Tema
I've been talking to ACER Tech Support on this issue but they're saying that the next step would be to do a Restoration of Windows to make sure it's a hardware issue and not software.
I'd really rather not go thru that. I've been the a Clean Install startover already on this thing a few months ago and that ain't no fun. TONS of stuff like programs from CDS or downloads (after you remember where + usernames & passwords), My Docs, the Outlook PST data file, email accts (I use 5 in Outlook), signatures, settings, drivers, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
So since an external SD Reader works just fine thru a USB cable, I have to assume that it's just a hardware issue.
I've had some help with this deal over at Microsoft Answers.
But ACER won't give me the SD Reader under my 1 year warranty without first putting me thru this disastrous Clean Install which I already know isn't needed as I stated in the sentence just before this one.
So my thought now is just to screw their Warranty and buy an SD Reader and have the folks over at Fry's stick it in. They put more RAM in this thing for me a few months ago so I know they can figure out how to get inside of it (which is tricky).
This would save me from the agony of doing all that work for a Clean Install, it would keep me from needing to box this PC up along with avoiding the shipping costs and hastles, and I'd even have it back on my desk WAY quicker ... probably just a day or two.
I wonder how much this would cost me for parts & labor? Does anyone have an estimate?
Can someone please help me? 
I just read my original Question and I wanted to tell everyone that I'm not trying to pick on anyone and especially not on ACER's warranty program. I'm just frustrated and scared about trying to fix my PC that I've had less than a year.
Not only is the SC Reader not working but there are times when the thing basically ignores me for many minutes and I just need to walk away since I've learned that clicking anywhere will usually just end up sending me somewhere I didn't expect to go since the Internet Explorer page will change and THEN Windows will finally apply my click to some unknown link on the new page that displays.
I'm pretty sure my issue isn't a virus as I run Malwarebytes PRO, cCleaner and McAfee Anti-Virus diligently and I don't do any ugly web surfing.
Here's where I've asked for HELP over at Microsoft Answers:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/w
And here's where I asked about the SD Reader:
United States