PCIe Realtek card reader not detecting SD cards


For anyone who needs to check, right-click Windows 11 Start Button and left-click on Device Manager.
Once Device Manager opens, look under Memory Technology Devices, and you'll see
Realtek PCIE CardReader. If instead it might be in Other Devices, follow @snesguy 's driver link above.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (OS Build 26200.8246)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Precision Mobile Workstation
    CPU
    Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E3-1535M v5 @ 2.90 Max Turbo 3.80
    Motherboard
    00V5FJ
    Memory
    64GB DDR4 ECC (Error-Correcting Code memory)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro M2000M 4GB GDDR5 & Intel(R) HD Graphics P530
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 4K UltraHD
    Screen Resolution
    4K UHD 3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB Crucial NVMe & 2TB Seagate SATA
    PSU
    Dell 180W 19.5V-9.23A
    Keyboard
    Backlit
    Mouse
    Logitech G703 & Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    WIFI: Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6E AX210NGW(Gig+) 160MHz Bands 2.4GHz(574Mbps), 5GHz 2.4Gbps, 6 GHz (160MHz) 2.4Gbps
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security + additional Anti Spyware, Anti Malware, etc.
    Other Info
    Thunderbolt 3
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (OS Build 26100.6725)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Precision Workstation T5610
    CPU
    Dual (X2) Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2690 0 @ 2.90GHz Max Turbo 3.80
    Motherboard
    0WN7Y6
    Memory
    64GB DDR3 ECC (Error-Correcting Code memory)
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB of GDDR5
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio & NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 Acer Monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    2 Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM008-2UB102 (RAID)
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
PCUser said:
For anyone who needs to check, right-click Windows 11 Start Button and left-click on Device Manager.
Once Device Manager opens, look under Memory Technology Devices, and you'll see
Realtek PCIE CardReader. If instead it might be in Other Devices, follow @snesguy 's driver link above.
Click to expand...
Yes, that is where it is. If the device status is not connected (no SD card plugged in or driver has the problem) it will not show by default in the device manager and you will need to (in device manager) click on the View tab and select "Show hidden devices". It is normal for the device to be hidden in the device manager and show status as not connected unless there is an SD card plugged in. It should change status to working properly and show up in the device manager under Memory Technology Devices once an SD card is inserted. In my case the broken device drivers would work the first time a card was inserted but after removal would do the normal behavior of switching to not connected and hiding in the device manager but would not work properly if a card was inserted a second time. The working driver I linked in my previous post works as expected, changing status to not connected (and hidden) when no card is inserted, and changing status to working normally and visible in the device manager when an SD card is inserted, no matter how many times you remove (safe removal) and insert SD cards.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-7700HQ
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050. Intel HD Graphics 630
snesguy said:
Yes, that is where it is. If the device status is not connected (no SD card plugged in or driver has the problem) it will not show by default in the device manager and you will need to (in device manager) click on the View tab and select "Show hidden devices". It is normal for the device to be hidden in the device manager and show status as not connected unless there is an SD card plugged in. It should change status to working properly and show up in the device manager under Memory Technology Devices once an SD card is inserted. In my case the broken device drivers would work the first time a card was inserted but after removal would do the normal behavior of switching to not connected and hiding in the device manager but would not work properly if a card was inserted a second time. The working driver I linked in my previous post works as expected, changing status to not connected (and hidden) when no card is inserted, and changing status to working normally and visible in the device manager when an SD card is inserted, no matter how many times you remove (safe removal) and insert SD cards.
Click to expand...
@snesguy Which model Dell / CPU , and which Windows 11 (pro/home/etc version number) did you have this happen with?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (OS Build 26200.8246)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Precision Mobile Workstation
    CPU
    Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E3-1535M v5 @ 2.90 Max Turbo 3.80
    Motherboard
    00V5FJ
    Memory
    64GB DDR4 ECC (Error-Correcting Code memory)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro M2000M 4GB GDDR5 & Intel(R) HD Graphics P530
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 4K UltraHD
    Screen Resolution
    4K UHD 3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB Crucial NVMe & 2TB Seagate SATA
    PSU
    Dell 180W 19.5V-9.23A
    Keyboard
    Backlit
    Mouse
    Logitech G703 & Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    WIFI: Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6E AX210NGW(Gig+) 160MHz Bands 2.4GHz(574Mbps), 5GHz 2.4Gbps, 6 GHz (160MHz) 2.4Gbps
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security + additional Anti Spyware, Anti Malware, etc.
    Other Info
    Thunderbolt 3
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (OS Build 26100.6725)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Precision Workstation T5610
    CPU
    Dual (X2) Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2690 0 @ 2.90GHz Max Turbo 3.80
    Motherboard
    0WN7Y6
    Memory
    64GB DDR3 ECC (Error-Correcting Code memory)
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB of GDDR5
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio & NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 Acer Monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    2 Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM008-2UB102 (RAID)
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
PCUser said:
@snesguy Which model Dell / CPU , and which Windows 11 (pro/home/etc version number) did you have this happen with?
Click to expand...
It's a Dell XPS 15 9560. Intel Core i7-7700HQ. Windows 11 Pro 24H2. I have had problems with the cardreader driver since a few years ago when I was running Windows 10 Pro on this system. The system originally came with Windows 10 Pro and the cardreader worked fine initially. At some point with some upgrade it stopped working properly. I don't know which upgrade broke it because I rarely use the cardreader (it broke and I did not notice it until some point later). It has been broken for years (only works once after rebooting) and on the rare occasions I actually used the cardreader I looked for a newer working driver and up until now none of the drivers I had tried worked any better. With the current driver full functionality has finally been restored.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-7700HQ
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050. Intel HD Graphics 630
snesguy said:
It's a Dell XPS 15 9560. Intel Core i7-7700HQ. Windows 11 Pro 24H2. I have had problems with the cardreader driver since a few years ago when I was running Windows 10 Pro on this system. The system originally came with Windows 10 Pro and the cardreader worked fine initially. At some point with some upgrade it stopped working properly. I don't know which upgrade broke it because I rarely use the cardreader (it broke and I did not notice it until some point later). It has been broken for years (only works once after rebooting) and on the rare occasions I actually used the cardreader I looked for a newer working driver and up until now none of the drivers I had tried worked any better. With the current driver full functionality has finally been restored.
Click to expand...
@snesguy Was your BIOS updated to 1.24.0 ?

One of the most common causes of an unrecognized SD card is an incorrect or outdated card reader driver. Ensure that the drivers are updated. Dell Technologies recommends updating the device drivers and BIOS as part of your scheduled update cycle.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (OS Build 26200.8246)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Precision Mobile Workstation
    CPU
    Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E3-1535M v5 @ 2.90 Max Turbo 3.80
    Motherboard
    00V5FJ
    Memory
    64GB DDR4 ECC (Error-Correcting Code memory)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro M2000M 4GB GDDR5 & Intel(R) HD Graphics P530
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 4K UltraHD
    Screen Resolution
    4K UHD 3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB Crucial NVMe & 2TB Seagate SATA
    PSU
    Dell 180W 19.5V-9.23A
    Keyboard
    Backlit
    Mouse
    Logitech G703 & Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    WIFI: Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6E AX210NGW(Gig+) 160MHz Bands 2.4GHz(574Mbps), 5GHz 2.4Gbps, 6 GHz (160MHz) 2.4Gbps
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security + additional Anti Spyware, Anti Malware, etc.
    Other Info
    Thunderbolt 3
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (OS Build 26100.6725)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Precision Workstation T5610
    CPU
    Dual (X2) Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2690 0 @ 2.90GHz Max Turbo 3.80
    Motherboard
    0WN7Y6
    Memory
    64GB DDR3 ECC (Error-Correcting Code memory)
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB of GDDR5
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio & NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 Acer Monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    2 Seagate Barracuda ST2000DM008-2UB102 (RAID)
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
PCUser said:
@snesguy Was your BIOS updated to 1.24.0 ?

One of the most common causes of an unrecognized SD card is an incorrect or outdated card reader driver. Ensure that the drivers are updated. Dell Technologies recommends updating the device drivers and BIOS as part of your scheduled update cycle.
Click to expand...
Yes, my bios was updated to 1.24.0 (latest version) years ago when it was still on Windows 10 Pro.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-7700HQ
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050. Intel HD Graphics 630
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Support Threads

Latest Tutorials

Back
Top Bottom