SD card

[RustyBob]

I think I am in the right forum for this question, regarding video media. Using windows 7 on my desktop, I am unable to format any one of two 16gb SD card nor a 32 gb SD card, using an adapter to usb. I get the message that the drive is not supported, when using SD formatter 3.1. However, when I place a usb thumb drive in, it is supported. When I first got these SD cards, I transferred 11 or 12 mp4 movies to one of the brand new SD cards, via adapter, without formatting. At that time I didn't know it was necessary. I never got a message that it had to be formatted. And they all played without a hitch, using the Micca Speck media player. The next time I tried to do this I wasn't allowed to, until the card was formatted. That's when I started getting the messages that Windows could not complete the format, and SD formatter stating that the drive isn't supported. The two 16 gb cards were purchased at Best Buy, the 32 gb card, from Amazon. I have zero knowledge in the use of linux, but gave ubuntu a try anyway. No luck there.

At this point, I am wondering are there any alternative methods I could use to format these cards ?

[aedipuss]

try the sd card formatter from

https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/

if it can't re-format them they are dead.

[jman98]

aedipuss may be right. However, for reasons I do not know and have never seen explained, Windows 7 is insanely picky about devices that can format SD cards. It may be that your cards are fine and the real problem is that you are using Windows 7. Try using your format device on another PC that does NOT use Windows 7 or 8. Use XP if you can, Vista as the next choice if you can't find a PC with XP.

I generally avoid Sony products but one of the few Sony products I bought was a multi card reader because I read several reviews that swore that it worked under Win 7 and it did when I installed it. When I was looking for those kinds of multi card readers I came across a lot of reviews that said "I couldn't get it work under Win 7" for various models. I have no explanation why this is an issue as these devices are not supposed to need special drivers at all. You're just supposed to connect them and have the work immediately, but for some reason Win 7 just has problems with a lot of this kind of device.

[aedipuss]

jman98 if you go looking for a new usb reader i've had good luck with kingston usb3.0 readers. they do just work, even on win7 64bit os.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139641