Sandisk Compact flash card, and buy it.
The first (and every) time I try to download the contents of the card,
it fails part way through, and sometimes ruins the images on the card.
Ok. Now I am mad.

I called Sandisk. Four times. Their response? "Well, you know
technology. Yesterdays best is tomorrows ..." and "I guess you will
need to buy a new card reader." Ok. Now I am mad and really
frustrated.

I pressed for more information. Why is the compact flash card not
compatable with the compact flash reader? "Well, your card reader is
not compatable (it is Aug 2003 vintage) with the improvements to the
chips in the newer CF cards." Why is it corrupting the data? "Well,
yes, that can happen."

The big question. "What are you going to do to fix this?" Simply, they
refused to do a thing because the reader is over 1 year old. Have the
standards for compact flash communication changed? It is just a basic
512 card. After speaking to a different customer support person, and
their supervisor, the best they'd do is a 30% discount off purchases
on their website. I'm not going to buy from them. (Anyone want a
coupon code?)

So to end my frustrated post: I borrowed my brothers even older card
reader, and it works fine. But, does anyone know why my Sandisk reader
would not work?
Thanks for reading (I'm off to return the Sandisk card now.)
Colin

 

I think it's possible that the person you spoke with was full of
you-know-what.
That it wouldn't be compatible that makes no sense at all. If that were
true (and I am convinced it is NOT true), then their cards would be
similarly at risk of failing in any camera or device that is older as well.
They just couldn't do this and survive.

I'd be willing to bet it's something OTHER than what he/you indicate.

 

The SDDR-75 was released in August 2002, not 2003. But yes,
there is a known incompatibility with this unit and newer CF cards.
Most likely it has something to do with FAT32 support (cards
larger than 2GB). Reviews at Amazon list complaints from other
customers who're having the exact same problem.

According to at least one review, Sandisk told them "There is a
known compatibility issue with the SDDR-75 and the newer CF
cards. We can provide an exchange for an SDDR-91 (USB 2.0
CompactFlash reader)."

You might try escalating your complaint past this clueless CS
supervisor, and copy the Amazon review to him/her.

 

Wow. Now that's weird.
Clearly it's not a card issue, but rather a reader issue though, which would
make more sense...but still very weird.

 

We had the same problem (2 readers). The Sandisk importer send us two new
readers for free.

 

Have you verified the reader still works on the older card? Some times a
pin will get bent without being obvious. If you need new reader
OfficeMax usually has the Digital Concepts (Sakar) reader free after
rebate at least a couple of times a month lately. I have a few of these
readers and they work fine on older Sandisk and also on newer 80x Lexar.
I you are going to pop for a new reader I'd suggest a firewire reader
like the one from Lexar.

 

Thank you everyone for your replies.
- It likely is something other than what he or I have indicated. But I
promise - I'm not trying to pull a fast one. I just want to take
photos!
- Thanks for letting me know when the reader was released. I bought it
in Aug 2003. Sorry for the confusion.
- I have been using it with a Simpletech 256 CF card since Aug 2003
with no trouble. The Sandisk 512 CF is giving me the trouble.
- Yep, reader still works with my older card. And both cards work in my
camera and my brothers Simpletech reader.

 

OfficeMax has the Dazzle card reader (never tried it) for $5 with free
shipping.

http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000007897372

 

Sandisk does seem to have more compatibility problems than other
manufacturers. I have a SDDR-86 "6 in 1" USB2 reader that won't read
one particular CF card (a noname, not Sandisk). The card works fine in
4 cameras, 3 other USB card readers, and a PCMCIA adapter, but it won't
work with the SDDR-86. At the time I bought it, several other people
reported the same problem with it. Sandisk support supplied new
firmware, which also didn't work but at least failed without requiring a
reboot. No further help has been forthcoming. Sandisk did not offer to
upgrade it to a different model (but the SDDR-86 was a new model at the
time).

My solution: buy some other brand in future.

Dave