SxS cards mount inconsistently at DVinfo.net

Andy Schocken · February 19th, 2009, 04:25 PM

Does anyone have mechanical problems with their Expresscard slot? I'm on a Macbook Pro and I've got all the drivers and all that- I've worked with media from SxS cards plenty. But some of my cards don't always mount when I insert them. I think it's a mechanical problem, because when the card doesn't mount, all I have to do is apply pressure with my finger against the card, and then it mounts. If I let up on the pressure, it dismounts. Some of my cards don't seem to have the problem, and some do.

Anyone have any ideas? Do I have a faulty card slot that needs to be replaced? Thanks...

MBP 2.4 ghz core 2 duo, OS 10.4.11

Perrone Ford · February 19th, 2009, 04:47 PM

I thought that was a known issue on some MacBooks...

Andy Wilkinson · February 19th, 2009, 04:55 PM

I've read that MBPs can sometimes have issues with the expresscard slot (it's a bit weak/not that well engineered for ruggedness, apparently) and so I'm dead careful with my mid 2008 version MBP (and so far so good). Also, look on the MBP forum on the (official and unofficial) Apple sites and read stuff on there about this.

Sounds like you need to be talking to Apple and getting it sorted ASAP. This is why you (I hope) have an Applecare warranty in place.

Nathan Lawrence · February 19th, 2009, 09:59 PM

Yes-- same issue here. 2007-model 17" MBP. I find that with cards that don't cooperate that if I push them in good and snug that they will stay, but when the card is in, I don't disturb it at all!

I'm hoping that the MxR cards I have ordered do better with this-- it seems that some cards are more prone to the problem than others.

Vincent Oliver · February 20th, 2009, 03:45 AM

I just take SD HC cards and place them in a card reader - no problems at all. Make sure the reader handles SD HC cards, a normal SD reader will not read the HC card versions.

Andy Schocken · February 23rd, 2009, 10:56 AM

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, the expresscard slot needs to be replaced. I'm covered by applecare, but the problem is I'm getting quoted 5-7 business days for diagnostic and repair. I can't be without my computer for that long.

Is there any kind of expresscard adapter that would be basically a female to male adapter (I know it wouldn't make sense to make one that's just for a single card female to male, but perhaps there's a dual female to single male)? As some cards work fine in the slot, it's possible that that could work for me.

February 19th, 2009, 04:25 PM	#1
Andy Schocken Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 54	SxS cards mount inconsistently Does anyone have mechanical problems with their Expresscard slot? I'm on a Macbook Pro and I've got all the drivers and all that- I've worked with media from SxS cards plenty. But some of my cards don't always mount when I insert them. I think it's a mechanical problem, because when the card doesn't mount, all I have to do is apply pressure with my finger against the card, and then it mounts. If I let up on the pressure, it dismounts. Some of my cards don't seem to have the problem, and some do. Anyone have any ideas? Do I have a faulty card slot that needs to be replaced? Thanks... MBP 2.4 ghz core 2 duo, OS 10.4.11

February 19th, 2009, 04:47 PM	#2
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	I thought that was a known issue on some MacBooks... __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

February 19th, 2009, 04:55 PM	#3
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	I've read that MBPs can sometimes have issues with the expresscard slot (it's a bit weak/not that well engineered for ruggedness, apparently) and so I'm dead careful with my mid 2008 version MBP (and so far so good). Also, look on the MBP forum on the (official and unofficial) Apple sites and read stuff on there about this. Sounds like you need to be talking to Apple and getting it sorted ASAP. This is why you (I hope) have an Applecare warranty in place. __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

February 20th, 2009, 03:45 AM	#5
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	I just take SD HC cards and place them in a card reader - no problems at all. Make sure the reader handles SD HC cards, a normal SD reader will not read the HC card versions. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

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February 19th, 2009, 09:59 PM	#4
Nathan Lawrence Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cobleskill, NY Posts: 51	Yes-- same issue here. 2007-model 17" MBP. I find that with cards that don't cooperate that if I push them in good and snug that they will stay, but when the card is in, I don't disturb it at all! I'm hoping that the MxR cards I have ordered do better with this-- it seems that some cards are more prone to the problem than others.

February 23rd, 2009, 10:56 AM	#6
Andy Schocken Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 54	Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, the expresscard slot needs to be replaced. I'm covered by applecare, but the problem is I'm getting quoted 5-7 business days for diagnostic and repair. I can't be without my computer for that long. Is there any kind of expresscard adapter that would be basically a female to male adapter (I know it wouldn't make sense to make one that's just for a single card female to male, but perhaps there's a dual female to single male)? As some cards work fine in the slot, it's possible that that could work for me.