USB SD Card Readers and the Rasp Pi

[Liam83]

After leaving my Rasp Pi unused for a few weeks and returning to it this week I have found the SD card I was using has somehow stopped working and that no signal is being read on my HD TV screen. So I buy a new SD card but whilst attempting to insert this new card I inadvertently snap the SD card cover off so it is now impossible for an SD card to sit comfortably in the Pi.
i have today gone out and bought a USB SD card reader in the hope it will read the card if I attach it into the Pi's USB slot, but no. The thing doesnt even light up to suggest the Pi is aware it is plugged in.

So my question is - Can I use an SD card reader in the Pi for it to read the OS software? If not, is there a way I can fix the cover on my SD card reader, or should I just bin the whole thing as this cheap device is proving to be very expensive and a waste of time and money.

[redhawk]

You cannot boot from USB, booting is only possible using the SD Card slot.

Richard S.

[Kbho]

You need access to the SD card slot on the pi to be able to do anything, you can then edit the boot file on the SD card to run the OS from a USB, but the SD card will always have to be in for it to work.

Overall, you're probably better off getting a whole new pi

[RaTTuS]

there are several ways you can fix the SD card holder on the RPI,
several have been mentioned on this forum
but glue , old credit card [not a new one ] and a knife will get you started
even a sprint loaded peg may be good enough

[Kbho]

Couldn't you solder on a whole new sd card slot and holder to the connections on the board?

[Burngate]

Couldn't you solder on a whole new sd card slot and holder to the connections on the board?

Yes - and people have done it
However you have to source said holder, and you have to be willing / able to solder.

[Kbho]

Just Been looking around at this, and found 2 different things:

The Credit Card Method: http://raspi.tv/2012/how-to-fix-a-broke ... spberry-pi

And, don't know if this would work, but it is a spare arudino SD card slot:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Perfect-SD-Ca ... 41wt_1037.

[Liam83]

Thank you for all your help/
I will attempt the credit card method of fixing the slot before spending any more money. Really don't want to spend more money on it than I already have..

Really appreciate all the help