Error reading memory card

Hi, I have the same problem with mine. Janome have not been very helpful. I didn't know if it was the card or the card reader/writer. I have a Janome CX500. Have you solved any of the problems?
Louise

check the com port of the appliaction, it is based on com1 only then you will need to make changes to the com4 to com1 follow these steps
open device manager
choose com4 and then right click for properties
choose port settings
choose advance
change the port number from 4 to 1
that will be all you can now give it a shot again

Being as you have xp looks like you will have to go to viking site and download a patch to make it compatable, I have a Janome and when we upgraded the computer I had to go to the janome site and download upgrade, the same would apply to the customizing software I would think.

Are you using a USB-to-serial adapter?

I *think* what the problem might be is that the COM port's not been set in Customizer. Within either of the Easy/Customizer apps, go to ScanCard>Communication Settings ... you'll open up a dialog box within which you can set which COM port your cable's going to use.

If you're compie savvy, you can go to the Windows Start button on Task bar>Control Panel>System>Device Manager>COM ports and SEE which COM port your cable's using.

But until your software knows what COM port your cable's using it will NOT recognize that you have one installed.

Please let me know if this doesn't help! Or if there's anything I can help with!! :)

You need a a Reader/Writer box with a blank Janome memory card (PCMCIA) and Cusomizer software. With that you can move your downloaded .sew designs into Customizer and on to the card via the Reader/Writer box provied that they are within the allowable size constraints.

Is this the first time you've tried to use the Reader/Writer?

I ask only because many people don't realize that a necessary step in setting up communication is to set the "COM Port" designation within Customizer/Digitizer.

If you've not done this, within either application, go to >ScanCard>Communication Settings> and choose the COM Port you want to use (you can find out what COM port the cable's using by going to your Start/Task Bar in Windows>Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager>Ports (COM & LPT). There, you should be able to see what port your cable's using.

Then set that COM in your application's Communication Settings dialog box.

Hopefully, I made sense here and explained it well. If I didn't, please let me know where I went goofy and I'm more than happy to clarify!! :)

Also let me know if that does NOT solve your problem!!

I am having the same problem with the Customizer 2000. Worked before but now I get a "communication error". I'm thinking the problem is with the cable. You mentioned you got a new cable. Can you tell me what kind you got and where you got it? I don't know what else could fix the problem. Thanks for your help. I wish I could help you.

Judy, you mention memory card so I am assuming you are refering to a Compact Flash card that you insert into a PCMCIA adaptor.
The card must be smaller than 512 MB, any larger and the machine won't acknowledge it. You need a type 1 card and compact flash card adaptor, a compact card reader/writer unless you have an integral multi card reader integrated into your computer. The card format must be FAT, the older computer file format. Insert the card into the adaptor and insert into your machine, wait for the warning screen to clear, if the machine asks "format card" hit yes on the machines display screen . If there is no offer to format the card use the SET icon on the display screen, you need embroidery mode, then arrow forward till you reach the Format options, select ATA card, hit yes, it will warn you card contents will be erased, hit OK. Just say yes to any new questions. Wait for the warning screen to dissapear, when it does you can eject the card adaptor, now insert the card alone into your digital media card reader which should be inserted via a USB connection to your computer, locate the drive your computer has allocated to the card and open it. You will see two types of folders, ORD which are for combined decorative stitches you might want to save, those you put together in the machine, and EMB folders, those are where the machine expects to find designs,11 of each.
Only use them to transfer designs between the machine and computer or vice versa, don't use them to store all your designs in, you will over tax your machines on board processor.
To pop designs into them, open your design CD, select the design you want to stitch, copy it, now open the card in your computer, open the first folder, number 5, I think, and Paste into that folder. Use only JEF formats, your machine wont read any other format.
Don't transfer designs into the machines built in folders, you will severely constrict the machines memory to the point where it wont be able to access enough memory to stitch your designs. Use the compact card as an external drive, which it is anyway, the machine will still stitch the design as if it were in its own memory. To access the card in the machine, select embroidery mode, then the card icon and finally if needed the file icon.
Hope this helps you

You can buy a USB-Serial Adapter at Best Buy for $36. Or, if you want to save money and spend only (roughly) $10, you can buy one on eBay.

They do make them, still, and you can still get them at most computer supply stores.

Hope this helps!!

Firstly, format your compact flash card on your embroidery machine. This is presuming you have embroidery files in your jef format your machine reads on your computer. Place your compact flash in the compact flash card reader writer connected to your computer, open the compact flash card in your computer, open the file emb5. Now you can simply copy and paste a design from your computer to your flash card. It works for me. Goodluck.