Jan 27, 2024 • Filed to: SD Card Solutions • Proven solutions
Imagine you are in a hurry to copy some content from the memory card to the computer. But as soon as you connect the memory card in the slot, you find out that it’s not working at all, which could be interesting. Though it might create some problems, it is not that difficult problem to solve and can easily be fixed using some easy hacks. The article features the top six methods to fix SD card reader not working issue with ease.
People often correlate the Dell memory card reader not working to a particular version of the Windows operating system. But that's not always true. SD card reader not getting recognized on a computer is a common issue, whether it's Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11. As stated earlier, although various factors give rise to the situation, you can always find the solutions if you know the root cause. Here are some of the typical factors responsible for the case.
Before you get on with all the methods to solve the issue, you must restart your computer to see if the problem solves or not. But if you are using an external card reader, make sure that you have disconnected it before turning off the computer. Now, reconnect it to check if the trick worked.
If not, the following methods will help to ASUS SD card reader not working Windows 7.
The SD card reader not working issue may be occurring as a result of a hardware issue. If that's what causing the problem, you can check the SD card, card reader, and various essential components to correct the issue, which is as follows.
Check the Card Reader
If you have recently downloaded a newer version of the operating system, make sure that the card reader is compatible with it. As sometimes the card readers are only accustomed to working with a particular OS version, the SD card issue may arise.
Moreover, the incompatibility between an older reader and the older card reader may also lead to an HP memory card reader not working Windows 7.
Check the USB Cable
In case you are using an external SD card reader, you should check if the USB cable connecting to the external card reader works or not.
Check the SD Card
If the golden layer or the transmitting signals on the SD card had turned black, then it may not be able to work as it should. You can use an eraser to get rid of the oxidized layer on the memory card.
Check the USB port
If you are using an external SD card, you should know that it needs power through the USB connection from your computer. So, it doesn't carry enough electrical current to the card reader; the card reader might not work.
If the SD card reader issue is occurring because of some potential device issues, you might have to use a slightly different approach. Windows 10 has a built-in Windows tool that you can use to detect any hardware issue.
Here the steps to find the Lenovo SD card reader not working issue on your computer.
Step 1: Place the SD card into the card reader. If it’s an external card reader, connect it to your Windows 10 computer.
Step 2: Click on the Windows tab and open the 'Settings' tab from the menu.
Step 3: Now, on the ‘Settings’ option, tap on ‘Update and Security.’
Step 4: Click on the Troubleshoot option on the left panel of the Windows, followed by Hardware and Devices from the right pane.
Step 5: Tap on the 'Run the troubleshooter' button.
Now, restart the Windows and check if the issue is resolved or not.
If the drive letter by which a particular drive is ascribed is the same as that of another CD/DVD drive name, the issue could arise. Now, if you think that's what the issue is, you can change the drive letter to the SD card. Here is the process of assigning a drive letter to the SD card.
Step 1: Firstly, right-click on the ‘Start’ tab, select the Disk Management, and check the hard drive and SD card name on the list.
Step 2: Now, right-tap on the SD card drive and click on the ‘Change Drive Letter and Paths.’ Check if there's no other drive letter the same as your SD card reader.
Step 3: Tap on 'Add' or the 'Change' tab, to name a new driver.
Step 4: Now, tap on OK to complete the procedure.
Now, check if the dell memory card reader working issue is solved or not.
As mentioned earlier, an outdated or incompatible SD card reader driver is responsible for the issue. Now, to check whether the device driver is the main culprit, follow the process mentioned below.
Step 1: In the Cortana search bar of Windows 10, write ', Device Manager.'
Step 2: On the device manager tab, expand ‘Disk Drives’ or ‘Universal Serial Bus controllers.’ Check if there’s a yellow triangle mark on the option.
If you don't see a yellow mark, it means that the SD card driver is working fine, otherwise replace it with a new one. Now, follow the rest of the process to update the device driver.
Step 3: Right-click on the device driver and then tap on the 'Uninstall' tab.
Step 4: Now, right-click on 'Disk Drives' and tap on 'Scan for hardware' to refresh the device driver.
As the device driver is updated, check if your computer could detect the SD card or not.
If all the above methods fail to solve the issue, then a possible malware intrusion might be causing the HP memory card not working Windows 7. A virus intrusion could encrypt or hide files, drives, and other essential data. Here are the possible scenarios that might have lead to an SD card attacked by viruses or malware.
You could use a reliable antivirus to prevent any such problem causing the collective working mechanism of your system. But if not an antivirus, then you can also use Command Prompt to ensure that.
Step 1: Now, open the command prompt, press Windows, and 'R' keys simultaneously to open the 'Run' dialogue box.
Step 2: Write ‘attrib –h –r –s /s /d #:\*.*’ and press on entering to run the command.
Once the virus is removed from the computer, you would be able to see the SD card on your computer.
Even when you can fix the issue with all the methods mentioned in the article, there is a high possibility that you will suffer data loss. No matter what type of data you lose because of the issue, you can always retrieve it back.
Although there are several methods to recover data from the system, Recoverit Data Recovery software works best in such cases.
It is proficient in retrieving all types of data files, whether it's audio, video, photos, and PDF files, among many others. Moreover, the fact that you will be able to see the preview of all the recovered files makes it an efficient option to consider.
Now, to recover the files, you need to download and install the Recoverit application on the computer. After the completion of the installation, click on the Recoverit application icon to launch the software and follow the process.
Step 1: Select the SD Card
Select on the SD card drive connected to the computer. Click on the SD memory card on the disk list and tap on the ‘Start’ button to initiate the process.
Step 2: Scan the Location
As you click on the 'Start,' Recoverit takes a few minutes to complete the scan.
Step 3: Preview and Save
Once the scanning is completed, you get a glimpse of all the data and files stored in the SD card. It includes the name, file size, and other essential details. Click on the recover tab to retrieve all the previewed files. Make sure that you choose a different location and avoid saving it in the same location.
Once you have successfully recovered the deleted data, you can format the drive to ensure that it is reusable. Here is how you can format an external SD card.
Step 1: Open ‘My Computer’ and right-click on the SD drive option.
Step 2: Select the file system that you want in the 'Under File System.'
Step 3: Name your SD card in the 'Volume Label' option and tap on 'Start' to format the drive.
SD card reader not working Windows 10 is a typical issue that can easily be fixed, considering you know the cause and its appropriate solution. The article offers some of the best ways to download files from the computer. If you happen to lose any data during the process, you can use the Recoverit Data Recovery application to store any type of data from the SD hard drive.
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Eleanor Reed
staff Editor