Realtek Card Reader - Sometimes here...Sometimes Not?  

Hello!

Windows 7 Build 7100
Acer x1700 PC
Built in Card Reader

Issue:
It never seems to "stick". I installed the Realtek CardReader drivers...worked for a week and then I get "Unknown Device" in the Devices and Printers area.

When it worked....it showed the Realtek drivers installed in the Control Panel - Device Manager window. Now when I look there...

I see...

1. Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
2. Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller
3. !Unknown Device
4. USB Composite Device
5. USB Mass Storage Device
6. USB Printing Support
7. USB Root Hub
8. USB Root Hub

Any Ideas?

Thanks!
GRZ

I just installed the same hardware you mentioned. It's working here don't give up. I am running the RTM. In Devices and Printers it shows up as "USB2.0-CRW" If I right click that and check hardware it says "Realtek USB 2.0 Card Reader". In device manager it shows up in the USB Controller tree as "Realtek USB 2.0 Card Reader". The drivers loaded are:
C:\Windows\system\driveicon.dll
C:\Windows\system\RTSTOR64.sys

OK, it looks like it is back again.

Control panel/device manager shows:
Realtek USB 2.0 Card Reader

The "unknown device" has been replaced with the right driver?

On again...off again?

I am not sure yet if it is hardware or software...

My USB is funky sometimes. I tend to think it's my bios. I am using an Asus P6T Deluxe V2 with AMI bios Ver 0504

I've just built a new computer with an ASUS P7P55D EVO (also AMI bios) and I have an internal Realtek USB card reader (with RTS5158 controller).

I'm running Win7 RTM x64, and sometimes this card reader plays up, and I get a notification that a USB device isn't working properly (after entering Windows).

However, I also think this may be BIOS-related, since I can see that after power-up, it hangs a little longer during POST on the line "Initializing USB controllers" (or something like that) before Windows is starting to boot.

For me, the fix is not only to reboot, but to actually use the hardware switch on the power supply to ensure that the card reader is properly reset (since that's the only way to completely unpower the USB, it seems). I can't just unplug the card reader, since it is internally connected to the mobo.

Annoying problem, but it is either a BIOS problem or the card reader itself that hangs. I'm pretty sure Windows/drivers are innocent in my case.

Regards
-Øyvind

Just a suggestion. Have you looked for a file (RealTek_XPVistaWin7_WHQL_6.1.7600.30101.zip)

I was having some of the same problems you describe and I unplugged the card and cleaned the registery out (deleted references). Unzipped the file and after a reboot done the install from the zip file. Still working -- fingers crossed, knock on wood. I think I found the file at a Real Tek site. If you can't find it let me know.