Question 1

HI,
 I just received this nippon card reader.  I was reading the system requirements and windows 7 is not a listed OS. I went online to find a driver and there seems to be no patches. I don't want to open or install this product only to find out I can't use it. Will this unit run with windows 7?

Accepted Answer

I have owned several of these over the years and currently have them installed on the 6 systems I have running in my man-cave. Windows 7 Home Premium and Professional are my OS's. I have had zero issues with any of them.

Question 2

My older model was working fine until I installed Windows 10 and it stopped being recognized by the computer.  Is there a site for new Windows 10 drivers?  Thanks,
Bob

Accepted Answer

I have heard A LOT of people having issues with different devices after switching to Windows 10. This is one of the reasons I'm not doing the upgrade until the last minute. Even then, I am just going to image Windows 10 to a different hard drive, just to get the "free upgrade" , then I am going to revert back to my Windows 7 drive. I hope that you find the real answer you are looking for soon! Good luck!

Question 3

is there an installation guide? which wires are connected to what on the motherboard?

Accepted Answer

It's pretty obvious which is the USB and which is the eSata.  It's more a question of do you know what little header is the external usb connector on your Mobo.

If you know your way around a motherboard, it shouldn't be very hard to hook this up.

Question 4

I am trying to transfer data from field laptops to my desktop.  The USB functionality on my desktop is disabled due to security reasons.  Can this reader writer interface to desktop computer solely over the esata connection, enabling me to write data to an SD from my desktop and transfer that data to laptop with a built in SD card reader?

Accepted Answer

no

Question 5

Does it work with Ubuntu?

Accepted Answer

That is such a specific and uncommon question, I would suggest contacting the manufacture:

AREA CODE 909   TEL   598    9896
AREA CODE 909   FAX  658    6388
email:    Jimmy AT nipponlabs DOT com

They should know if they have the drivers.

Question 6

Is it possible to use multiple card slots, and the usb port at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes it is, there are four distinct slots (plus the USB and eSATA) that can be used concurrently. They are all usable. Obviously some slots are dual  functionality though, so you wouldn't be able to use SD and MMC at the same time since they are the same physical slot.

Question 7

The picture appears to show two USB connectors in the back. How many USB headers on the motherboard do I need to connect to?

Accepted Answer

Yes, one USB header.  Two black wires that join into one USB header.  The red cable is the eSATA connection.

Question 8

I have a filter on for USB3.0 and this card reader comes up.  Nothing in the specs say it has USB3.0 support - I suspect an error in this listing?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it's an error in the listing. It only has USB 2.0 support. I have them installed in two systems running Win7 64bit and they work flawlessly.

There are methods to connect it to your motherboard: 1) SATA 2)USB (that's the red cable you see pictured). I use SATA.

Question 9

Mine did not come with any instructions.  There is a Sata cable coming out of the back, a USB connector that says USB on it with 2 black cables connected to the one connector, and then a 3rd connector with no labeling but is the size of a USB connector with 4 colored wires coming out of it.   I tried the Sata and the USB to the motherboard, leaving the 3rd connector not connected, but the device does not show up on Windows 7.  Can it work with just the Sata cable or the USB or does it need both plugged in, and also does it need the 3rd connector plugged in and if so what does that get plugged into?

Accepted Answer

The SATA cable runs the eSata connection, and that 4 colored wire connector goes onto a USB motherboard connector just like the other one that is labeled "USB".  The 4-colored wire connector runs the SD card and other memory cards, and the power and activity light.  It seems like the least important connector - but it is the most important.  If your motherboard has enough USB connectors, connect the one labeled "USB" with the 2 black cables to a USB header, the 4-wire unlabeled one to another USB header, and the SATA to SATA (I suggest # 4 or 5, as 0 and 1 are usually your Hard Drive(s), and 5 or 6 your CD/DVD ROM drive).  On my setup, I had to sacrifice the two front panel USB connectors of my case for the one on the Nippon Labs ICR-BB; but I have plenty of USB on the back of the Motherboard.  If you have 3 USB headers on the Motherboard you should be o.k.

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