Card Reader not Reading New CF Card

I've had a cheap Dynex brand USB card reader for a while and it's done fine reading my SanDisk Extreme IV 4GB cards. We're leaving the country soon, so I bought a new SanDisk Extreme Pro 16GB and the card reader is having trouble recognizing the card. Is this a common occurrence? Would you recommend just purchasing a new a card reader? Or something else?

Thanks for any input.

Not sure (you might check a quick reference like Wikipedia or the like), but I suspect your older reader doesn't recognize the format (and/or size) of the newer card.

Can't think of a good reason why the reader would choke on a 16 GB card but not on a 4 GB one. Even in SD card form factors there was no difference in the interface specs between 4 GB and 16 GB, and you're using CF, which has no interface specification differences across the full range of possible card sizes.

Does the new card work well in camera? Have you tried the 4 GB card in the reader since you found the problem with the 16 GB card? Can you try the reader with a different cable? In a different port on the computer? In a different computer? Have you got access to a different reader you could try it in? These will help you pinpoint the problem, whether card, reader, or computer.

Thanks for the responses!

Jon, the card works perfect while in the camera. The 4GB cards also work in the reader since the problem with the new card. I tried three different ports on the same computer with the same result. Unfortunately, I don't have another computer or reader to try. I'm thinking about just ordering a SanDisk reader in hopes of solving my problem.

I'd check the reader and camera card slot for bent/broken pins. It's not easy to misfeed a CF card in the camera slot, but it's not too hard to do with cheap card readers that don't have long guides. And a pin broken off inside the 4 GB card could explain the problem you're experiencing. A close look at the card might show the broken pin too.

Seem a common occurrence.
Unrecognized CF 16GB content over USB cable (Digital Camera)
Macbook Pro doesn't recognize high speed CF card. Is it a joke ?
16gb CF Help Needed

Sometimes seem a problem of the driver of the OS, other times seem a problem of the firmware of cheap card reader.

Thanks for all the help. I just got my SanDisk ImageMate reader in yesterday and it looks and works great. Just thought I'd give an update.