Windows 10 won't read or recognize my SD card

Question

I just upgraded my HP computer desktop to Windows 10 from Window 8.1 as my hard drive failed and had to install a new one.  Inserting an SD card in Windows 8.1 worked perfectly, it would open PMB, where I store my photos, and I was all set.  Now I cannot get the computer to read my SD card from my camera.   Is there a way to fix this?. I need step by step help with Windows 10 since I am not 'tech savvy." I have researched this on various Microsoft forums and have tried all the fixes I understood, still no luck, does not show up in explorer, does not troubleshoot.  Thank you for any help, it's so frustrating upgrading.  Lost programs I cannot reinstall, etc..

Answer 1

Hi, my name is Neil, I'm an independent adviser and a Windows 10 user like you.

Sorry you're having this issue with your SD card not being read.

This sounds like your card reader has not got any drivers installed after upgrading to Windows 10.

To see if this is the case follow my instructions below:

Right Click on your Start button and then click on Device Manager.

In Device Manager, can you see anything highlighted with a yellow exclamation mark? If so, can you tell me what it is.

If not, click on the "View" menu and then click on "Show hidden devices". Does anything show up now?

If you can now see a device highlighted, Right Click on it and click on "Update driver"

Click on "Search automatically for drivers".

If it finds a driver and installs it, then that's great, but it might not be able to locate one.

Let me know what happens either way and let me know what the device is called.

Kindest regards,

Neil

Answer 2

Hi Paul, If you click on "This PC" on your desktop, under Devices and drives, does your SD Card drive show up there?

If so, insert your SD card and then click on this SD drive to open it.

So that it asks you in future, on your keyboard, press the Windows Key + i to open Settings.

Click on Devices.

Click on Autoplay on the left hand side menu.

Make sure "Use Autoplay for all media and devices" is switched ON.

Make sure that the options for Removeable drive and Memory card are both set to "Ask me every time".

Kindest regards,

Neil

Answer 3

Hi Neal, thanks for the response.  Nothing shows up with a yellow exclamation mark in either place.  It would makes sense the driver wasn't updated but where do I go from here?

Answer 4

If I choose show hidden devices then it does show up.  I did update it but it said the best driver was already installed.  Now how do I enable explorer to detect the SD card?  In 8.1 when I inserted an SD card it would automatically open my photo program to import pictures from the card, it doesn't do that at all.

The desktop is an HP Pavilion 23.

Thanks again Neil for looking into this for me.

Answer 5

Hi Paul, OK, the first thing you can try is the following:

Right Click on your Start button and then click on Device Manager.

In Device Manager, click on the arrow > next to ">Disk Drives" to expand that section.

You should see your SD Card drive here. It might be called SD/MMC or Generic SD/MMC or named something similar.

Right Click on it and click on "Update driver".

Click on "Search automatically for drivers".

Let me know if it manages to find and update your driver. If it does update it, reboot your computer and then try using your SD card to see if it works.

If this is still not possible, please send me the Model Number of your HP Desktop computer.

Kindest regards,

Neil