Compter won't show sd card reader

[leo_obr]

My laptop very clearly has a slot for SD cards on it but when i put in my old 4gb multi-use SD card from about 2013 (which has been in a 3ds the whole time) the only thing that shows up is a PCI device error saying the driver is unavailable.

I tried troubleshooting from the 'devices and printers' window where it's showing up as unavailable. I also checked the device manager where another guide told me it'd be under disc drives, it doesn't show up even when i have it show hidden devices but the PCI device does. 

Admittedly I'm a little worried about support for my old girl as when I tried to add my it to my profile using 'detect my device' the model would show up but when I click on it all I get is a 404 error and, several months ago I tried searching for replacement drivers / driver updates and there wasn't a single thing listed on the official hp website. I went back to check but now when I look for the drivers I'm also getting a 404 error? Could this be because I'm using windows 10 still and not 11? 

Sorry if this is a little disjointed.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @leo_obr,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're stoked to have you on board! 

To help us get started on resolving your issue, could you please share the model name of your device?

We're looking forward to helping you get back up and running! 

Best regards,

[leo_obr]

Thank you for the help! My laptop is a HP Pavilion Notebook - 17-g119dx

[Kuroi_Kenshi · Accepted solution]

Hi @leo_obr,

Thank you for providing your model!

I understand your HP Pavilion 17‑g119dx is not recognizing your SD card, and the device shows a PCI device error in Device Manager. Let’s go through steps to troubleshoot this issue.

Check for Windows updates

Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update.

Install any pending updates. Some SD card readers require the latest system updates or chipset drivers to work.

Update the SD card reader driver

Press Windows + X → Device Manager.

Look under Universal Serial Bus controllers or Other devices for the PCI device that corresponds to the SD card reader.

Right-click → Update driver → Search automatically.

If Windows cannot find a driver, check the Intel or Realtek chipset drivers for your laptop on HP’s Drivers & Downloads page or the chipset manufacturer’s website.

Enable the SD card reader in BIOS

Restart your laptop and press Esc → F10 to enter BIOS/UEFI setup.

Look under System Configuration → Built-in Device Options and make sure SD card reader or Card Reader Controller is enabled.

Save changes and restart.

Try a different SD card

Test with a newer SD card or a microSD with an adapter to rule out compatibility issues with very old cards from 2013.

Some older SD cards may not be recognized by modern SD controllers.

Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

Press Windows + R → type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic → Enter.

Follow the prompts to detect and fix hardware issues.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

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Best regards,