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<page xmlns="http://projectmallard.org/1.0/"
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id="hardware-cardreader">
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<link type="guide" xref="media#photos"/>
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<link type="guide" xref="hardware#problems"/>
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<desc>Troubleshoot media card readers</desc>
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<revision version="13.10" date="2013-09-12" status="review"/>
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<credit type="author">
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<name>GNOME Documentation Project</name>
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<email>gnome-doc-list@gnome.org</email>
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<include href="legal.xml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"/>
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<title>Media card reader problems</title>
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<p>Many computers contain readers for SD (Secure Digital), MMC (MultiMediaCard), SmartMedia, Memory Stick, CompactFlash, and other storage media
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cards. These should be automatically detected and <link xref="disk-partitions">mounted</link>. Here are some
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troubleshooting steps if they are not:</p>
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<p> Make sure that the card is put in correctly. Many cards look as though they are
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upside down when correctly inserted. Also make sure that the card is firmly seated
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in the slot; some cards, especially CompactFlash, require a small amount of force to insert
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correctly. (Be careful not to push too hard! If you come up against something solid,
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<p> Open <app>Files</app> by using the <gui>Dash</gui>. Does the inserted
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card appear in the <gui>Devices</gui> list in the left sidebar? Sometimes the card appears in this list but is not mounted; click it once to mount. (If the sidebar is not visible, press <key>F9</key> or click
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<guiseq><gui>View</gui><gui> Sidebar</gui><gui> Show Sidebar</gui></guiseq>.)
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<p>If your card does not show up in the sidebar, click <guiseq><gui>Go</gui><gui>Computer</gui></guiseq>.
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If your card reader is correctly configured, the reader should come up as a drive
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when no card is present, and the card itself when the card has been mounted (see the picture below).</p>
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<p>If you see the card reader but not the card, the problem may be with the card itself.
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Try a different card or check the card on a different reader if possible.</p>
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<p>If no cards or drives are available in the <gui>Computer</gui> folder,
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it is possible that your card reader does not work with Linux due to driver issues.
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If your card reader is internal (inside the computer instead of sitting outside)
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this is more likely. The best solution is to directly connect your device
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(camera, cell phone, etc.) to a USB port on the computer. USB external card
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readers are also available, and are far better supported by Linux.</p>