My "new" renewed laptop has a smart-card reader, but no one has issued
me a smart card (Apparently I'm not smart enough to deserve one.)

I know the reader is there -- I think -- because the slot in the side of
the case is there.

The service manual for this model gives detailed instructions on how to
remove the smart card reader, but the next thing it says is how to
install it again. After all, it's a service manual, not an upgrade
manual.

The only electrical part of the removal instructions are "Disconnect the SmartCard reader flexible flat cabble (FFC) from the connector on the
USH board. Peel the SmartCard FFC from the palmrest.

Is there much chance, most likely if I have the case open for another
resson, I can take out the reader and put in something more useful, like another SSD, or maybe a DVD drive?

Dell Latitude 5510

Jim Joyce had said weeks ago" "Most laptops within the past decade or
more can accept a second (or even third) internal drive, sometimes at
the expense of giving up the (mostly obsolete) optical drive."

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 2/8/2025 1:01 PM, micky wrote:

My "new" renewed laptop has a smart-card reader, but no one has issued
me a smart card (Apparently I'm not smart enough to deserve one.)

Since stuff like this has absolutely nothing to do with windows 10, why
don't you post stuff like this in one of the computer hardware groups.
Like alt.comp.hardware

--
Better Days Ahead!
Darwanism Is Junk Science!!

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On Sat, 2/8/2025 2:01 PM, micky wrote:

My "new" renewed laptop has a smart-card reader, but no one has issued
me a smart card (Apparently I'm not smart enough to deserve one.)

I know the reader is there -- I think -- because the slot in the side of
the case is there.

The service manual for this model gives detailed instructions on how to remove the smart card reader, but the next thing it says is how to
install it again. After all, it's a service manual, not an upgrade
manual.

The only electrical part of the removal instructions are "Disconnect the SmartCard reader flexible flat cabble (FFC) from the connector on the
USH board. Peel the SmartCard FFC from the palmrest.

Is there much chance, most likely if I have the case open for another
resson, I can take out the reader and put in something more useful, like another SSD, or maybe a DVD drive?

Dell Latitude 5510

Jim Joyce had said weeks ago" "Most laptops within the past decade or
more can accept a second (or even third) internal drive, sometimes at
the expense of giving up the (mostly obsolete) optical drive."

That's a microSD slot, not a full-sized one.

"Additionally, you can install a 2.5-inch SATA drive, but interestingly,
Dell has limited your choice to only one of the two, as the M.2 drive
stands in the way of the SATA drive bay."

One M.2 Key-M (2280 or 2230) for solid-state drive <=== Overlaps SSD 2.5" bay
Populated right now, thermal tape ?

One M.2 3042 Key-B for WWAN <=== Likely empty right now (2242 B-key "SATA", 3.3V?)


One M.2 2230 Key-E for WLAN <=== Your Wifi card

I only see one option there. A SATA drive in M.2 form factor.
Something like this maybe. Preferably single-sided, so there
aren't potential thermal problems from the secondary side.

https://www.amazon.ca/Transcend-Information-2-5-Inches-TS128GMTS430S/dp/B07KG2KFSX

But it really depends on whether the slot is wired properly,
as to whether it will work. Not a problem if there is a full PCH
with lots of FlexIO pins available to wire the slots properly.
The PCH is the Southbridge, and normally has more of the
lower speed I/O on it. Things like SATA are there.

Some of the modern processors, they are a SOC (System On (a) Chip)
and two SATA ports are on the processor itself. I don't know if the
design is sufficiently "SOC" such that a PCH is no longer required.
But with limited I/O on the processor, it might be hard to make
a fully functional design using just SOC pins for the job. Maybe a
tablet with no expansion options at all, could be built.

*******

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-ca/000144170/how-to-distinguish-the-differences-between-m-2-cards

Example of another model, and the hell you can go through.

https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/latitude/e5570-m2-2242-ssd-not-working-in-wwan-slot/647f8ca6f4ccf8a8decfc34c?page=1

Paul



--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Sat, 8 Feb 2025 13:58:09 -0600, sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:

On 2/8/2025 1:01 PM, micky wrote:

My "new" renewed laptop has a smart-card reader, but no one has issued
me a smart card (Apparently I'm not smart enough to deserve one.)

Since stuff like this has absolutely nothing to do with windows 10, why
don't you post stuff like this in one of the computer hardware groups.
Like alt.comp.hardware

I used to use that a lot and I would prefer it, but the hardware groups
are dormant.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

...w¡ñ§±¤ñ <winstonmvp@gmail.com> wrote:

micky wrote on 2/8/25 12:01 PM:

My "new" renewed laptop has a smart-card reader, but no one has issued
me a smart card (Apparently I'm not smart enough to deserve one.)

Is there much chance, most likely if I have the case open for another resson, I can take out the reader and put in something more useful, like another SSD, or maybe a DVD drive?

Dell Latitude 5510

No.

It's a whole lot more simple than you percieved from the info(manual, on
the net, etc.).
=> One purchases an SDXC Card(aka smart-card) in a desired size,

I think Dell's use (if that's actually what Dell does) of the term "smart-card" when really referring to a SD card is needlessly confusing
and hence inappropriate. If they mean 'SD card', then *say* 'SD card'!

I checked the Wikipedia 'SD card' page and there's not a single
mention of 'smart-card' (any spelling). It only mentions "smartSD cards",
but those are special cards with a secure element, which are used in the payment industry, i.e. nothing to do with regular SD cards.

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SD_card>

Bottom line: micky's Dell computer has a *SD card reader*. Nothing
special.

[Left for reference:]

inserts in the SDXC slot, formats if desired to NTFS or eXFAT and uses it
for additional storage.
The SDXC slot is also capable of accepting most camera SDXC cards.

SDXC cards, when purchased are usually micro-size SDXC cards and almost always include an adapter. The device with the SDXC card slot can be different type/sizes(micro or full)...for a micro size card itself or the
the provided adapter with a micro-size card(inserted into the adapter)
<https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/memory-cards/>

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 2025-02-09 12:02, Frank Slootweg wrote:

...w¡ñ§±¤ñ <winstonmvp@gmail.com> wrote:

micky wrote on 2/8/25 12:01 PM:

My "new" renewed laptop has a smart-card reader, but no one has issued
me a smart card (Apparently I'm not smart enough to deserve one.)


Is there much chance, most likely if I have the case open for another
resson, I can take out the reader and put in something more useful, like >>> another SSD, or maybe a DVD drive?

Dell Latitude 5510

No.

It's a whole lot more simple than you percieved from the info(manual, on
the net, etc.).
=> One purchases an SDXC Card(aka smart-card) in a desired size,

I think Dell's use (if that's actually what Dell does) of the term "smart-card" when really referring to a SD card is needlessly confusing
and hence inappropriate. If they mean 'SD card', then *say* 'SD card'!

Smart cards are credit card size, and they are basically used for identification.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_card

My laptop has such a device, but I have not managed to make it work
under Linux (my laptop is Linux only). In Spain we have oficial identity
cards with a chip. Also some business use them to authorize or not a
user on a computer. They can also be used as encryption keys.

The are not SD Cards.


--
Cheers, Carlos.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

XPost: alt.comp.hardware

In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Sun, 9 Feb 2025 15:23:10 +0100, "Carlos
E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

On 2025-02-09 12:02, Frank Slootweg wrote:

...w¡ñ§±¤ñ <winstonmvp@gmail.com> wrote:

micky wrote on 2/8/25 12:01 PM:

My "new" renewed laptop has a smart-card reader, but no one has issued >>>> me a smart card (Apparently I'm not smart enough to deserve one.)


Is there much chance, most likely if I have the case open for another
resson, I can take out the reader and put in something more useful, like >>>> another SSD, or maybe a DVD drive?

Dell Latitude 5510

No.

It's a whole lot more simple than you percieved from the info(manual, on >>> the net, etc.).
=> One purchases an SDXC Card(aka smart-card) in a desired size,

I think Dell's use (if that's actually what Dell does) of the term
"smart-card" when really referring to a SD card is needlessly confusing
and hence inappropriate. If they mean 'SD card', then *say* 'SD card'!

The slot is much bigger (wider and thicker) than an SD card uses. It's described as optional in the Dell manual. I wonder if they put
something else there when they don't put that.

Smart cards are credit card size, and they are basically used for >identification.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_card

My laptop has such a device, but I have not managed to make it work
under Linux (my laptop is Linux only). In Spain we have oficial identity >cards with a chip. Also some business use them to authorize or not a
user on a computer. They can also be used as encryption keys.

The are not SD Cards.

Yes to all of that. I think in the US, employees of some companies have
to use them to open doors and, I guess, turn on their own computer. I
think they often hang them around their necks and may have their picture
on it too, so intruders can be caught just walking down the hall. No
place I ever worked had any security other than logging into the
terminal.

alt.comp.hardware added. It doesn't look as dormant as it looked when I
last looked. My apology to sticks.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

On 2025-02-09 12:02, Frank Slootweg wrote:

...w¡ñ§±¤ñ <winstonmvp@gmail.com> wrote:

micky wrote on 2/8/25 12:01 PM:

My "new" renewed laptop has a smart-card reader, but no one has issued >>> me a smart card (Apparently I'm not smart enough to deserve one.)


Is there much chance, most likely if I have the case open for another
resson, I can take out the reader and put in something more useful, like >>> another SSD, or maybe a DVD drive?

Dell Latitude 5510

No.

It's a whole lot more simple than you percieved from the info(manual, on >> the net, etc.).
=> One purchases an SDXC Card(aka smart-card) in a desired size,

I think Dell's use (if that's actually what Dell does) of the term "smart-card" when really referring to a SD card is needlessly confusing
and hence inappropriate. If they mean 'SD card', then *say* 'SD card'!

Smart cards are credit card size, and they are basically used for identification.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_card

According to that page, smart cards also include credit and debit
cards and even mobile phone SIMs. So it's a very, very broad category,
both in function and size.

So this 'discussion' is basically meaningless, unless we know *which*
type of "smart-card reader" micky *actually* has. He should probably
post a link to a picture or manual, so we can see what the heck this is
all about. (Paul was even talking about slots for SSDs, a third
category.)

My laptop has such a device, but I have not managed to make it work
under Linux (my laptop is Linux only). In Spain we have oficial identity cards with a chip. Also some business use them to authorize or not a
user on a computer. They can also be used as encryption keys.

Probably our official ID-cards also have a chip (I only have a
(larger) passport, which also has a chip). I can't see a chip in/on my (creditcard-sized) driver's license and there's no chip symbol/icon on
it (which is on my passport), so it probably has no chip, but the
digit-number row at the bottom can be scanned. Anyway, everybody knows
me, so I don't need any blasted ID! :-)

The are not SD Cards.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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XPost: alt.comp.hardware

micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
[...]

I notice that the one I have doesn't say either Latitude or 5510 on the
top or the inside, only on the bottom.

As I've mentioned several times, do not guess what you have or/and
look at (non-specific) labels, but *always*:

Run the 'System Information' utility (just type it in the search box)
and report what it says under 'System Model' and 'System SKU'.

'System Model' is often the 'name' of the product range and probably
gives only a rough indication.

'System SKU' should be the exact product number, i.e. the number one
uses when ordering this specific computer. The product number can often
be used on the manufacturer's website to get support information, documentation, etc..

For example for my laptop it says

System Model HP Pavilion Laptop 15-eh2xxx
System SKU 693B1EA#ABH

So if I enter '693B1EA#ABH' in the search box at <https://support.hp.com/us-en/computer>, it will directly lead to the
support information for my laptop.

Elementary, dear Watson!

[...]

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On Sun, 2/9/2025 10:30 AM, Frank Slootweg wrote:

Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

On 2025-02-09 12:02, Frank Slootweg wrote:

...w¡ñ§±¤ñ <winstonmvp@gmail.com> wrote:

micky wrote on 2/8/25 12:01 PM:

My "new" renewed laptop has a smart-card reader, but no one has issued >>>>> me a smart card (Apparently I'm not smart enough to deserve one.)


Is there much chance, most likely if I have the case open for another >>>>> resson, I can take out the reader and put in something more useful, like >>>>> another SSD, or maybe a DVD drive?

Dell Latitude 5510

No.

It's a whole lot more simple than you percieved from the info(manual, on >>>> the net, etc.).
=> One purchases an SDXC Card(aka smart-card) in a desired size,

I think Dell's use (if that's actually what Dell does) of the term
"smart-card" when really referring to a SD card is needlessly confusing
and hence inappropriate. If they mean 'SD card', then *say* 'SD card'!

Smart cards are credit card size, and they are basically used for
identification.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_card

According to that page, smart cards also include credit and debit
cards and even mobile phone SIMs. So it's a very, very broad category,
both in function and size.

So this 'discussion' is basically meaningless, unless we know *which*
type of "smart-card reader" micky *actually* has. He should probably
post a link to a picture or manual, so we can see what the heck this is
all about. (Paul was even talking about slots for SSDs, a third
category.)

My laptop has such a device, but I have not managed to make it work
under Linux (my laptop is Linux only). In Spain we have oficial identity
cards with a chip. Also some business use them to authorize or not a
user on a computer. They can also be used as encryption keys.

Probably our official ID-cards also have a chip (I only have a
(larger) passport, which also has a chip). I can't see a chip in/on my (creditcard-sized) driver's license and there's no chip symbol/icon on
it (which is on my passport), so it probably has no chip, but the digit-number row at the bottom can be scanned. Anyway, everybody knows
me, so I don't need any blasted ID! :-)

The are not SD Cards.

G9X28

https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=31649

This shows it fitted.

https://c1.neweggimages.com/productimage/nb1280/AKWFD201203LDMTQ.jpg

One site claimed a smartcard reader did mag stripe and RFID chip reading. Whereas the one in the example, looks like a contact-equipped reader,
maybe with sufficient contacts for a USB connection to an inserted object.

The ribbon has at least ten electrical conductors on it, so it
might have more than one sensor inside.

But in terms of retrofit possibilities, if there is no other wiring
in the vicinity for storage devices, it might not be all that
useful as a secondary storage. A USB stick would be as good.

Paul

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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XPost: alt.comp.hardware

In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on Sun, 9 Feb 2025 11:04:16 -0700, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ <winstonmvp@gmail.com> wrote:

Frank Slootweg wrote on 2/9/25 4:02 AM:

...w¡ñ§±¤ñ <winstonmvp@gmail.com> wrote:

micky wrote on 2/8/25 12:01 PM:

My "new" renewed laptop has a smart-card reader, but no one has issued >>>> me a smart card (Apparently I'm not smart enough to deserve one.)


Is there much chance, most likely if I have the case open for another
resson, I can take out the reader and put in something more useful, like >>>> another SSD, or maybe a DVD drive?

Dell Latitude 5510

No.

It's a whole lot more simple than you percieved from the info(manual, on >>> the net, etc.).
=> One purchases an SDXC Card(aka smart-card) in a desired size,

I think Dell's use (if that's actually what Dell does) of the term
"smart-card" when really referring to a SD card is needlessly confusing
and hence inappropriate. If they mean 'SD card', then *say* 'SD card'!

Hi, Frank.
I only used the term 'smart card' for micky's benefit.
His device(Dell 5510, if that's what it is) comes in different 'flavors'
- 5510, 5110 Precision, 5510(at one time a Costco and Sam's model), etc.
- Not all 5510 builds are identical.

One model has SD card slot and a SIM slot, others have the SD Card slot.

There are different manual's for 5510's(base model originally released as
the Inspiron 15(5510) in 2021.

This is the first time that wrt this topic, I've seen the word Inspiron.
I'm surprised that Dell has two 5510's, since confusion is likely (and
sure enough, that's what we've had), but it appears to have both. I've
been talking about the Latitude 5510.

I notice that the one I have doesn't say either Latitude or 5510 on the
top or the inside, only on the bottom.

- the Dell as-built-shipped 5510 Precision manual indicates the
slot(port) as a 'Memory Card Reader - SD 4.0
- The Dell as-built-shipped 5510 manual indicates the slot(port) as a
'Card slot - micro SD card slot'.
- The Dell as-built-shipped 5510 manual(with the SD and SIM) indicates
the slots(ports) as 'Card slot - micro SD card' and 'SIM Card - uSIM card >slot'

No reference whatsover in those manuals or specs using the term 'smart card'.

But there is here: https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/latitude-15-5510-laptop_owners-manual2_en-us.pdf

I checked the Wikipedia 'SD card' page and there's not a single
mention of 'smart-card' (any spelling). It only mentions "smartSD cards",
but those are special cards with a secure element, which are used in the
payment industry, i.e. nothing to do with regular SD cards.

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SD_card>

But it was not I who brought up SD cards. I referred only to smart
cards.

Bottom line: micky's Dell computer has a *SD card reader*. Nothing
special.

Nope.

Which raises the question...

Does the 'service manual' micky referenced actually call it a 'smart

card' slot,

Yes. in the link above (https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/latitude-15-5510-laptop_owners-manual2_en-us.pdf)
see the picture at page 9, item 5.

or is that micky's terminology/interpretation for the
device's 'Memory card or Card Slot or uSIM' slot/port!!!

I'm unlikely to use any language other than what my sources do, but if I
had, I would have corrected myself as soon as someone brought up SD or
uSIM or any other inapplicable word.

And yes, as you noted..regardless of any of the 5510 models(as-shipped)
it has an SD card reader(capable of an inserting and SDHC or SDXC card).

Mine has all 3, an SD card slot, a SIM slot (right below the SD slot),
and a smart card slot. See Page 9, items 1 and 2 are not marked
optional.

The smart card slot is about 2" wide and 1/16" high.

I have often used my phone as a hotspot, including often in the car, and
it's worked well, but if the phone were to fail, I gather I can just
take the sim out and put it in the laptop and that's all it takes. ??

This one even has a network port, so I don't have to depend on wifi.
Because the case is not quite thick enough, the bottom of the jack
hinges down

[Left for reference:]

inserts in the SDXC slot, formats if desired to NTFS or eXFAT and uses it >>> for additional storage.
The SDXC slot is also capable of accepting most camera SDXC cards.

SDXC cards, when purchased are usually micro-size SDXC cards and almost
always include an adapter. The device with the SDXC card slot can be
different type/sizes(micro or full)...for a micro size card itself or the >>> the provided adapter with a micro-size card(inserted into the adapter)
<https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/memory-cards/>

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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XPost: alt.comp.hardware

In alt.comp.os.windows-10, on 9 Feb 2025 20:09:18 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:

micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
[...]

I notice that the one I have doesn't say either Latitude or 5510 on the
top or the inside, only on the bottom.

As I've mentioned several times, do not guess what you have or/and
look at (non-specific) labels, but *always*:

Good advice. Of course I didn't guess. I hope you don't think I did.

Run the 'System Information' utility (just type it in the search box)
and report what it says under 'System Model' and 'System SKU'.

I knew what I bought when I bought it, and I ran MSINFO32 soon after I
turned it on, to see a lot of information. It certainly didn't say
Inspiron.

And I said Dell Latitude 5510 in my first post (which didn't go to alt.comp.hardware). After that one or more others caught wind of
Inspiron 5510

'System Model' is often the 'name' of the product range and probably
gives only a rough indication.

'System SKU' should be the exact product number, i.e. the number one
uses when ordering this specific computer. The product number can often
be used on the manufacturer's website to get support information, >documentation, etc..

For example for my laptop it says

System Model HP Pavilion Laptop 15-eh2xxx
System SKU 693B1EA#ABH

So if I enter '693B1EA#ABH' in the search box at
<https://support.hp.com/us-en/computer>, it will directly lead to the
support information for my laptop.

Good to know.

Elementary, dear Watson!

[...]

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 2025-02-09 16:30, Frank Slootweg wrote:

So this 'discussion' is basically meaningless, unless we know*which*
type of "smart-card reader" micky*actually* has.

Identity cards. That is what laptops do with them.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)