Hi there I have a photo store that has one of those self-serve photo kiosks. The kind you stick your memory card into and select to print your own photos. My problem is that the memory card reader in it will accept all types of memory cards no matter how many GB, BUT when it comes to SD memory cards it won't accept any bigger than 1GB and this is a real pain. I spoke with the manufacturer and they said I need to upgrade the entire kiosk. Are they swindling me or is there a way around this? I feel that if it can take a 2GB XD card or 8GB CF card it should theoretically take a bigger SD card. PS. The SD slot is in an integrated panel along with all the other memory card slots so I can't just change the SD reader alone.

Are you sure? Seems like it should take any size SD but not any size MMC. Dunno. Wonder if you just can't put in a usb device that might work? "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, are in my top 10

I would have thought it should be possible to upgrade the memory card reader unit without having to replace the entire kiosk. After all, most largish items of equipement (e.g. a pc) are modular, which allows for upgrade or repair without having to replace. Possibly you were talking to someone at the makers who is on commission for a sale. Do you know anyone else in your trade who has the same problem? Or have they overcome it. Advise how you get on. Good Luck - Keep us psoted.

Thanks for your response Mike. I think you're quite right, they are after a sale of an entiely new kiosk at an exhorbitant price. Unfortuantely the SD slot is on a panel that houses all the other media types like Sony Stick Duo, XD etc etc so it makes it difficult just to replace the SD part. The reseller/manufacturer tells me that its a software issue and replacing the card reader will do no good (which I doubt). On the other hand I cannot understand the technical side of how it can read all other cards but just not 1 particular type of media (ie. SD over 1GB in capacity). Some of suggested using an external USB connected card reader. I have done this but on some instances it has corrupted files on the SD card. For instance where there may be 300 photos, only handful show up on the screen. Then when you plug the card back into the camera it says card error. Then if you plug it into the PC to look at the files...they are all there but with wierd file names like %$^#@%&, and they fail to open. The card reader or the kiosk is somehow affecting the SD card doing it this way. Hence I am mistified!

Hi Striker -thoughts on overcoming (if you have not already done so):- I would think it unlikely any of your customers would want to print photos that exceed 1gb at any one time (even if they did the same method can be applied by having more than one run). If their sd card exceeds 1gb, why not use an onsite (if present) pc:- a) select the photos required b) copy to folder on hard disc c) copy hd folder to a smaller sd card of yours d) use smaller sd card for the kiosk *On no account* write to the customers sd. Use its write protection slide if present. Alternatively, it may be quicker to copy all the photos to the hd and select/delete there before copying to the smaller sd card. The above would not take long. Here in the UK a USB SD and MMC Memory Card Reader costs £1 (repeat £1). Can you imagine the above problem on a Bank's ATM. There is no way they would rip it from the wall. When card modifications necessitate the reader being changed. An upgraded unit is fitted and the old one returned to the factory for upgrading the area concerned. As a matter of interest, where are you located? I am in Hammersmith, West London. Good Luck - Keep us posted.