Jim,
It is known that the LS won't work with a couple of brands of thumb drives. I don't know why. I'm more of a surveyor, than a computer tech. However, if you try a couple of brands of USB drives, that write to an SD card, or micro SD card, I'd guess that you'd find one that worked.
To download my camera, I take the SD card out of the camera, and put it into a multi card reader, then plug the card reader into my computer. Home pc.
I have been through several cheap card readers.
A good quality card reader costs more, but it is reliable. So, for your suggestions pile, it's likely that a few trial and error tests with a couple of devices, will have you in the place you want to be.
Later on, I'll see if my LS will address my present card reader.
Nate