Card Reader is not working

Hi there, I've got the same problem, but the fast tap method seems not to work for me. I've got Lion 10.7.4 installed.

I'd like to ask you a question: do you have installed Virtualbox in your Mac? It seems that the only method I havo to make my SD card working is to start a random virtual machine and link the sd card to that machine! After stopping the VM, the card reader begins to work. Maybe the issue is related to the Virtualbox module...

Hi everyone.. I hope i can help, i just fixed my 2010 macbook pro 15" internal card reader... I am an electronic technician but not an apple technician. This issue is not because of the lion update, the real problem is the card reader slot.. It has a contact switch inside which is located on the left side, at first i tried to clean the contact by pulling out the cotton deposit inside the slot using a small tools, and it was sucessful no need to tap it quickly or insert slantly... I found out that the card reader slot was not in good design and its really an issue, i also have an option if it will not work after you clean it.. if u still have the warranty or apple care go to apple center and they should replace the card reader if u dont have the warranty you can bypass the contact switch by making a jumper on the motherboard but ofcourse you should have an electronics skill background to do this otherwise you will damage your laptop..i will post the picture and instruction how to make a jumper connection if anybody will request and reply..remember do it on your own risk im just trying to resolve your problem regarding a memory slot reader issue...thank you and goodluck..

That's very interesting. Could you put pics or a web address where we can see your solution please?

Thanks for your answer. But how could you explain that the same card reader on the same macbookpro works flawlessly using Linux or even Windows? I also noticed that sometimes, if you link the card reader to a virtual machine under Lion, the reader starts to work well, but this happens only sometime, not always...

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned or not but I was having a similar problem where my 2010 MBP wasn't reading any SD cards that I was putting into it.

I ended up blowing air (low to medium pressure) into the slot and a nice puff of dust came out. I really don't know why Apple didn't a little slot cover like they did on older MBP with Express Card Slots.

Any who, do this allowed my SD Card Reader slot to function again.

Dust apparently gets in there and covers the metal readers.

Hope this helps others.

HI all,

Let me add another way of solving this issue:

- Fast put did not work

- blowing into the drive did not work

- any software trick did not work

so here is my method:

After sliding the card in, i just lift it up slightly with my finger, from the bottom upwards.Bang there it is.

So the card stays in, and in put position, i lift it upwards. For me, the card stays there as long as I lift it upwards, and is ejected immediately when I let it go

Hope that helps for some!

This sounds like your card reader's metal contacts are off/bend/warped/etc.

I'd suggest taking your laptop in for a check-up if you have to do something like this to get your SD cards reading.

Same exact thing for me. Had to try a couple different methods before I got it working.

Seems that I had to push it in quickly while holding the card pressed up against the top of the case.

Ths problem occured for me one evening, just after dumping photos from an SD card. I had installed the june OS update a couple of hours earlier, by the way.

The card reader still showed up in the system profiler, but would not mount any SD card, including the one with photos I had used moments before. Tried inserting it not quite all the way, as well as blowing compressed air (tips from other threads about this issue). Also reset PRAM and the SMC to no avail.

Turned out though, it was a software (or firmware?) problem - I did several restarts during troubleshooting, but finally did one with the SD card inserted at power on. When the desktop appeared, the card was mounted and the card reader now appears fully functional (no problem ejecting and inserting again).

Turn on your Iphoto, seems stranger, but it is true!!! I was with the same trouble, tried, and it worked.. 😁

So wierd 🙂

The solution with quick-tapping the card in slot worked for me as well... Should I use rasp or hydrolic press to get it working normally? oO

Thanks!

That is exactly what happens with my MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2012). If I pull up on card after I put it in slot of SD card reader, Image Capture opens and is also seen in Finder. Let go and the card is hard unmounted. Under warranty, so will go to Apple Store with this problem.

Hey thank you so much!

I couldn't believe I could solve this!

I have an early 2011 Macbook Pro running El Capitan 10.11.6

This helped:

"OK, I had the same problem and I found a solution. What I do is to insert the card slightly slanted, pushing it from the right corner only (viewing the card from the top).

I hope it helps."

Yes it does.

I also blowed in the slot first, I don't know for sure if it contributed.

Thank you for sharing your experience here!

Raphael