Please insert a disk into SD/MMC - Vista

Question

I tried using my 2GB micro SD card using the built-in card reader. On clicking the drive I get:

Please insert a disk into SD/MMC

The card works fine on other computers, as does the microSD to SD attachment.

I have tried the following to fix:

• Updated Vista and installed SP1.
• Updated the TI drivers for FlashDrive.
• Checked the VAIO site for updates (none required).

• Added a new entry as advised here:

  HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlS* et001\Services\tifm21\Parameters/SDParam=1
  

I have restarted the PC multiple times. As soon as I put the card in, the SD/MMC device icon blips, so it seems the hardware is at least detecting something. The card reader was working fine a few days back.

I guess a Windows update has broken something; does anyone have any ideas how to proceed?

My laptop is a Sony VAIO VGN-N365E.

Answer 1

As far as I remember HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\ is only a backup. Does it help fixing the same key in CurrentControlSet?

Maybe there's just something wrong with the drive letter assignment. Go to the management console (right-click "My Computer", choose "Manage") and go to the disk/volume manager. Find if one of the volumes has no drive letter assigned or try to set it to another drive letter. Then restart.

In the management console you also find your installed hardware in the hardware manager. Try to remove the driver for the card reader and restart. Have a look if all drivers are in working state (no red or yellow exclamation marks).

Update:

You said the problem exists since you applied a Windows update. Try reversing your registry changes (you can first export the key to a regfile so you could reapply them later easily). Then in the next step open Start > Run > "sfc /scannow". This will scan your system libraries and restore them to a sane state. You'll need your Windows install CD (or at least the i386 directory from which Windows was installed).

Answer 2

Update Hey naunidh, Have you tried downloading the "Original - Memory Card Reader/Writer Driver Registry Patch" under "Memory Card Reader/Writer - 3 file(s)" from the Sony eSupport website? this should reset any changes made by pesky updates.

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Edit: A quick question naunidh you say

The card reader was working fine few days back

Was that with the same memory card or a different one?

End Edit

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Micro SD cards are not supported by your laptop according to the Specs of the VGN-N365E on the Cnet review;

Supported flash memory cards: Memory Stick , SD Memory Card , Memory Stick Pro , Memory Stick PRO Duo

Use a Micro SD to SD adaptor.

Answer 3

sorry for the late reply but the problem is still there without any fix. Unfortunately I can not read this card even using a card reader. The same card-reader, the same SD adaptor and the same card work on another laptop (XP based).

Another update, seems like I can not read any card, I tried reading a CF card (512 MB) using a card reader and my lappy did not detect it. The same setup was detected and on another computer. This CF card was not detected even when it was in my camera. Looks to be some major trouble (CF worked elsewhere, with camera or with card reader).

@hurikhan77

• Adding the key on CurrentControlSet does not work (This key was not present in my system, even in CurrentControlSet001 so I explicitly added it as a last resort).

• Removed the driver restarted, it installed driver automatically (prompted for install I gave the go ahead).

• No red/yellow marks in the deveice manager window.

@MattC

• No it was not the same card. But the card works in my phone and in other machines. The second experiment was done with a CF card. This used to work on my laptop (till 2-3 months ago).

Third test was with my pen drive, it works fine, seems like I am zeroing on to something but not sure what :)