2011 Mac Mini SD card reader

chscag

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Welcome to our forums.

Try blowing some air into the slot with one of those cans of dry air that you can buy at Staples, Wal-Mart, Target, etc. Sometimes that will help by blowing away dust or dirt in the slot.
 
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Welcome to our forums.

Try blowing some air into the slot with one of those cans of dry air that you can buy at Staples, Wal-Mart, Target, etc. Sometimes that will help by blowing away dust or dirt in the slot.

Have already tried that , no joy.
 
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Can you explain what "Have problems" means? What happens when you insert the card? Any messages? Does the card appear in Disk Utility? What is the format on the card? Where does it come from? You called it "memory" but it's not memory, it's storage.
 
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Can you explain what "Have problems" means? What happens when you insert the card? Any messages? Does the card appear in Disk Utility? What is the format on the card? Where does it come from? You called it "memory" but it's not memory, it's storage.

Insert card, either works or not ( no message).Appears in disk utility ,sometimes. Tried all formats.
Where did it come from , a shop .
I called it a memory card .
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_card
 
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Have problems with it recognising memory in this slot. Any ideas , tips?
Maybe you thought you said "card" but you didn't, hence my question.

Where was the card last used? Camera? Another Mac? A Windows machine? That's what I meant by where did it come from.

Occasionally, just inserting a card can take a while for the system to get around to recognizing it and mounting it. Plus, if the format is not native to the Mac, it can take longer. You said you tried "all formats." Can you tell us what you tried and what it is formatted for now?

Remember, we cannot see what is going on, nor can we type on your machine. We depend on you describing what is going on in detail so that we can make suggestions. The less cryptic you are, the better the suggestions.
 
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You are correct, an SD card can be called a memory card, but when you said just "memory," most people think of RAM, thus the confusion. Have you tried another SD card? You could also try cleaning the metal contacts on the SD card using a q-tip and some rubbing alcohol. Otherwise, I'd suggest buying an external SD card reader.
 
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You are correct, an SD card can be called a memory card, but when you said just "memory," most people think of RAM, thus the confusion. Have you tried another SD card? You could also try cleaning the metal contacts on the SD card using a q-tip and some rubbing alcohol. Otherwise, I'd suggest buying an external SD card reader.

Brand new card , have only used in Mac, have other cards which sometimes work, sometimes not .
Have external card reader , similar problem , sometimes recognised .
 
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Brand new card , have only used in Mac, have other cards which sometimes work, sometimes not .
Have external card reader , similar problem , sometimes recognised .

Well I don't know what to tell you then except keep re-seating the SD card(s) until recognized. Not sure if you're doing this, but when I insert an SD card in the built-in SD card slot on my iMac, I always press it in VERY firmly, even if it feels like it's already seated properly. Sometimes mine aren't recognized either, but removing it and re-inserting it once seems to be all that it takes.
 
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What was the card used in? Can you leave it in the device, and connect the device with USB cord?
 
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What device are you referring too? USB cord to what?

For example, was the SD card used in a digital camera? An does that camera have a USB out port that you can connect to your computer and read the SD card through that connection? (substitute "camera" for whatever the device actually is)
 
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What device are you referring too? USB cord to what?
The device I'm referring to, is the device the card was used in, prior to plugging it into your Mac?

The USB cord, would go from the device, to the computer.

- - - Updated - - -

Only used in Mac mini.
Oh, so the card is brand new. Then, there is a possibility, it is a defective card.
 
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The device I'm referring to, is the device the card was used in, prior to plugging it into your Mac?

The USB cord, would go from the device, to the computer.

- - - Updated - - -


Oh, so the card is brand new. Then, there is a possibility, it is a defective card.
Possibly, but it works fine in friends macbook.
 
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Maybe a toothpick, gently, to remove pushed in dust/debris?
 
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Well have managed to sort it, card reader if fine, no dirt etc.
Took a number of processes, checked card in my printer which saw it no problem, so put in a pc which said it was a problem and did it's thing , whatever pc's do, this meant my usb card reader could now see it but could not mount, force mount thru terminal failed so ran tech tool, this failed to mount or repair but did allow install of recovery files to be installed, place this in usb card reader which now saw the card but still said it was unreadable but formatted it, placed the newly formatted card in the sd card reader and it did not show so restarted mac and now have access to the card.Long way round but now working, sorted more by luck than judgement.
 

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If I may, a little advice. Don't use this card again. You were lucky and I'm thrilled for you; but once you've finished your operation, don't use it again.

Next time you are unlikely to be so fortunate. Discard the card and in future use an External Hard Drive (EHD) to store/transfer precious data. These cards are not designed for this purpose.

Ian
 
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If I may, a little advice. Don't use this card again. You were lucky and I'm thrilled for you; but once you've finished your operation, don't use it again.

Next time you are unlikely to be so fortunate. Discard the card and in future use an External Hard Drive (EHD) to store/transfer precious data. These cards are not designed for this purpose.

Ian

Already on my xmas list , ext ssd drive.
 

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