Cheap and easy to find.

Just inserted it, but don't see where the images show up in files.

Sorry for being so stupid.

Like, what platform, specs, etc to troubleshoot why your laptop doesn't recognize the device--if indeed that's what is happening (with the USB adapter, I mean).

Usually, such devices nowadays are simple plug n play: plug the USB device, add the SD card, and a thing should popup on screen informing you that a new thing is available and how to interact with it.

Sorry I don't have more specific advice, but someone else surely will.

Perhaps the new usb/sd drive will show up there?

IF that new sd card is brand new/empty/unformatted, you might need to right-click the Start menu, then choose Disk Management, and see if you see the new drive in the list.
As long as there's nothing on it (that you care about), you can then format card by right-clicking the 'disk' in that interface.

Maybe you'll get lucky and see the broken piece and be able to extract it.

Tight spaces.

Make sure the laptop is off and unplugged.

Do it over a white sheet so you for sure see it if/when it falls out.

Sounds like OP is saying that s/he already has the piece though as it broke off after removal. Guess there might be another one but seems unlikely.

you removed been "mounted", and you failed to "unmount" it before removal? That would explain why the laptop is not recognizing other cards, as it's expecting to 'see' the first one.

and then re-open it, or hit right-click/refresh (F5)

Unmounting is really to just close any open handles to the drive (a file on that drive open in excel or the like).

whether the laptop considered it part of the system storage or just external storage (even though it's not physically external).

That is, with compressed air.

Used to be my go-to first effort for troubleshooting hardware.

Since this event, when I open FILES, the "e" drive shows up with a question mark. Tiny image of drive with a ? on it, labeled E:/
Clicking on that has no response.

The next question becomes this.

How do I retrieve the files from the damaged SD card?

And I guess I assume now that the SD drive is kaput.

Of course, you already tried the damaged card in the USB adapter, right? Or maybe not, if you worried it might kill that too...

Be helpful to see what the damage looks like.

..several little pieces fell off the upper corner that is not already slanted. Looking at the card from the front, that would be the upper left corner.

I'll have to figure out how to save the images that are on that card.

I'm thinking of those bigger ones that hold the smaller ones, not sure of the naming, but they were popular when microSD cards were introduced.

I mean, for the longer term project of accessing the damaged card contents. Depends how the interfaces interact and whether the damaged part interferes. Worth exploring if you hit a roadblock.

Thanks for your hints.

The damage may just be to the plastic case and there's a sensor in the slot that isn't getting contact.

Can you delicately put some tape over the damage to reconstruct this missing piece? If so, first test it in the cheap USB device in case it gets stuck.

Just things I'd be trying.

ETA: unless you mean the damage is where the metal contact strips are?