Another Card Reader Fails To Work

deadman_uk · 26 Aug 2011 at 00:56

I purchased a £5 unbranded card reader from ****** last year which worked fine. It plugged into the USB header of my motherboard. When I upgraded my PC (including motherboard) and reinstalled Windows 7 fresh, I could not get the card reader to work. The USB function worked but the actual card reading ability failed to function. Device manager tells me it's a driver issue. ****** were unhelpful and said this card reader isn't supported in Windows 7, so there is nothing they can do.

I decided to purcahse a more expensive card reader from Overclockers.co.uk. This time, I wanted it to be a well known brand so I selected this Akasa card reader (which is Windows 7 compatible) The Akasa product page is here. This card reader only requires connection to the motherboard via USB header (like my previous card reader). It lights up but windows cannot find a driver for it. The manual says it will work out of the box for all functions with exception of the smart card and SIM reader.

I've visited Akasa website and downloaded the latest drivers to see if that helps but it doesn't do anything, just installs the SIM edit software. I have also installed from the mini-disc but again, all it appears to do is install the SIM edit software. I've been to device manager and changed the unknown device to "USB Composite" but this has not helped, I still get a yellow exclamation mark. I've also gone to Windows update but it didn't help. Furthermore, I have plugged the card reader into another USB header but again, this has not helped.

Now two card readers have failed to work so I am wondering if it's something to do with the UEFI settings? My motherboard is an Asrock Z68 Extreme4

bremen1874 · 26 Aug 2011 at 04:00

Did you install the chipset drivers after installing Windows?

Are you removing the devices from device manager before replugging?

deadman_uk · 26 Aug 2011 at 08:02

bremen1874 said:
Did you install the chipset drivers after installing Windows?

Are you removing the devices from device manager before replugging?

Yes, I installed chipset drivers after installing windows but just to make sure, I visited the Asrock website and downloaded the latest version. I also installed Intel Management Engine Components (because it removes a yellow exclamaton mark in device manager called "PCI Simple Communications Controller" This did not help.

Now my PC wouldn't boot up, it just sits there on the Asrock splash screen (F2 or DEL to enter UEFI Setup, F6 for Instant Flash, F11 for boot menu etc). Pressing any of these did nothing, the splash screen still remained. Pressing tab, changes the screen to black with the words "The current version of Intel ME Firmware is 7.1.10.1065, backup is 7.1.10.1065" but it just sits there and does nothing. Pressing F2 or DEL brings up the words "Entering Setup..." but again, it just sits there. Sometimes if I wait long enough, the UEFI will load but this is rare.

After numerous reboots and waiting, this screen finally did go away and Windows loaded. It's from there where I pulled out the card reader from the motherboards USB header. I then went into device manager (via the SET DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1 cmd) and removed all traces of the card reader. I inserted the card reader back into the slot while Windows was on and finally it detected my card reader fine. I tried loading an SD card and it worked. Now another problem... when I reboot, I get the Asrock splash screen again, it just sits there all the time. Pressing tab, changes the screen to black with the words "The current version of Intel ME Firmware is 7.1.10.1065, backup is 7.1.10.1065" but it just sits there like before. If I unplug the card reader and reboot, then the Asrock splash screen goes away within 3 seconds and the PC begins to POST and load Windows. I can reboot over and over and it always boots fine, but when I plug in the card reader within Widows, it installs fine but when I reboot, again I am stuck on the Asrock splash screen.

deadman_uk · 30 Aug 2011 at 09:06

Can anyone help?

d_brennen · 30 Aug 2011 at 09:17

£5 card reader gone bad, who'd of thunk it?

deadman_uk · 30 Aug 2011 at 09:19

d_brennen said:
£5 card reader gone bad, who'd of thunk it?

You obviously didn't read my message.... I explained that I purchased a new card reader which is £14

max51 · 30 Aug 2011 at 09:53

Hi i had a problem like that with one of my old systems, so in the end gave up and purchsed a Nexus and Integral USB mobile multi card readers and have been useing them eversince. Hot swap and high capacity cards with no problem.
The Integral is the best one i have, purchased for just over £6.
Hope this helps.

deadman_uk · 30 Aug 2011 at 10:00

max51 said:
Hi i had a problem like that with one of my old systems, so in the end gave up and purchsed a Nexus and Integral USB mobile multi card readers and have been useing them eversince. Hot swap and high capacity cards with no problem.
The Integral is the best one i have, purchased for just over £6.
Hope this helps.

Thanks but I already paid for 2 card readers now, costing around £20 in total. I shouldn't have to keep buying new hardware, this should work.

It's almost if the card reader when plugged in is stopping the PC from posting because it just sits on the Asrock Splash Screen. The card reader does work when I unplug/plug back in within Windows.

deadman_uk · 31 Aug 2011 at 17:58

I just fixed my card reader. I disabled “Legacy USB Support” in the UEFI (BIOS) and it now lets me boot my PC and load Windows!