#1 2025-07-07 21:01:25

trilobite

Member

From: Saskatchewan, Canada

Registered: 2017-06-27

Posts: 162

SD card readers - [solved]

I have several HP Compaq laptops, old things, 10 years ago and more 6910p is the one I'm currently using. They all come with SD card readers. None of them work. I did some looking, don't understand. There must be packages or a driver or something. If anyone can point me to something straightforward I'd be grateful. They don't show up with $ lsusb.

I have an old digital camera I'd like to use is why I'm checking this out.  Thanks.

Last edited by trilobite (2025-07-08 18:27:44)

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PackRat

jgmenu user Numero Uno

Registered: 2015-10-02

Posts: 2,658

Re: SD card readers - [solved]

Does the card reader show up with:

lspci

I also have an old HP (circa 2011). It has a realtek SD card reader. For a while it wasn't working because the realtek driver was a "polling driver". Polling drivers were dropped from the kernel and linux-firmware packages (I think Windows dropped them, too). I had to either build a custom kernel and re-insert the polling driver, or use an external card reader that connected via USB. After abut a year, maybe two, realtek released a driver package that's in use now.

If you can identify the manufacturer of the card reader, there may be a driver package on their website. But easiest method would be to get an external card reader. One issue you may have with the vendor's driver is that it is old and will not read a card larger that 4GB.

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DeepDayze

Like sands through an hourglass...

From: In Linux Land

Registered: 2017-05-28

Posts: 1,901

Re: SD card readers - [solved]

Does the card reader show up with:

lspci

I also have an old HP (circa 2011). It has a realtek SD card reader. For a while it wasn't working because the realtek driver was a "polling driver". Polling drivers were dropped from the kernel and linux-firmware packages (I think Windows dropped them, too). I had to either build a custom kernel and re-insert the polling driver, or use an external card reader that connected via USB. After abut a year, maybe two, realtek released a driver package that's in use now.

If you can identify the manufacturer of the card reader, there may be a driver package on their website. But easiest method would be to get an external card reader. One issue you may have with the vendor's driver is that it is old and will not read a card larger that 4GB.

I have an HP 8460p from circa 2011 and it has a builtin SD card reader. Was able to successfully read/write a 32GB microsd with an adapter.

Have another HP which is a ProBook 640G2 (from around 2017) that also has a card reader and it works perfectly with same card and adapter.

Last edited by DeepDayze (2025-07-08 00:54:45)

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trilobite

Member

From: Saskatchewan, Canada

Registered: 2017-06-27

Posts: 162

Re: SD card readers - [solved]

Thanks. It's there. lspci says:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Memory Controller Hub (rev 07)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset PCI Express Graphics Port (rev 07)
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection (rev 03)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 03)
00:1a.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 03)
00:1a.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6 (rev 03)
00:1a.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 03)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 03)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 5 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev 93)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation ICH9M-E LPC Interface Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801IBM/IEM (ICH9M/ICH9M-E) 4 port SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 03)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] RV635/M86 [Mobility Radeon HD 3650]
01:00.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] RV635 HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 3650/3730/3750]
03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Ultimate N WiFi Link 5300
86:09.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd R5C832 IEEE 1394 Controller (rev 06)
86:09.1 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 25)
86:09.2 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter (rev 14)
86:09.3 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd xD-Picture Card Controller (rev 14)
86:09.4 CardBus bridge: Ricoh Co Ltd RL5c476 II (rev bb) 

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trilobite

Member

From: Saskatchewan, Canada

Registered: 2017-06-27

Posts: 162

Re: SD card readers - [solved]

Update. I put a card in (full size, don't know if it matters) and restarted the computer for another reason. The card now shows up and is readable.

Question: is it possible that <something> loads on boot when the SD card is inserted before boot?  Maybe it will not survive boot again without? whatever, all good.

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greenjeans

Member

Registered: 2025-01-18

Posts: 239

Website

Re: SD card readers - [solved]

^^^In the case of my old (2012) laptop, it has a card reader too, but as it got older I guess the contacts got worn down, and it would start randomly failing to connect when I put a card in it, kinda got to wiggle it sometimes or use a shim like we used to do back in the day to get an 8-track tape to play properly, lol. Possibly yours may have the same issue starting?

PackRat

jgmenu user Numero Uno

Registered: 2015-10-02

Posts: 2,658

Re: SD card readers - [solved]

use a shim like we used to do back in the day to get an 8-track tape to play properly,

The good ol' days.

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You must unlearn what you have learned.
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trilobite

Member

From: Saskatchewan, Canada

Registered: 2017-06-27

Posts: 162

Re: SD card readers - [solved]

Ok that's funny and great advice. I blew it out with a reverse vacuum cleaner (whatever those things are called- computer cleaner blower). Hair and dust. Darn cats and dogs. The SD reader and telephone modem card slot (is that what it is called?- credit card size slot share). Both full of that. I have a modem card. But dial-up, is that even a thing? Or faxing.

Thanks everyone. (I'm losing my mind for names of things this morning)

Last edited by trilobite (2025-07-09 15:37:08)

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