My Lexar MicroSD Card Isn't Recognized by My Computer
By Elvis Michael
Whether you had purchased a Lexar MicroSD card recently or had used it for a long period, your computer can stop recognizing the unit at any given time. Needless to say, this can essentially cause the loss of important data, including pictures, documents and other essential backups. Given the wide variety of potential scenarios, however, you must carefully examine various possibilities to properly determine the source of the problem.
Faulty USB Port
A faulty USB port can effectively cause your Lexar MicroSD card to malfunction. Depending on the port’s integrity, your system may recognize the storage unit intermittently, prompting it to appear and disappear seemingly at random. In other cases, the system may not recognize the device at all. Connect the unit to a different USB port and allow the operating system to properly recognize it. Alternatively, connect a different device to the questionable port; if not detected, the USB at hand is the likely source of the issue.
Inspect Card Reader
As MicroSD units typically require a USB-based card reader, this device can eventually malfunction due to wear and tear. This is often caused by using the adapter extensively, although such damage generally occurs with low quality readers. Purchase a new card reader through your local electronics retailer. Prices typically range from $10 to $20, depending on what card types it supports.
Device Manager Settings
If your MicroSD card fails to appear alongside existing storage units, the external card reader may be disabled from your system’s Device Manager. Click the Windows Start menu, type “Device Manager” from the search engine shown, then press “Enter” to launch the applet. Click to expand the main Disk Drives field and search for any term referring to the device, such as “SD” or “MCReader.” Right-click the entry and select “Enable” from the context menu, which subsequently causes your computer to recognize the MicroSD card automatically.
Unknown File System
The computer’s inability to recognize the storage unit may be due to an unknown or foreign file system. Formatting may have taken place through a portable device or through software used for various purposes, such as the usage of MicroSD units on a gaming console. In most cases, your operating system will prompt to reformat the storage unit once you connect it. Otherwise, refer to the original source and format it using a standard solution, such as the NTFS or the FAT file system.
MicroSD Malfunction
If all standard methods fail, your Lexar MicroSD card’s circuits may be damaged. Similar to other scenarios, the unit may appear on your computer, but you may not necessarily be able to access its contents. Otherwise, your system simply fails to detect the device at all. Depending on its conditions, file recovery tools are often able to access the MicroSD card, particularly if it appears among existing storage units. Optionally, attempt to recover potentially lost data through utilities such as Recuva, Undelete Plus and Restoration. Otherwise, purchase a new MicroSD unit from your local electronics store.
Writer Bio
Elvis Michael has been writing professionally since 2007, contributing technology articles to various online outlets. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in information technology at Northeastern University.