Rectangular card in a square peg

December 20, 2007 8:24 AM

Is there some kind of trick to using these big card reader slots on the front of my PC?

So I have this Memory Stick Pro Duo that I need to pull photos off of - but for some reason I can't get the card reader slot to work. The slot happens to be slightly wider than the pro duo stick, and It's also a little bit taller - therby preventing a snug fit. Is there some kind of technique that I'm missing out on? (note: I have the same problem with my Dell 2407 FPW Monitor card slots).

Thanks!

posted by CXImran to computers & internet (8 comments total)

This lists it compatible with "Memory Stick Duo (with Adapter)". Not sure if the Memory Stick Pro Duo is considered the same, but is there an adapter you're missing?
posted by sharkfu at 8:29 AM on December 20, 2007

The slot probably is not for a Memory Stick Duo, it might be for another type of memory card (SD, xD, so on)
posted by waylaid at 8:30 AM on December 20, 2007

You need to put the little Memory Stick Pro Duo card into an adapter that makes it the size of a Memory Stick Pro card. You should have gotten one when you bought your card. If you don't have one, that's a good excuse to go buy a new card that comes with an adapter.
posted by zsazsa at 8:36 AM on December 20, 2007

Sharkfu - I think you hit the nail right on the head. If there is an adapter involved, I know I don't have it...

Thanks for the ultra quick response MeFites!
posted by CXImran at 8:36 AM on December 20, 2007

A memory stick duo is a proprietary format used pretty much only by Sony. If your laptop isnt a sony chances are you do not have a card reader for it. Normally card readers do SD and CF.

No one uses memory sticks because of this. I recommend you get rid of it asap. If this file doesnt exist anywhere but on that disk then you'll have to pony up the cash for a sony memory stick reader. I dont think there's any physical adapter you can buy. Its a whole different format. I've never seen a dell with a memory stick reader.

Do yourself a favor and throw away that sony crap. SD cards cost next to nothing nowadays. I just bought a 1gig card for like 11 bucks retail.
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:51 AM on December 20, 2007

If your laptop isnt a sony chances are you do not have a card reader for it

While generally true, my mom's Toshiba laptop does in fact have a card reader that supports Sony Memory Sticks.
posted by niles at 9:59 AM on December 20, 2007

If you have access to a PSP, you can use it to read Memory Stick Pro Duo cards without an adapter, and then use a standard mini usb cable to mount it as a disk on your PC using the PSP's usb mode.
posted by Caviar at 10:23 AM on December 20, 2007

Most Memory Stick Pro Duos are sold with a Memory Stick adapter so it will fit in these slots (and other Memory Stick-compatible devices... I use one in my camera with my PSP's memory card). Memory Sticks are about twice as thick and 50% longer than Memory Stick Duos.
posted by Xoder at 1:05 PM on December 20, 2007