Vista doesnt start unless SD card is inserted

Hello,

This is driving me nuts. I have a HP Pavillion media center (on Vista Home Premium) with a built in card reader. Everything was ok earlier until I used a mini SD card. After using the card, I ejected, then windows was in a hang state. I rebooted using the task manager, but it took so long to shutdown, I had to press the power off button. During that time, the light of the sd card was on even after I ejected. Then, when I started to boot windows, windows won't startup till I put the sd card back on the reader. It just stays on that part where Microsoft Corporation shows but doesnt boot up till I insert an SD card. I checked the BIOS, boot sequence in the bios, and everything in the bios, the boot sequence, and the BIOS itself is OK. I checked msconfig, and the bootup is OK. I even tried to uninstall the card reader from device manager or disable it, but still everytime I start windows, it won't startup normally unless I put the sd card on the card reader. The light on the card reader turns on when windows starts. I have concluded that this is a windows problem. Please help. I am not about nor am I ready to reformat my PC just because of this problem. I've searched the net for answers, but I cannot find one solution. Please help. Thanks.


James