Installing an Internal Memory Card Reader

Many computer motherboards have extra USB controllers for adding internal USB devices. Modern motherboards will have one or more sets of header pins which typically connect front USB ports to the motherboard. There is usually two rows of pins one with five pins the other with four is now the standard arrangement of pins on most new motherboards. Add in memory card readers install and the 3.5 inch expansion bay and hook up to the header pins with a thin ribbon cable. The power is delivered through the internal USB so a connection to the power supply is not required.

I thought my card reader on eBay although many computer stores that carry specialty parts will also have them. After opening the side panel of the computer knockout the filler plate directly below or above the floppy disk drive. In most computer cases they’re also be inner metal filler plate that has to be removed well. I have removed the floppy disk drive for it this illustration purpose only. Without the floppy disk drive both the year metal killer plate can be seen he's only as well as the plastic filler plate on the front of the case. The outer plastic plates is it very easily pulled out from the rest of the front of the case, but to remove the inner filler plate aches a little bit of twisting. To assist in installation attach the room ribbon cable before putting the card reader into the case. It is much easier to attach to ribbon cable before installing the card reader and push the cable into the case. Install the screws that come with a card reader securing it to the computer case. Attach the end of the ribbon cable to the USB header pins on the motherboard.

The software installation within windows is practically nonexistent since the USB mass storage driver that comes with windows 2000 or XP makes the card reader work automatically. Installing a card reader into a windows 98 or Millennium Edition system would have the added complication of installing a driver on a separate disk or from the manufacturer's website. Each of the card reader slots in the card reader is assigned its own unique drive letter. Taking the SD card from my Kodak easyshare digital camera and putting it into the card reader, the Kodak easyshare digital camera software automatically recognized the pictures and download them even though my camera was not attached to the computer. The pictures transferred faster than they would have if my camera attached to the computer. Installing an internal card reader is an easy upgrade and an excellent project for those looking to learn how to install hardware.

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