A deep Google search on a Russian GSM forum revealed the truth. Windows 10’s USB selective suspend was killing the card’s authentication handshake milliseconds after insertion. The software saw the reader but not the crypto key inside.

The log window flashed: Card found. Initializing… OK. Phone detected. Alex let out a long breath. The ghost card had returned. If Z3X says “Card not found” on Windows 10, it’s almost never the card. It’s power management, drivers, or the Smart Card service. And sometimes, a reboot with the dongle unplugged is the real unlock.

Windows 10, Z3X Samsung Tool Pro, error: “Card not found.”