Installed SD Card Bay Won't Read SD Cards

Posted by Strangewulf@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 7 comments

While I was already overhauling my PC with a new motherboard (MSI Z490-A Pro, in case that's relevant), I got an SD card reader to add to the case. The trouble is, only its USB port works. When I insert an SD card (I've tried both regular SD and micro SD), the red light comes on to indicate the reader detects it, but the cards never actually show up on the computer. I've tried returning it for a replacement, but it's still the same thing. I suppose it's possible I simply got two duds in a row, but I don't know how likely that is. I checked the manual that came with it, but couldn't find anything to indicate I was doing something wrong, nor could I find anything to indicate a driver problem. I even checked the device manager, and it does indeed detect the different card slots as being there and functioning correctly. Am I missing something?

[-]

colajunkie@reddit

Are the cards you put in already formatted?

If not, open drive management and format them.

Strangewulf@reddit (OP)

Yep, already formatted. They show up fine right away in my laptop.

Do they show up in disk management on the PC?

Afraid not. If it weren't for device manager listing the slots in the 'properties' for the bay (and the USB port working), you'd think the device wasn't even connected at all.

GuacamolePacket@reddit

Haha as soon as I opened your link and saw Startech I knew what your problem was. They have wild QC over there. I've bought some stuff for sure but I have about a 50/50 fucking DOA rate 😅😅. Its Amazon just grab a new one.

Okay at least I'm not crazy then! I'll give it another go and see if it the third time's the charm, and then try something else if not. Thanks!

Yessir. I have unfortunately thrown out a mountain of startech cable adapters in my life lol. Sometimes theyre the only ones that sell weird shit like this. I actually have the 35FCREADBU3 in my NAS and it works well. It's a USB 3 version and costs 2x more but I can say it worked first time lol.