Can't find my Card Reader or driver

[rmo555]

I have a built-in card reader in my laptop. However, I can only see it
in Device Manager if I have a card inserted. I am having trouble as,
when I insert a card, the card reader isn't showing up - so I can't
check the driver because I can't find it. I changed it recently to the
most updated, digitally signed driver. Can someone help?

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: <[email protected]>

| I have a built-in card reader in my laptop. However, I can only see it
| in Device Manager if I have a card inserted. I am having trouble as,
| when I insert a card, the card reader isn't showing up - so I can't
| check the driver because I can't find it. I changed it recently to the
| most updated, digitally signed driver. Can someone help?

Does the OS assign a drive letter to the device ?

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, rmo555.

What does Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) say about that card reader?

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

 

[rmo555]

From: <[email protected]>

| I have a built-in card reader in my laptop. However, I can only see it
| in Device Manager if I have a card inserted. I am having trouble as,
| when I insert a card, the card reader isn't showing up - so I can't
| check the driver because I can't find it. I changed it recently to the
| most updated, digitally signed driver. Can someone help?

Does the OS assign a drive letter to the device ?

No.......

 

[rmo555]

Hi, rmo555.

What does Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) say about that card reader?

RC

It's not there.

 

[rmo555]

From: <[email protected]>

| I have a built-in card reader in my laptop. However, I can only see it
| in Device Manager if I have a card inserted. I am having trouble as,
| when I insert a card, the card reader isn't showing up - so I can't
| check the driver because I can't find it. I changed it recently to the
| most updated, digitally signed driver. Can someone help?

Does the OS assign a drive letter to the device ?

I should have replied that I'm not sure (when the card reader is
recognized). However, right now, it is not recognized and therefore
does not have a drive letter. It has always worked this way. If I
look at the screen that shows the drives, the card reader will show up
as soon as I place a card in the reader. Without the card, the reader
is invisible. Same with the Device Manager.

 

[Curious]

Has the card been formatted? If so with what formt?

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: <[email protected]>

| On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:02:11 -0500, "David H. Lipman"

| I should have replied that I'm not sure (when the card reader is
| recognized). However, right now, it is not recognized and therefore
| does not have a drive letter. It has always worked this way. If I
| look at the screen that shows the drives, the card reader will show up
| as soon as I place a card in the reader. Without the card, the reader
| is invisible. Same with the Device Manager.

A drive letter should be reserved for any/all memory card readers. It is only after you
install a memory card in the memory card reader can you access data from said drive
letter.

All USB "Mass Storage Devices" such as memory card readers, are Plug 'n Play by the OS
with internal drivers and not requiring third paty drivers to recognize trhe hardware.

Right-Click on "My Computer" and choose "Manage"

Go to "Disk Management"

Look for "Removable" devices and check what drive letters are assigned. See if you can
change drive assigments.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: <[email protected]>


| It's not there.

If it is NOT there there are few possiblities...

The memory card reader is not connected to the port (USB ?).

The memory card is bad.

The interface is bad.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, rmo555.

Are you sure? Look at the top of Disk Management, in the Volume Listing.
You won't see it there unless it holds a card that has been partitioned and
formatted.

But then look at the bottom half of the screen, in the Graphical View. Even
if there are no volumes, there should be an entry in the far left column for
"Disk 4" or whatever. It probably will be below your HDDs but above your
DVD-ROM drives. Do you see anything there?

My only card reader is on an external USB port; it has no card in it at this
moment; its entry says:
Disk 4
Removable (S
No Media

Note that I've assigned the letter S: (for SanDisk or Smart Digital) to that
card reader so that it always gets the same letter each time I re-insert it
to transfer a fresh batch of photos from my camera. If I didn't assign the
letter of my choice, the system would simply assign "the next available
letter" each time.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

 

[rmo555]

Dave, I can't find the Card Reader in the disk management section.
However, there is a drive letter (H) missing in the sequence (I have
C,D,E,F,I).

 

[rmo555]

From: <[email protected]>



| It's not there.

If it is NOT there there are few possiblities...

The memory card reader is not connected to the port (USB ?).

It is internal on a laptop - so I don't know.

The memory card is bad.

No, tried two memory cards with the same results. Both memory cards
work in my camera.

The interface is bad.

Do you mean the driver? If so, that's what I'm assuming because I
upgraded it to one that was digitally signed. However, I can't find it
to roll it back.

 

[rmo555]

Hi, rmo555.

Are you sure? Look at the top of Disk Management, in the Volume Listing.
You won't see it there unless it holds a card that has been partitioned and
formatted.

But then look at the bottom half of the screen, in the Graphical View. Even
if there are no volumes, there should be an entry in the far left column for
"Disk 4" or whatever. It probably will be below your HDDs but above your
DVD-ROM drives. Do you see anything there?

My only card reader is on an external USB port; it has no card in it at this
moment; its entry says:
Disk 4
Removable (S
No Media

Note that I've assigned the letter S: (for SanDisk or Smart Digital) to that
card reader so that it always gets the same letter each time I re-insert it
to transfer a fresh batch of photos from my camera. If I didn't assign the
letter of my choice, the system would simply assign "the next available
letter" each time.

RC

Thanks - but it just doesn''t show up in Disk Management.

 

[rmo555]

Has the card been formatted? If so with what formt?

The card has been formatted in my Olympus camera. I have no idea what
format it is - however, it has always worked before.

 

[Curious]

The formatting used in a camera is not the same as that used in a PC unless
you follow the instructions that came with the camera to format the card for
use in a PC also while the card was still in the camera and not used yet.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: <[email protected]>



| Do you mean the driver? If so, that's what I'm assuming because I
| upgraded it to one that was digitally signed. However, I can't find it
| to roll it back.

Nope. The connection between the reader and the motherboard is bad.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Curious" <[email protected]>

| The formatting used in a camera is not the same as that used in a PC unless
| you follow the instructions that came with the camera to format the card for
| use in a PC also while the card was still in the camera and not used yet.


A memory card reader would STILL have a drive letter assoaciated to it. He notes that the
OS does NOT generate a drive letter to be associated with the memory card reader and this
format of a card is a moot point.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: <[email protected]>


| The card has been formatted in my Olympus camera. I have no idea what
| format it is - however, it has always worked before.

Olympus formats using FAT.

However the format is irrelevant.

I suggest getting a SanDisk USB memory card reader. Either one specific to the memory
card (SmartMedia ?) or get a card reader that reads multiple kinds like a 12-in-1 USB
memory card reader.

 

[rmo555]

It's not there.....

 

[rmo555]

From: <[email protected]>




| Do you mean the driver? If so, that's what I'm assuming because I
| upgraded it to one that was digitally signed. However, I can't find it
| to roll it back.

Nope. The connection between the reader and the motherboard is bad.

Suggestions?