micro SD card not working in SD slot

[jobtraklite]

I've installed 64 bit L‌inux 19.2 tina cinnamon on a Dell Inspiron 8300 (Dual Core AMD A6-9220e RADEON R4) series, replacing Window 10.

All is well except it will not read a Sandisk Pixar 32GB micro secure digital card (sdhc) when inserted in the microSD slot.

With the sdhc card inserted into an adapter, which was then inserted into a USB port, lsblk yields :

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NAME   MAJ:MIN RM  SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda      8:0    0 29.1G  0 disk 
├─sda1   8:1    0  512M  0 part /boot/efi
└─sda2   8:2    0 28.6G  0 part /
sdb      8:16   1 29.7G  0 disk /media/paul/sandisk SD

The sandisk appears in the file manager; and when I tried to open it, I was asked to format it, which I did successfully. I was then able to read and write to it.

With the card was inserted in the microSD slot instead, lsblk yields :

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NAME   MAJ:MIN RM  SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda      8:0    0 29.1G  0 disk 
├─sda1   8:1    0  512M  0 part /boot/efi
└─sda2   8:2    0 28.6G  0 part /

The disk doesn’t appear; nor does it show up in the file manager.

Trying PREFERENCES > DISKS shows both the hard drive (such as it is) and the SD card reader. If I select the SD, the VOLUMES box shows “32 GB unknown”. Miraculously, it knows that it is a 32GB card.

So it appears to be a problem with the micro SD drive or port, not the disk itself. Is a driver required?

[blueocean]

I don't think there is any driver option.
Have you researched this online? It might well be worth your time to look at some hits from:
https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACY ... CAg&uact=5
If you find no solution there, let us know. I've seen this question go mostly unanswered on this forum.

[HAWR]

Hello jobtraklite,

can you post the outputs of the following terminal commands to see your system informations and the card reader used (use </> button above the text box to put it in codeblocks):

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inxi -Fxz

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lsusb

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lspci

[jobtraklite]

OP here. Thanks all for the replies. I'll meditate on them as soon as I get a chance.

Here goes (with microSD card inserted in its slot):

inxi -Fxz

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System:
  Host: paul-Inspiron-3180 Kernel: 5.3.6-050306-generic x86_64 bits: 64 
  compiler: gcc v: 9.2.1 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.2.4 
  Distro: Linux Mint 19.2 Tina base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Dell product: Inspiron 3180 v: 1.3.0 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: Dell model: 0918N8 v: A00 serial: <filter> UEFI: Dell v: 1.3.0 
  date: 03/09/2018 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 29.9 Wh condition: 29.9/32.0 Wh (93%) 
  model: Samsung SDI DELL PGYK582 status: Full 
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Mouse charge: 55% 
  status: Discharging 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: AMD A6-9220e RADEON R4 5 COMPUTE CORES 2C+3G 
  bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Excavator L2 cache: 1024 KiB 
  flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm 
  bogomips: 6388 
  Speed: 1198 MHz min/max: 1200/1600 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 2393 2: 2393 
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Stoney [Radeon R2/R3/R4/R5 Graphics] vendor: Dell 
  driver: amdgpu v: kernel bus ID: 00:01.0 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: amdgpu,ati 
  unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,radeon,vesa resolution: 1280x720~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: AMD STONEY (DRM 3.33.0 5.3.6-050306-generic LLVM 8.0.0) 
  v: 4.5 Mesa 19.0.8 direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:01.1 
  Device-2: AMD Family 15h Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel 
  v: kernel bus ID: 00:09.2 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.3.6-050306-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9565 / AR9565 Wireless Network Adapter 
  vendor: Dell driver: ath9k v: kernel port: 2100 bus ID: 01:00.0 
  IF: wlp1s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: Atheros type: USB driver: btusb bus ID: 2-2:12 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 58.84 GiB used: 23.23 GiB (39.5%) 
  ID-1: /dev/mmcblk0 type: USB vendor: Samsung model: SP32G size: 29.72 GiB 
  ID-2: /dev/sda model: Dell WR202KD032G E70245F5 size: 29.12 GiB 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 28.04 GiB used: 23.22 GiB (82.8%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0 C mobo: 40.0 C sodimm: 46.0 C 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Info:
  Processes: 205 Uptime: 21h 12m Memory: 3.79 GiB used: 1.77 GiB (46.8%) 
  Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 7.4.0 Shell: bash v: 4.4.20 
  inxi: 3.0.32 

lsusb

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Bus 001 Device 005: ID 046d:c52f Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0bda:0129 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTS5129 Card Reader Controller
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:5658 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0438:7900 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 012: ID 0cf3:e005 Atheros Communications, Inc. 
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

lspci

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00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 15h (Models 60h-6fh) Processor Root Complex
00:00.2 IOMMU: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 15h (Models 60h-6fh) I/O Memory Management Unit
00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Stoney [Radeon R2/R3/R4/R5 Graphics] (rev eb)
00:01.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Device 15b3
00:02.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 15h (Models 60h-6fh) Host Bridge
00:02.5 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 15h (Models 60h-6fh) Processor Root Port
00:03.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 15h (Models 60h-6fh) Host Bridge
00:08.0 Encryption controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 1578
00:09.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 157d
00:09.2 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 15h (Models 60h-6fh) Audio Controller
00:10.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH USB XHCI Controller (rev 20)
00:11.0 SATA controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 4b)
00:12.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH USB EHCI Controller (rev 49)
00:14.0 SMBus: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH SMBus Controller (rev 4b)
00:14.3 ISA bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH LPC Bridge (rev 11)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b0
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b1
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b2
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b3
00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b4
00:18.5 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 15b5
01:00.0 Network controller: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9565 / AR9565 Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01)

One thing that might be confusing is that both the "hard drive" and sdhc card are nominally 32GB.

[HAWR]

Hello jobtraklite,

thank you for the outputs. So you have this integrated USB card reader:

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0bda:0129 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTS5129 Card Reader Controller

There is the rtsx_usb driver included in the kernel you use (it is included from kernel 4.16+). There is an alternative driver, because, so far as I know, there were often issues with that device in the last years, but your laptop is rather new.

But Before we should see, why the size of your hard disk partition is so little. Is the size the same, when the microSD card isn't inserted?

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inxi -DP

Have you partitionized the HDD during LM install? Or have you used encryption? What is with the rest of the HDD?

You could test your harddrive. Open Disks from the menu choosing S.M.A.R.T tests. Or you can test the partition, when booting with your install medium into a live session open DISKS and run the performance test for the partition (the HDD must be unmounted).

[jobtraklite]

But Before we should see, why the size of your hard disk partition is so little. Is the size the same, when the microSD card isn't inserted?

Why? only Dell knows. Seriously, I bought this small 11" laptop for travelling where by far the most frequent mode of transportation is bicycle and foot. So I wanted something small. I'm afraid I didn't think much of the HD size. All I wanted it for storing reservations, tickets, maps, bike cue sheets, and surfing the net. I installed portable versions of apps on he sdhc card. It worked great on a 3 week trip through Germany in 2018. When I pulled it out of the closet for a Summer 2019 trip it was nothing but trouble due to Windows 10's inability to update.

So I had a tech scrape Windows and install Linux Mint. The sdhc thing stumped him also.

I'll take a look at you suggestions; but in the meantime when I opened files, the following pop up appeared.

[HAWR]

Okay, I didn't know that your laptop has only a storage of 32 GB. Then you could try it with the mentioned alternative driver, which is tested with kernels up to 5.0.7 and I've read on the issues page, that it runs with 5.2 on Arch Linux. The rtsx driver will be blacklisted, so it won't be loaded at system start:

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sudo apt-get install git build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)
git clone https://github.com/asymingt/rts5139.git
cd rts5139
make
sudo make install
echo "blacklist rtsx*" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-rtsx.conf
sudo update-initramfs -u

After that you have to reboot and see, whether it works with it. If not, we can undo it.

[jobtraklite]

sudo apt-get install git build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)

started a lot of unpacking,

sudo git clone https://github.com/asymingt/rts5139.git yielded:

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Cloning into 'rts5139'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 25, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (25/25), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (18/18), done.
remote: Total 81 (delta 10), reused 19 (delta 7), pack-reused 56
Unpacking objects: 100% (81/81), done.

After changing to rts5139, sudo make yielded:

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make -C /lib/modules/5.3.6-050306-generic/build/ SUBDIRS= modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-5.3.6-050306-generic'
  HOSTCC  scripts/basic/fixdep
  HOSTCC  scripts/kconfig/conf.o
  HOSTCC  scripts/kconfig/confdata.o
  HOSTCC  scripts/kconfig/expr.o
  LEX     scripts/kconfig/lexer.lex.c
  YACC    scripts/kconfig/parser.tab.h
  HOSTCC  scripts/kconfig/lexer.lex.o
  YACC    scripts/kconfig/parser.tab.c
  HOSTCC  scripts/kconfig/parser.tab.o
  HOSTCC  scripts/kconfig/preprocess.o
  HOSTCC  scripts/kconfig/symbol.o
  HOSTLD  scripts/kconfig/conf
scripts/kconfig/conf  --syncconfig Kconfig
make[2]: *** No rule to make target 'arch/x86/tools/relocs_32.c', needed by 'arch/x86/tools/relocs_32.o'.  Stop.
arch/x86/Makefile:232: recipe for target 'archscripts' failed
make[1]: *** [archscripts] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-5.3.6-050306-generic'
Makefile:46: recipe for target 'all' failed
make: *** [all] Error 2

Not suprisingly, sudo make install failed:

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cp rts5139.ko /lib/modules/5.3.6-050306-generic/kernel/drivers/scsi -f
cp: cannot stat 'rts5139.ko': No such file or directory
Makefile:49: recipe for target 'install' failed
make: *** [install] Error 1

[HAWR]

Then I'm sorry, but it don't work with your 5.3 kernel. You can delete the downloaded rts5139 folder. If you also want to delete the build-essential, go to the synaptic package manager via the menu, search for it, select it for uninstall and apply.

As written above, the card reader is normally supported by the rtsx_usb kernel driver. Here is a link, which confirms your experience with the better recognition, when you are using the microSD card in combination with the usb-adapter:

https://help.ubuntu.com/stable/ubuntu-h ... er.html.en

Is the card recognized and usable on other devices or operating systems?
Have you tested another card?
Let the card inserted in the slot and reboot for better recognition (on my laptop the card is permanently in the slot and always recognized and mounted after system start).
Is the card reader enabled in BIOS?
Which format has the used card? Maybe new formatting can help.

[JerryF]

Try opening Gparted (install it from the Software Manager if you don't already have it).

See if the SD card shows and if so, delete the partition on the SD and recreate it. Close Gparted and see if the card is recognized.

Of course, back up anything important on the SD card by using your USB adapter.

[jobtraklite]

@ HAWR

Is the card recognized and usable on other devices or operating systems?

Yes I used it when Windows 10 was the OS

Have you tested another card?

No. If I had any hope that another would work in the SD slot, I would try it. After installing Apache, Php7, and MYSQL, Linux is complaining that I only have 1GB left on the so-called HD.

Let the card inserted in the slot and reboot for better recognition (on my laptop the card is permanently in the slot and always recognized and mounted after system start).

I rebooted numerous times and a popup tells me it's not readable

Is the card reader enabled in BIOS?

I don't see anything like SD port enable/disable

Which format has the used card? Maybe new formatting can help.

I've tried Fat32, EXT4, and exFAT all done from the USB port.
If I try it in its slot from ACCESSORIES, DISK nothing happens or I get a error message.

[jobtraklite]

@ JerryF

In ran gparted and a pop up said "Could not stat device /dev/mmcblk0 - No such file or directory." Then only the HD appeared.

[HAWR]

Hello jobtraklite,

I don't see anything like SD port enable/disable

But is it displayed under "System setup options > Advanced > Miscellaneous Devices"?

I've found the following website with a tip for Ubuntu 16.04, but the first comment says, it works with 18.04, too, and Ubuntu 18.04 is the base for LM 19.x, so it could also work for you.

https://www.fosslinux.com/1985/fix-sd-c ... pgrade.htm

Intersting is the last comment. Maybe it works better, if you use an "old fashioned" SDHC card instead of a micro card with adapter. If the tip on the website doesn't make it better, I think, that is worth a try.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SD-Cards-32-GB ... A411646031

[kelebek333]

Could you try to install rts5139 driver with this Debian package. Reboot your PC after installation, and You must disable secureboot from EFI/BIOS settings. Blacklist file is auto-install with this package for kernel build modules.

modinfo rts5139
filename: /lib/modules/5.3.7-050307-generic/updates/dkms/rts5139.ko
version: v1.05
license: GPL
description: Realtek RTS5139/29 USB card reader driver
srcversion: 3B27D0C359D9EC336BCCAEE
alias: usb:v0BDAp0129d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*in*
alias: usb:v0BDAp0139d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*in*

[jobtraklite]

@ kelebek333

I believe I have already tried the rts5139 thing.

In any event, the hard drive filled up without my adding much; and now I'm dead in the water. But that's another thread. Thanks for everyone trying. I ought to be getting a bill for time and materials.

[kelebek333]

make[2]: *** No rule to make target 'arch/x86/tools/relocs_32.c', needed by 'arch/x86/tools/relocs_32.o'. Stop.
arch/x86/Makefile:232: recipe for target 'archscripts' failed
make[1]: *** [archscripts] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-5.3.6-050306-generic'
Makefile:46: recipe for target 'all' failed
make: *** [all] Error 2

@ kelebek333

I believe I have already tried the rts5139 thing.

Your previous rts5139 driver installation failed for kernel 5.3.x series. You can successfully install rts5139 driver to kernel 5.3.x series with my shared package as shown in my previous message.