I have a Compaq Presario -- recently acquired. When I try to upload photos from my Canon PowerShot via the removable media slot, I get the following error message:
"the request could not be performed because of an I/O device error"

The media types is a Canon Compactflash card, and the slot into which I insterted it says, "compactflahs I/II."

Can you tell me how to correct this problem?

Thanks!

If the FC works in another system, then a bad FC slot may be the cause.

If the same problem happens on another system, then the cause may be either corrupt files on the FC, or a bad FC.
If formatting the FC in your camera and taking more pictures does not fix things, then the FC may be bad.

Thanks so much for replying! I'm sorry I didn't see your post earlier.

I have no other sytem to try the card in, but if works fine in the camera, and if the USB ports hadn't also gone bad, I could download photos using them. I tried reformatting the card, but I'm still getting the same error message.

I've only had this computer for 4 to 6 months, and so far the CD/DVD tray had to be replaced (jammped in the open position), two USB slots have gone bad, and now this. I've never had so much hardward trouble with a computer. Do you have any experience with Presarios? Is this normal for Compaq computers, or might I just have a lemon?

Thanks very much for your help, ski!

You're welcome.
Make sure that the USB controller is enabled in BIOS, and there are no problems with it in Device Manager.
If those are ok, then the controller is probably bad. Did you consider installing a PCI USB controller card?

Everything checks out in Device Manager. I don't know how to check whether the USB controller is enebled in BIOS, and I don't know what the merits of a PCI USB controller card are. Can you explain those?

I really appreciate your help. Thank you again.

If the USB controller is ok in Device Manager, then it's enabled in BIOS. So no need to check that.

If the FC works ok in the camera, then it seems that the FC slot may be bad.
Also, a PCI USB card will replace the onboard USB controller, which also appears to be bad.

3 months and bad CD, bad USB, bad CF.

Use your warranty and don't void it by opening the case. Make Compaq or the retailer repair or replace it or give you your money back.

Thanks guys. This will be the 3rd time I've had to take it back to MicroCenter -- 30 miles away in DC traffic. I'm not happy with this machine at all. It would appear I've purchased a lemon. I will lean on them to replace the whole thing rather than repair something yet again, but I'm sure the final decision will be theirs.

Thanks much for your help. :)

Test the USB slot by inserting a thumbdrive, or some other USB device to see if it works properly. Most mice, printers, or joysticks are USB. A thumb drive is just the easiest. If the USB device is working properly, then you know its the card reader. If it was the flash card, it probably wouldn't work in the camera, but I've seen stranger things happen.

Interesting point, cteas, because two of my USB ports went bad at the same time. That's how I found out the card reader didn't work, because I only tried it because i couldn't use the USB cable. Two USB ports, one on front and one on back, won't work with any USB device. However, if I press just right on the cable at the port on the front, and hold my breath, I can get it to read long enough to connect to sync my handheld, or upload photos from the camera.

That really sounds like physical problems with the hardware to me, but you don't suppose they are somehow related, do you?

I'm having system trouble now too, but that's another story and I'll post seperately. This computer's a dud. LOL