How to reinstall SD Card Reader HP Pavillion Laptop

[SiMagic]

Hi,

The SD card reader on my 2017 Pavillion laptop stopped working (code 45). I uninstalled the device, but can't figure out how to reinstall it. Any help appreciated. Thanks

[Nal_NR]

Hi @SiMagic,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be glad to help you! 

It’s frustrating when the SD card reader suddenly stops working, and I understand how helpful it would be to have it back up and running. Let’s go through some steps to reinstall the driver and troubleshoot further if needed.

Steps to Reinstall the SD Card Reader:

Check for Hardware Changes:

• Open Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting Device Manager.
• Click on Action in the top menu and select Scan for hardware changes. This should prompt Windows to recognize the SD card reader and reinstall it automatically.

Download and Install the Driver from HP:

• Go to the HP Support website and enter your laptop’s model (HP Pavilion 2017).
• Look under the Drivers section for the Card Reader driver, typically listed as Realtek or Intel card reader driver.
• Download and install the driver, then restart your laptop to apply the changes.

Update Windows:

• Sometimes Windows Updates include drivers for older hardware. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates. Install any available updates, which may include the SD card reader driver.

Enable Hidden Devices in Device Manager:

• In Device Manager, click View > Show hidden devices.
• Look for SD Host Adapters or Memory Technology Devices to see if the card reader is listed. If it shows up with a code 45 error, right-click and select Enable device.

Install Driver from Realtek or Intel Directly (if the HP driver is unavailable):

• If you can't find the driver on HP’s website, you can try downloading it directly from Realtek or Intel, depending on your card reader's brand. These can sometimes work as generic drivers compatible with multiple systems.

Let me know if this gets the SD card reader working again, or if you need any further assistance!

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.