Database Users

SD memory Card - loss of memory size

I have a 512 SD memory card, which when initially placed into my MDA compact was working fine. I have transferred files via activesync and the MDA was reading it at 512mb.
However, a couple of weeks ago. I had a message on the MDA asking if I would like to format the card for reading by this device. Initially I said no, however, it kept on coming up persistently until I clicked yes.
The format was done and I am now showing a size on my SD card of 139mb.
I have seen some of the previous posts and have bought a SD reader/writer, whilst this works perfectly, my card is still only 139mb. I have a feeling that the movie I transferred is taking up the rest of the memory, but not showing anywhere for me to remove it.
Does anyone have any suggestions, other than gentle pursasion with a hammer, to return the card to its proper size. Free would be best of course.
Thanks

In windows (your desktop computer) enable the option "view-hidden files"... perhaps you will find a lot of hidden files on your sd.
Otherwise, format the sd.

Sven,
Thanks for your response, tried hidden files, no luck. Also formatted the sd card and it still only reads 139mb. Shall I hit it with a hammer?
Cheers
Mark

adz1478,
Unzip the attachment onto your computer...
With your SD card in a card reader, format the card.
You should hopefully retreive full capacity- needless to say everything saved on the card will be gone.

worked perfectly, you just saved me £20 on a new card. Cheers

worked perfectly, you just saved me £20 on a new card. Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep- no probs.
When you try to format the card from Windows- it does not always comply with the SD 1.1 specs. This is what the formatter program does.

Same problem - but!
When I tried the formatter program it thinks the card is write protected even though on the outside it is not! So i can't format it to the correct side.
Any ideas please?

SD CARD NOT READABLE AFTER ATTEMPTING TO FORMAT

I have a 2gb SD card that was working, but I thought I would be clever and use the SD reader in my Tosh so that I could transfer large files more easily to the card for my exec. But when I was asked to format my card by Toshiba's software, I went through the process and thought it was successful. But then at end of process the phrase "Please stop a SD memory card, then insert the card again" came up, so took card out, re-entered it in the reader and tried to attempt to transfer files to it. However windows then told me that it was not formatted and would I like to format it. So yes, I do, but although windows formatted it, it reduced the capacity from 2gb to 956 mb or thereabouts. It was recognised by the exec again, but with severe consequences as never bought a 1 gb card.
Help please...

Sounds to me like your card reader doesn't read cards bigger than 1 GB. I had the same issue with my 4 GB card. Tried it with a different reader and the PC saw all 4 gigs, never asking me to format. See if you can try a newer SD card reader?

The same thing happened to me with a 1 gigabyte pcmcia card. It was working fine in my laptop then I put it in the card slot on an Ipaq and it also did a format. The card is now exactly half the memory it should be and no way can I get it to work as a 1 gig card even though I have tried formatting on the pc.

I have found that my 2GB card formatted on my Palm LifeDrive was not readable on my laptop. When I formatted using a Toshiba format utility the space on the card was down to 1GB. It did work okay on my JJ. I had to re-format it on my Palm and then for reason it was okay again and could be read by my laptop - I did not use any card readers as the laptop has a built-in reader. And I re-formatted on my laptop using XP format softwsre and the 2GB storage was retained.
@Wannabe, have you got access to another PC or card reader to reformat your card. Also I found WM5 file managers could not reformat and regain the lost capacity

been on to Tosh
Toshiba are extremely helpful...not! Told me to get another card and see if that works as it might not accept the card. This is a Sandisk card which I believe is made by Toshiba...or at least in collaboration. Am going to check Sandisk for an answer as well...keep the ideas coming please

Hi there.
Try reading this post i made ages ago about formatting and re-newing your sd cards. It might help. It is regarding my 512mb sd card, but the principles are the same.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=21920&highlight=lydiachris
I strongly recommend using media recover, even if it's only a trial version to "wipe" your sd card to re-new it to it's factory condition. It covers and re-formats the whole card sector by sector.
http://www.mediarecover.com/
Give it a go and let us know.
Regards
lydiachris

If none of the other suggestions work then try this program that I posted on another thread:-
SDFormatter.zip:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=30900&highlight=
Use it with a card reader, follow instructions and your PPC should be able to read the full capacity.

SanDisk have taken back card...
Thanks for the suggestions, will keep in mind for future. Sandisk took back the card and found that it had become corrupted so have sent out another one. tks for suggestions though.

Not working card? Try this!

I recently bought an AData SD card (150 speed, 2 GB), the one that is often mentioned here as 'doesn't work'. That seemed to be true: I inserted the card into my MDA and the device asked to format it. Of course the card wasn't recognized after the formatting procedure.
I noticed that my other card that the device can read contains the file 'ignore_my_docs' (hidden). I copied the file to the new card with a card reader and after that the card works flawless! Can anyone confirm this?

i got a 4GB HC from PNY and i placed that file there... guess what? doesnt work.

try formattin it under windows xp...magician supports upto 4gb

microSD disappearance.. SOLVED!

People have been replacing their microSD cards not knowing that the problem is actually in the files and folders..
Ok here it is!
When i scroll through the hTC Sense tabs to music or photos, the applications try to load the thumbs from the Phone/microSD, that's when it suddenly freezes then the microSD vanishes..
I inserted the microSD into my PC and browsed the drive in "Thumbnail view" and guess what happened, it froze.. I figured since the idea was the same in hTC Sense when it tries to load any thumbs..
So i went to the microSD drive again and chose "detailed view" then went into each folder and changed to "thumbnail view" until i found two folders that kept freezing; "Program Files" and "My Music"..
In Program files the only folder that couldn't be deleted definitely had files that were behind the issue.. There was a music album too that froze, i deleted that too...
I backed up my files and formatted the microSD, i had to, because the folders behind the microSD disappearance cannot be deleted even with an "Unlocker"..
So far i'm playing around with my Leo and nothing is happening..
So by viewing the folders on the PC using Thumbnail view, you'll be able to identify the file or folder behind this annoying issue..

I had the same issue
I have (had) Sandisk microSD 16GB card. It was last week that it happened to me. Only backup of good files and re-formatting the card helped.
Today, I was copying 700MB file and suddenly it told me - cant write on a disk. I disconnected cable from the PC, rebooted Leo and SD card was no more present.
I put it into a card reader, tried to format it, but nothing is working. SD card is probably faulty.
So be aware, that that problem might be a first sign before your SD will break.

I think the fault is from some files somewhere in the microSD.. After going through the method i mentioned earlier, up until now my card is fine..

dosari666 said:
I think the fault is from some files somewhere in the microSD.. After going through the method i mentioned earlier, up until now my card is fine..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup right, but be aware. I dont think that normal SD card should perform like that. I am using stock 2GB SD now, and it is ok!

stgyro said:
yup right, but be aware. I dont think that normal SD card should perform like that. I am using stock 2GB SD now, and it is ok!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My 16GB microSD is Sandisk and its 100% compatible with this device.. The Leo is doing something when loading the files creating some system files i suppose..

dosari666 said:
My 16GB microSD is Sandisk and its 100% compatible with this device.. The Leo is doing something when loading the files creating some system files i suppose..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
guess what? windows could not load sandisk microSD 16GB and I was already preparing to return it to e-shop, but I tried live cd of ubuntu 9.10.
It can read the card, it formatted it and it is working again! :-D

stgyro said:
guess what? windows could not load sandisk microSD 16GB and I was already preparing to return it to e-shop, but I tried live cd of ubuntu 9.10.
It can read the card, it formatted it and it is working again! :-D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great, so you didn't have to replace it?
But strange, i've always been using the 16GB with my HD and now HD2.. The issue just occurred a week ago..
A day has passed and everything seems fine..
I hope it stays that way..

ok
I got exactly the same problem with my 16G Sandiskin and HD
and found that the problem was a damaged file in my SD
connect your SD to your computer throw card reader, using total commander or whatever, begin coping all SD files and directory to your hard disk, until get a message can't copy "file name", this will be the damage file, unmount the SD and mount it again and delete this file and your SD will be ok
ps: may be you have more than one damage file, try the this method until you can copy all SD files to your hard drive

When you have a write or read problem with a particular file, it usually points to more than just a corrupt file. In my experience with 4 16GB Sandisk microSD, it is the beginning of a failing card. The safest bet is to copy out the good files, reformat in your HD2 and copy the files back. But if it happens too often, it may be time to invest in a new card as your data is of primary concern.
The strange thing is that this usually occurs with the bigger cards, 8GB and 16GB. I never had this issue in the past with smaller cards.
I back up my card weekly or when I have updated large number of files just to be sure I have a valid set in my PC in case the card fails.

kensong said:
When you have a write or read problem with a particular file, it usually points to more than just a corrupt file. In my experience with 4 16GB Sandisk microSD, it is the beginning of a failing card. The safest bet is to copy out the good files, reformat in your HD2 and copy the files back. But if it happens too often, it may be time to invest in a new card as your data is of primary concern.
The strange thing is that this usually occurs with the bigger cards, 8GB and 16GB. I never had this issue in the past with smaller cards.
I back up my card weekly or when I have updated large number of files just to be sure I have a valid set in my PC in case the card fails.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know what you are talking about. Low format may help. I had the same issue with 2GB SD card 3 years ago (had to recover SD card to save few photos) and also on my DLSR with 4GB CF Card (linux helped to read the card). I don´t think it can be damaged so quickly as normal PC HDD, but when it happens often (damaged files on card), it may be a sign of something wrong with the card.

Unfortunately it happened again.. After a month of having everything under control i got the same problem.. The great news is I'm using windows 7 on my PC and when i plug my microSD card via usb reader, i get a choice of scanning and fixing the removable disk...
Now i'm happy without those annoying corrupted files..

Swaping sd cards over

Would it be possible for me to copy the entire contents of my 8gb and paste on folder on pc, then put in new 16bb card and paste the lot back onto the new one, would everything work ok? as i have most if not all my apps instlled on my storage card, has anyone done this b4 and is it possible?
Thanks

I've wondered that myself, as long as the new card is properly formated then in theory it should be fine..... never actually done it though so don't take my word for it.

Maybe someone can clear this up, by format properly what do you mean by this?

I have done that twice without any problems. Just rember to show all files in the explorere on the PC.

I have previously done it twice with no problems but i just swapped my 16gb to a 32gb and it wouldnt have none of it????? I have had to return the card thinking its faulty? But i will do the exact thing once i receive my replacement

antilagman said:
I have previously done it twice with no problems but i just swapped my 16gb to a 32gb and it wouldn't have none of it????? I have had to return the card thinking its faulty? But i will do the exact thing once i receive my replacement
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got a Sandisk 16Gb card and though it was faulty as HD2 wouldn't read it. Examining it on PC showed it was formated as 'exFAT'. Reformatted to 'FAT' and copied data across and now all OK.

i've done this on every winmo phone i have had where a sd card upgrade was required. Just make sure you have the phone off while to do it and use a card reader just to be safe

dont have a card reader, know how to format to fat on pc via disc drive mode, will just copying all to pc, and ensuring all files are showing and not hidden then would this be ok?

the 32gb came formatted in fat32? I have been told that my replacement will be here tomorrow

yeah if you format the card to fat your gonna damage the card. stick to fat32 and use a 32KB allocation unit size. you do it be finding the drive in my computer, right clicking and hitting format. Setup your options and go.
Card readers are best for this type of work and you can pick one up less than £10 from amazon.co.uk. Just make sure it says it supports SDHC cards.

CHEAP MicroSD reader....
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