To test this I'm going to get several additional things: an 8gb SD card that purports to be 5V (which may not be true since I've also read all SD cards are initially based on 3.3V (and in some ultra speed modes they can drop to 1.8V), a 32-bit CF adapter that should initially command 3.3V and a compact flash card in addition to the SD > CF adapter that should be here soon.  (And the CF cards, which can run on 3.3V or 5V probably take from the adapter also.  If the voltage issue is stopping the SD cards from working, they should work in the 32-bit > CF adapter [> SD].