b0rken cardreader
Grmbl.
My multi-cardreader refused to work today, after it had been flakey for a few weeks already. So I opened it up, to see which wire was loose and whether I could fix it.
Turns out I'll need a new connector to fix it. The USB connector itself is still okay, but one of the cables at the connector at the end where it's connected to the board broke off. And it's impossible to fix that without a new connector -- some cable remnants are left inside, and it's going to be physically impossible to remove those without breaking it apart. At which point I won't be able to use it anymore to fix it, obviously.
Problematic bit is now that I don't have access to my SSH or GPG keys anymore from my laptop, since they are stored on a CF card, and the piece of hardware which just broke down is how I access them...
Usually the crimp type connectors that are used have a crimp end on the wire that clicks into a plastic housing. The housing has a set of flaps on one side, that hold the crimp ends in. Lifting this and then pulling (however you can) on the crimp end will remove it. Failing this, you can just break the tab and superglue a crimp end in place.
HTH