Is my MicroSD card dead?

[awgie]

It's a scenario I've played out many times before, but successfully...

I powered down my phone, removed the MicroSD card, and plugged it into my laptop to add some videos to be able to watch while I was away. I first deleted some other video files that I no longer needed on it. Then I created a new folder and copied some new videos into it. So far, everything was going as planned... Or so I thought.

Now here is where the problem happened... I created another folder to add some more videos, but when I opened it up, I got a terrible surprise. Not only was the folder already populated, but most of the filenames contained illegal characters and some files didn't even have a date (and yet others had dates were several decades in the future), and the total size of the files shown was nearly 45GB - quite impossible on a 32GB card that still showed free space on it.



So I deleted said folder, ejected the card from the laptop, and inserted it back into the phone. The phone went about analyzing the card, then flashed the word "corrupt" on the screen, and then it showed that there was no card.

So I again powered down the phone and removed the card, and put it back into the laptop and ran chkdsk /F on it. Curiously enough, it still showed the videos that I had deleted back at the beginning. It also showed the folder full of videos that I had successfully copied. But it did not show the problem folder that I had deleted. Eject... back to phone... still corrupt.

OK, more aggressive now. Copied all of the data off the card onto my hard drive (and verified), and attempted to format the card. Windows' Format utility says "Windows could not complete the format." So I tried a different FAT32 format utility, which appeared to complete successfully, but when I open up the card in Windows Explorer, all the old files and folders are still there.

So my question is this: Is there another method I can use to attempt to reformat the card, or do I just have to accept that the card is toast and eat it (no pun intended)?

[october262]

Have you tried formatting the sd card to NTFS

[aedipuss]

it's a $10 card. i certainly wouldn't ever trust it at this point. toss it.

[awgie]

Have you tried formatting the sd card to NTFS

No. But I've never had a card that wouldn't format to FAT32 before, which disturbs me.

[awgie]

it's a $10 card. i certainly wouldn't ever trust it at this point. toss it.

A valid point, and agreed. It just leaves me without a fully functional phone until I can replace it, since some of the apps use the card for temp data. All of the photos, videos, and music I already had backup copies of, so I'm not losing anything, even if I hadn't been able to copy all the files onto my hard drive.

I will definitely be replacing it, but I'd like to get it working again at least for a couple days.

[lingyi]

I reccomend SDFormatter: https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/

I've used it to format "write-protected" SD cards in the past.

[awgie]

I reccomend SDFormatter: https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/

I've used it to format "write-protected" SD cards in the past.

So how do you get past the write-protection? A MicroSD card doesn't have a write protect switch.

[mike20021969]

it's a $10 card. i certainly wouldn't ever trust it at this point. toss it.

Is the price really the point, or the card brand?

Lots of top brand, high capacity cards (in the UK, anyway) are well less than 10 notes.

[mike20021969]

A MicroSD card doesn't have a write protect switch.

Are you using a MicroSD>SD Card adaptor?
If yes, check the write protection tab is in the correct position.

[lingyi]

If you're not using an adapter, try a different reader and/or removing/reinserting the card serveral times.

If that sill doesn't do it, some additonal things you can try are here: http://www.partition-tool.com/resource/manage-partition/how-to-format-a-write-protected-sd-card.html

[awgie]

Have you tried formatting the sd card to NTFS

I have now...

Are you using a MicroSD>SD Card adaptor?
If yes, check the write protection tab is in the correct position.

If you're not using an adapter, try a different reader and/or removing/reinserting the card serveral times.

I've tried with 2 different adapters, and 2 different readers. Also tried reformatting it in my tablet.

If that sill doesn't do it, some additonal things you can try are here: http://www.partition-tool.com/resource/manage-partition/how-to-format-a-write-protected-sd-card.html

Had tried those steps already, except for using the EaseUS software, which I quit using long ago because it's nag-ware (it kept popping up notifications telling me I really, really needed to upgrade to the professional version).

I have also tried using DiskPart from the command prompt, which tells me that the volume is already not read-only. But then it still gives me errors when I try to do anything. I checked the Event Log as it says, but it doesn't tell me anything.


I have even gone so far as to enable the built-in Administrator account and trying to do it from there, but even there I get the same errors.
I am now beyond the point where I firmly believe the likelihood that the card is thoroughly fried is well past 100%, and I've just been killing time here.

But thanks for all the suggestions anyway. At least you all tried to help.

[mike20021969]

Even if you get a new card, try seeking a replacement for the corrupt MicroSD Card if it is still under warranty.

[awgie]

... if it is still under warranty.

I wish...

[creakndale]

Awgie,
Your problem is reminiscent of a problem I had last April with a 32GB Patriot USB flash drive. I could read from the flash drive but could no longer write to it with the same results on Windows XP, Vista and 7 computers. When I tried to write to, or format the flash drive, it came back with "Write Protected".

The flash drive was out of warranty but I wanted to solve this so I started reading forums. I eventually found that Patriot had a Low Level Format Tool that other people with the same problem had used to restore their Patriot flash drives. Two years ago the software tool was available on Patriot's web site but now you had to contact their customer support who wrote back with a link to their Patriot Restore tool.

I copied all the files from the flash drive to my hard disk and then used Patriot Restore tool. It worked and the flash drive has continued operating correctly to this day.

Maybe seek out a Low Level Format tool when all other options have failed?

creakndale

[ahhaa]

You might contact the card's tech support, it is an interesting problem in it's own right, even if out of warranty.

It wasn't clear whether you opened the crash folder on the PC or in the phone itself.

That would be an important clue; as some phones seem to format cards themselves.

Otherwise, there may be something nasty in one of your new videos, either way it seems like a root problem. You might want to try using something like Clonezilla, which runs off an optical disc, reads M$ formats and doesn't store in or write to physical drives unless told to.

[awgie]

It wasn't clear whether you opened the crash folder on the PC or in the phone itself.

If you're referring to the screenshots with all the weird filenames above, that's in Windows on my laptop.

That would be an important clue; as some phones seem to format cards themselves.

The phone won't even give me the option to format it. My tablet also detects that it's corrupt, but at least allows me to attempt to format it, which then fails.

Otherwise, there may be something nasty in one of your new videos, either way it seems like a root problem. You might want to try using something like Clonezilla, which runs off an optical disc, reads M$ formats and doesn't store in or write to physical drives unless told to.

The videos play just fine on the phone using a USB flash drive.

The damage seems to have occurred at the moment when I created that last folder - the one with all the weird files. When I examine the drive using TestDisk, it finds discrepancies in the FAT tables, but when I attempt to repair them, it just tells me it can't write to the disk.

[lingyi]

Last option is to try mounting and formatting it in Linux. If it's not recognized there, it's completely gone.

[awgie]

I don't have Linux. I can give it to my son and let him try it on his Linux system, but I'm already quite sure it's fried.

Both the GUIformatFAT32 and HDDLLF format utilities show that they were successful, and yet all of the data remains on the card, and it remains write protected. I hate to admit defeat, but sooner or later, you just don't have any fight left in you.

I've already ordered a new 64GB card - and paid less than what I paid for this 32GB card however many years ago I bought it.

[lingyi]

Most Linux distros have a live (boot from optical disc or USB drive) option. I like Zorin OS because the desktop is very close to Windows, also Ubuntu is popular and easy to use.

If you don't mind a DOS environment, there's Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD) that can also be booted from USB with lots of utilities that allow you to work outside the Windows environment.

I keep both Linux and UBCD on USB drives for testing systems and drives.

[awgie]

I actually prefer a DOS environment. I grew up on it. I didn't even know what Windows was (what little there was of it) until I was out of college. I just haven't gotten around to setting anything up. Too many other things vying for my time.

[SameSelf]

it's a $10 card. i certainly wouldn't ever trust it at this point. toss it.

+++++++1