Related
After trying a Sandisk Class 6 Micro SD card in my Focus and having it fail after the first reset I decided to look for some software to fix the card and use it in my laptop. I did a Google for partition software and found "EASEUS" and they offer their 'Partition Master Home Addition" Free to home users. I downloaded it to try and I was absoloutely amazed. This is the best software I have ever saw for working with Windows partitions and it supports all known types of removeable storage. It wiped the Micro SD card clean and repartitioned it in a very short time including formatting it in FAT32.
I downloaded this but not sure how to use it. How can I find the failed MicroSD if the computer cannot read it?
After my card failed in the Focus I put it back in the reader on my desktop and it showed the card as a 200 Meg card but it did see it. I tried to format it with windows but it couldn't do it. Try putting the card in you reader and open the EASUS software and let me know if it can see the card. I guess the reason my computer could see the card might be because I have modified my register to load files and look at the storage on the Focus. The mod I used on the registry is the one that has been posted to several of the forums and it does work.
this sounds like spam...
SPAM is a lunch meat
Formatting an SD Card from a Windows Phone requires the card to be sent the "Force Erase" command (SD Card Simplified spec (pdf) Section 4.3.7.3). This would require support at the driver level and support by the SD reader as well - so it is unlikely that this software will work.
If you need to erase an Windows Phone 7 SD Card, hard reset the phone (although this will create a new lock on the card) or find a friend with a Nokia
Not saying it would work in this case, but I recently built a new Game PC and had lots of permmisions issues with several HDs, they were not even visible in Explorer, but you could see them in the Storage Manager, allowing me to do some format work and making them visible to the entire system.
The software has no problem deleting a pass word protected partition. When I put the card in the reader it was showing a 200 Meg partition that it could see and a hidden partition that It didn't show. It told me the hidden partition was pass word protected and then gave me the choice of formatting the 200 Meg partition or the entire card. I chose the entire card and then chose FAT 32 and it deleted every thing on the card and when it finished the card had 31.2 GB of space, the same thing it had before it was put in the Focus. Not sure how it done it but it did.
capman231 said:
After my card failed in the Focus I put it back in the reader on my desktop and it showed the card as a 200 Meg card but it did see it. I tried to format it with windows but it couldn't do it. Try putting the card in you reader and open the EASUS software and let me know if it can see the card. I guess the reason my computer could see the card might be because I have modified my register to load files and look at the storage on the Focus. The mod I used on the registry is the one that has been posted to several of the forums and it does work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you post up where I can download the mod for the registry?
Edit: Nevermind, got it thanks
Unless I found the wrong registry hack (I used the one listed at MobileTechWorld for using the phone as a mass storage device), this whole process was garbage. Didn't make the card readable, and this "best software" couldn't see it.
EASEUS did not work for me
Downloaded the partition manager software. After the format, it displayed an error message and exited. My microSD card is still not formatted right.
Nokia did it for me
I have an old E71 that revived my card..
steeldragonnyc said:
I have an old E71 that revived my card..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow! Funny thing is, that's not even full-on Symbian, it's S60. Because of your post, I dug my old Nokia N75 flip phone (which, similarly, runs S60) out of the retired phones drawer. It reads the Sandisk 16c4 from my Focus, and prompts to format it.
So, yeah, confirmed that any old phone running S60 can format a card from WP7. Awesome!
FL5 said:
confirmed that any old phone running S60 can format a card from WP7. Awesome!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lucky you!
I just downloaded this software and it does NOT see my microSD card. I have a Kingston 8GB C4 I want to reformat and ck speeds for posting.
If this software really works, then provide actual instructions in this thread to make it work.
If you have ruined your Micro SD by installing WP7 over it, here is the solution;
First and the fastest solution is to find a friend with a Nokia symbian phone like N8. Insert the card into the phone, phone says "locked SD" press cancel when it attempts for unclock code. Then use tools menu and select reformat. Get along well with that friend if you ever plan to flash WP7 again.
Second solution is to flash a NAND Android build with working USB storage while keeping the same card in the HD2. When flashing Android recognizes the card and creates a 200 MB partition on it. So this seems to be your card's new capacity. After flashing connect to a PC and select USB storage mode. Now you are done with the HD2, leave it connected in this state.
Windows (Win7 in my case) can see and even quick format the card as USB drive. However you need to low level format with flash erase. Search the forum (or use google) and get the program "SDFormatter V2.9.0.5" of Panasonic. Install it to your PC. When you run it, pick your SD drive, click options, choose Full (Erase ON) in the Format Type and "ON" in the format size adjustment tab. Then click format on the main window. Now you can leave and find something else to kill your time. Depending on the size of your SD this may take a few hours. When it is done, congratulations, you have recovered your SD. Depending on the assigned allocation unit size, Android may not recognize your SD, but your PC surely does. in this case, you need to quick format your SD with Win 7 or another program by choosing default allocation size.
The point here is, if Android recognizes the card, which means it can bypass the "Secure Digital" locking mechanism, then SD is not "secured" anymore and we should be able to format it to the proper capacity in the same way it automatically does for the preset 200MB. I guess lock is somehow removed by MAGLDR (or Android) and we only need to wipe out everything on the SD.
I just reflashed Android(NAND), then reformatted sd card and have 14GB space available. Then saw this post. Will do rest to get all of my SDCard back. Thanks.
SDFormatter v3.0 (BETA)
I had the same problem with WP7 "shrinking" my card. After reading this thread, I searched for SDFormatter and found BETA v3.0. Using that, I was able to just put my card into my PC's card reader and do a format, and got my full 16Gb back.
Just make sure you choose FORMAT TYPE as "FULL" (Erase or OverWrite -- I used "Erase" but I doubt it matters), and most importantly, set FORMAT SIZE ADJUSTMENT to "On."
okay, i've tried using minitools partition to try and delete the 200mb partition and then recreate the entire 16gb that is my microsd as well as sdformatter with full (erase as well as overwrite) with size adjustment on but the problem is that i can only see one partition, the 200mb partition, i can't even see the the second partition or whatever that wp7 created
anyone have any other solutions?
When SDFormatter finished formatting your card, you should have gotten a pop-up giving you the results and listing the size of the card.
On that pop-up, did it say 200MB or had it changed to 14.8GB (which is the usable space on a 16GB card)?
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
Just simply flash WinMo and use HTC's SD Card format tool in it, works fine (I did it myself that way).
When you format, you format a partition.
WM7 creates 2 partitions, the first one 200Mb and the rest of the SD for the 2nd.
To recover the SD:
1/ delete all partitions (I used EASEUS but many other soft will work, Win7 disk managment will not)
2/ create a new partition
3/ format it.
When I can't recover a disk I use a bootable distri of Linux, it's powerful to manage disks (sorry I've lost my disk so google will be your friend).
Great!
worked but had to do it via card reader on computer. Found SDFormatter V 3.0 and set to full erase and overwrite. Took about an hour but got my memory back! Thanks!
Nokia E51 did the trick
Just to confirm that a humble Nokia E51 was good enough to format an encrypted SDHC 16GB Kingstone Class 4.
After doctor Nokia's cure, I was able to recover all the space, I then used "SD Formatter 3.1" tool in order to totally clean up the card, just in case.
Repeated the trick also against a 16GB SDHC Class 10 Trascend, same great result
HTH
Nothing worked
Tried 5 Nokia phones (no E51 unfortunately), some of them ask for a password even if I say Format or delete the password. Some say that the card is corrupted and refuse to format it. Can anyone advise anything. I have an original SanDisk 16 gb SDHC class 2 card from HD2 T-Mobile. It was locked by WP and I cannot use it anymore.
Any advise will be much appreciated !!
OP's advice doesn't work?
Oh.
I assume that you got rid of it by installing Android. And I assume you haven't got rid of your HD2 yet. If second assumption is wrong, you may go and look for a device that can see the card. If only the first is wrong, skip the next paragraph.
Flash WP7 again. Updating it isn't necessary, but the tool may not work.
Download DEV_STORAGELOCK.cab from here. Send it to your device through WP7 Cab Sender. If you don't have it, download it from here. If you don't know how to use it - put the .cab next to the "WP7 Update Cab Sender.bat" file.
Use it. Double-click that .bat file, exit Zune, wait few seconds and press S. It doesn't work? Install the tool from "if needed install this tool" folder. No need to reboot, just go to that .bat file and press S again. The phone will reboot and the cab will be installed. On the phone tap that key icon, tap OK and ta-dah - the card is unlocked. Turn off WP7, take the card out, use it. Optional - get rid of WP7.
Thank you for your reply. I still have HD2 and it runs Mango just fine. The thing is that 16 gb card was the one that didn't want to work properly with WP. So I bought another one (not one ))) ) Transcend 8gb class 4 and it works fine. So, right now I have one useless 16gb card and I decided to bring it back to life. My only concern, If I switch the cards, will I loose any data on my 8 gig card (I have installed all soft that I need, and I do not want to loose it ), or maybe my phone will start to behave strange? I'm really tired of hard resets and re-installs.
Thank you in advance.
PS
That is why I was trying Nokia "trick"
No, the files should be there. But! WP7 may not boot and tell you that you have to use your 8gb sd. If it doesnt - good, you may unlock it. If it does, then... You will need to hardreset WP7 and that deletes all your files. Or turn it off and go back to your working card and look for devices that may see and format your 16gb.
Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
Thanks, will try what you suggested
good job man..
All of this doesn't seem to work for me. I keep ending up in a boot loop when trying the DEV_STORAGELOCK method. The only WP7 version that i can get to work is XBmod 7004 as the HD2 also ends up in a boot loop when i try to update it. My pc won't recognize my card in any way. And the sad thing is that I only have 1 card with me at the moment. any solutions??
Haven't read the whole thread but Panasonic's SD formatter works a treat if you have access to anything that can mount the SD card to a PC.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
anyone here who also had the problem that even SD formatter cannot repair the SD card?
well before formating any way to get the data on the SD card back? 16GB SD card is like 10-15 USD its not a big issue if u lose the card, but the issue actually is in the data that we might loose
If u want to get back your data u can use O&O Disk Recovery. This program restored my files from formatted and locked SD card.
If you find this useful please click Thanks
If your having trouble trying to Format your Micro SD after flashing to Windows Phone 7,
Example: You have a 16GB card; However it reports you only have 199MB
I have attached Panasonic SD Card Formatter -
You Must Choose Full Format
Supported Operating System:
(1) For SD/SDHC Cards
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
(2) For SDXC Card
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista (SP1 or later)
- Windows XP (SP2 or later) with the exFAT file system update (KB955704)
Information:
Current formatter is beta version.
Final version will be completed around the end of March.
I have read a number of articles about not being able to reuse a sd card after it was used by windows phone 7. Does that also applied to those of us HD2 owners who are running WP7?
I have a 16gb card that is only using 4gb for WP7 because I formatted the other 12gb as fat 32 for Android.
Is there a way I can unformat the 12gb so that WP7 can use it. Or can I use the card and start all over by reinstalling WP7 and let it partition the card to use all but 200mb of the 16gb card?
Here is one of the articles I read about the sd card not being swappable:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372732,00.asp
This is the HD2 Forum
Do a Full Format using the Utility I have attached.
Ok i downloaded the file and installed it. but when i choose format it tells me that the lock switch is on. Iv checked and rechecked but there is no lock switch on my sd card adapter.
Please help?
Hmm
I have the specific problem addressed (199Mb partition on a 16GB drive)
this program does not address it, it just allows me to reformat the 199Mb drive :-(
I will use fdisk or similar to resolve myself - but it doen't look as if this app "does what it says on the tin" ?
Try HP Low Level format tool, it always deleted my partitions on every device without problems
Hi
Thanks for this wonderfull tool, I downloaded this tool, installed in on Windows Vista, it formated my SD card wonderfully and even displayed the total space available, however now Windows refuses to recognise my SD card, and when I reconnected the SD card, neither your app nor Windows recognises the device.
Any suggestions.
thanks you just downloaded.
same issue happening to me after earase the sd card and wp7 will not save my user data anymore, any suggestions?
c1363 said:
same issue happening to me after earase the sd card and wp7 will not save my user data anymore, any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Windows Phone 7 uses the SDCard and the NAND memory together as internal storage, in a unique partition (like RAID for PCs, something similiar).
If you format your SD Card, you have to reset your phone.
You don't have to use any special tool, just use diskpart tool within Windows from command line (diskpart -> list disk -> select disk X -> select partition X -> delete -> select partition X -> delete -> create partition fs=ntfs -> DONE).
I have a 16 gb card, came with my HD2. I have run XBMod rom since it all came out months ago, no issues with the rom or the card.
When nodo came out, I tried another rom, phone started rebooting. I tried diskpart, cleaned the drive, recreated the partition as fat32. Let WP7 format, no help. Any ideas?
Successfully formatted my MicroSD
Just popped it in my Nikon D90 and it asked me do you wish to format. I said yes. Done in few seconds.
For others who see this, if you have used your card with WP7 mango you need a newer Nokia to format the card, as it will be encrypted, and Windows woun't recognize it!
/cry
norphf said:
For others who see this, if you have used your card with WP7 mango you need a newer Nokia to format the card, as it will be encrypted, and Windows woun't recognize it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This seems to be the only way to format the card once Mango is flashed. I have a 16GB card, but it didn't get any fat32 partitions, and it isn't recognized in any OS I try it on (Win7, Linux, OSX, Winmo 6.5, and now a new installation of WP7 doesn't see it either). If anyone finds another way, that would be awesome.
simpleton681 said:
This seems to be the only way to format the card once Mango is flashed. I have a 16GB card, but it didn't get any fat32 partitions, and it isn't recognized in any OS I try it on (Win7, Linux, OSX, Winmo 6.5, and now a new installation of WP7 doesn't see it either). If anyone finds another way, that would be awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am having the same issue.. can't format my 16GB after coming from Mango. Tried a bunch of software and no luck. Tried from different android phones with no luck. I guess the nokia d90 is one way to format the 16gb.
There has to be another way!
tKoHaXoR said:
I am having the same issue.. can't format my 16GB after coming from Mango. Tried a bunch of software and no luck. Tried from different android phones with no luck. I guess the nokia d90 is one way to format the 16gb.
There has to be another way!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1242071 these devices have been confirmed to format sd card
Or use the storage_unlock.cab from xbmod
whilst you have wp7 installed send the storage unlock.cab to phone then send 1gb partition cab reset the phone from about..check if partition took effect first..press storage unlock on homepage tile .turn phone off your pc should recognise the sd card in sd card adapter for example it should read 7gb instead of 8gb use easeus partition tool to fully reformat
"download easeus partition master
find your sd on the screen by plugging it in and clicking refresh (arrows), your sd should show up as disk 2 or 3 and should have two sections FAT32 and unformatted.
right click on the unformatted section and choose delete then click on "apply"(or tick) button above
right click on your 1 gb FAT32 partition and chose resize
move the slider(click and hold on the separating bar between the two partitions) to increase the size to the whole volume then click apply
right click on the volume again and choose format primary,FAT32, 32kb sectors then apply.
That should do it.". Thanks to robbie p
Good luck
where can i download the 1gb partition cab?
hi,
i couldnt find it?
Kind Regards
Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the first time my question is being answered directly and clearly
Setup,dowload, format... All took about 2 minutes and Im very greatful that I can use my 16gb to the full potential! Thank You Thank You Thank You
Moschino02 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1242071 these devices have been confirmed to format sd card
Or use the storage_unlock.cab from xbmod
whilst you have wp7 installed send the storage unlock.cab to phone then send 1gb partition cab reset the phone from about..check if partition took effect first..press storage unlock on homepage tile .turn phone off your pc should recognise the sd card in sd card adapter for example it should read 7gb instead of 8gb use easeus partition tool to fully reformat
"download easeus partition master
find your sd on the screen by plugging it in and clicking refresh (arrows), your sd should show up as disk 2 or 3 and should have two sections FAT32 and unformatted.
right click on the unformatted section and choose delete then click on "apply"(or tick) button above
right click on your 1 gb FAT32 partition and chose resize
move the slider(click and hold on the separating bar between the two partitions) to increase the size to the whole volume then click apply
right click on the volume again and choose format primary,FAT32, 32kb sectors then apply.
That should do it.". Thanks to robbie p
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you be more specific ?
I'm trying to get my sdcard back after many failed attempts to reach Mango. Just want to go back to Android where everything is so much simpler...
How should I use the locker.cab exactly to get my 8gb sd card back ? I tried several times but always failed.
I have to push the cab while running WP7 wait for reboot then what ? I read that booting again in WP7 from there will lock it again. What should I do ??
I just switched from a 2.2 version of android to a gingerbread version on my hd2. The problem I am having is that now my phone says SD card damaged. It worked on my old version and is Able to be read when I'm in magldr and use USB mass storage but not on this android. I tried to format in android that didn't work and tried formatting with windows. I don't understand why it can be read sometimes but not others but would appreciate it if someone could help me get this to work or atleast get it to reformat so can be used. Thanks
What exact ROM are you using? Were you running any partitions(EXT3/EXT4).
Gpc_hd2_gingerbread_v1.7
No partitions
what did you use to try and format it in windows? search in the forum for the panasonic sd formatter or google it if you haven't tried using it already.
I have not tried the Panasonic SD formatter I will give it a try at work since my computer is down for the time being. What is the difference between that program and the windows formatting program though?
In simple terms, one does it better than the other.
donovanhorn said:
I have not tried the Panasonic SD formatter I will give it a try at work since my computer is down for the time being. What is the difference between that program and the windows formatting program though?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You also have to consider d possibility dat ur sd card is losing it gradually...My previous 8GB sd card works flawlessly on WinMo but whenever i flash an android build (tried several, same result), it works 4 awhile then mounts as read only or as ur described, sd damaged...a quick 4mat wit panasonic sd formatter wakes it back only for it 2 repeat d process....
I bought another sd card and haven't had any issues wit it watsoever...my old 8gb card still works but i guess its 2 weak for android's constant reading & writing.
Im having the same problem. Card works fine in everything but Android on HD2, NAND not SD Rom.
Ive formatted form Windows but i'll try the Panasonic one as well. If not would a 16GB card be compatible or would it be too big?
The size isn't a problem as long as your phone supports it. Just make sure you format the correct ext size partitions etc...
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA Premium App
Is there a guide/thread explaining how I go about creating ext size partitions on SD cards & what size etc?
I run off a NAND ROM if that makes any difference?
Sorry i'm new to Android!
I tried the Panasonic formatter but it still says damaged SD. Still works in mass storage mdgrl or whatever it is. And asks to be formatted when I try to use it in XP
donovanhorn said:
Gpc_hd2_gingerbread_v1.7
No partitions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same ROM & just keeps saying SD card damaged. I've formatted in windows & in the clockwork recovery tool but to no avail. I dont want to buy a new card just to have the same problem!
You should avoid using mass storage in MAGLDR.
• Sent from my HD-II running HyperDroid GBX-12
synyster31 said:
I have the same ROM & just keeps saying SD card damaged. I've formatted in windows & in the clockwork recovery tool but to no avail. I dont want to buy a new card just to have the same problem!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried mini partition? Google it up.
• Sent from my HD-II running HyperDroid GBX-12
Hey, I got it working, I followed this guide & it worked 1st time.
Hi guys I have a problem installing WP7 and my SD card ends with 200mb of 8 GB
First: I read a lot of posts about 200mb , about fix sd card, about this issue, but is not clear for me. So I looking for people can help me , not to bother me and say me google or search it. This people don't have nothing to do than spend time writing useless words.
I have an HTC HD2, every time I install a WP7 ROM after the first windows boot/ start , windows let my SD card of 8GB in 200mb, lot of people know that.
I try, format and partition the sd card after and before installation.
Windows format the SD after the first set up, and after that I try format or partition the SD again, but not work.
1 st question: I can read with windows 7 the files in the SD card ...? if I save some music or data.??? May be an aplication or something can read / write the SD.
If the first question is "yes" ... I find tutorials with how to format the sd card to use android, but I don't want use android , I want only WP7 and leave my memory with the full size, and can read / write files, like music , word , excel,etc. files.
Trying to do that I flash the WP7 like 6 times today...
I want, can use my SD Card Billy G !!!!!! LOL
Thanks guys for any advice or solution can give me.
Have you tried to format your SD card with a digicam? First I saw also the 200MB on the card in the digicam, when I formated it with the cam I saw the whole memory of 8 or 16GB.
Regards, Olli2.
format the card using a digital camera...thats the fastest way to do it....
No, I do not think you guys understand what he is saying. I think he wants to format once WP7 is installed and continue using WP7. WP7 does not support hot swapping cards. Once installed and formatted, it cannot be messed with if you want to continue to use WP7.
I can format the card
Thanks guys ....
I can format the card after I install the windows 7 with the boot menu of Magldr , but when I start the phone again windows tell me the Memory card can't be read, do a hard reset or change the memory, for a compilant one and force me to turn off.
I try differents ways, format the memory card to one partition of 200mb and the other partition with the rest of the unformated card, I try format to one big partition, I do the hard reset with the volume butoms , and start my phone and the same problem.Format to FAT 32.
I don't have a camera with this micro SD card..., you traying to tell me the windows 7 use a different file system than FAT32? BEcouse the 200MB partition is FAT16.
1)What happends if I install windows with no SD card??? and at the end of all the first windows set up( means widnows format my SD card to 200 mb, I install the SD card full size in the slot.? could be work?
2)But somebody can make work windows 7 ( only no dual boot) with a full size SD card( 8gb 16gb) , and can read/write/play music,videos or text files from the SD card...? or windows don't let you use the SDcard, or may be another aplication can on the marketplace, can do it.?
Thanks for the help...
That's all very strange to me. Every time I installed a WP7 ROM my issue was trying to GET the 200MB partition. (I dual boot android/WP7). What I suggest is to format your SD card, and make it one big UNFORMATTED partition. For example, if you use MiniTool Partition Wizard (i use that) make sure it's unformatted (a green square) as opposed to unallocated (grey square). Then when you flash WP7 it should have all of your storage.
You need to have your SD card in there when flashing the ROM. If not, and you try and insert the card afterwards, it won't recognize it.
soapbox23 said:
That's all very strange to me. Every time I installed a WP7 ROM my issue was trying to GET the 200MB partition. (I dual boot android/WP7). What I suggest is to format your SD card, and make it one big UNFORMATTED partition. For example, if you use MiniTool Partition Wizard (i use that) make sure it's unformatted (a green square) as opposed to unallocated (grey square). Then when you flash WP7 it should have all of your storage.
You need to have your SD card in there when flashing the ROM. If not, and you try and insert the card afterwards, it won't recognize it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jajaja thats wierd !!! I will try your idea to see what happends.
Im using a WP7 ROM from YukiXDA, may be is that.
You recomend me do a dual boot, I don't have experience with android, and windows 7 look really cool.!!!
Thanks for the help
waltiti said:
Thanks guys ....
I can format the card after I install the windows 7 with the boot menu of Magldr , but when I start the phone again windows tell me the Memory card can't be read, do a hard reset or change the memory, for a compilant one and force me to turn off.
I try differents ways, format the memory card to one partition of 200mb and the other partition with the rest of the unformated card, I try format to one big partition, I do the hard reset with the volume butoms , and start my phone and the same problem.Format to FAT 32.
I don't have a camera with this micro SD card..., you traying to tell me the windows 7 use a different file system than FAT32? BEcouse the 200MB partition is FAT16.
1)What happends if I install windows with no SD card??? and at the end of all the first windows set up( means widnows format my SD card to 200 mb, I install the SD card full size in the slot.? could be work?
2)But somebody can make work windows 7 ( only no dual boot) with a full size SD card( 8gb 16gb) , and can read/write/play music,videos or text files from the SD card...? or windows don't let you use the SDcard, or may be another aplication can on the marketplace, can do it.?
Thanks for the help...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See my answer above.....What you are trying to do cannot be done because WP7 does not support removable storage.
Also, you must use Zune software to alter the size of storage available to windows for mass storage device.
I don't get what's the problem... Let's better make some things clear:
When you install for the first time WP7 on HD2, the system will format your SD card, it doesn't really matter what kind of partitions you had earlier, everything is going to be wiped out.
WP7 will make 2 partitions on your SD:
1. [~200MB] FAT16
2. [Rest of the space] Unformatted
That's the way it should be. The partitions aren't visible under Windows, with some registry hacks in Windows 7, the card gets mounted as a media player, where you can throw the music or pictures.
After installing WP7 on your phone, go to Settings->About and check the line Total Storage, if you say you have a 8GB card, then there should be available about 6.5-7GB ...
Of course, all these things are in the most ideal case, when your SD card is compatible with WP7..
In case you want to get back to Android and your card is not recognized normally, connect your card to PC through a card reader (or MGLDR -> USB MassStorage) and format it through SDFormatter (Freeware), turning ON the FORMAT SIZE ADJUSTMENT under Options..
After couple of months trying to make WP7 to work on my HD2 EU, i finally made it, had all kind of troubles with different cards.
1. SanDisk 2GB Class2 (Bundled with HD2) - could install WP7, card was recognized, after one day of using and installing several apps the system stars to crash, random reboots each 20 minutes or so.
2. Kingston 8GB Class4 (Bought 2 weeks ago) - WP7 installs but can't get over startup configuration, it stucks, rebootings and Hard Resets won't help (tried a bunch of different ROMs)
3. SanDisk 8GB Class4 (Bought 4 days ago) - WP7 installed perfectly, no rebootings and everything works till now, some bugs are showing up, but most probabil it's just Software/ROM related stuff..
nickriley thanks for all the info and explain to me this issue.
I have a Sandisk 8GB, and HD2 EU too, can you tell me the registry hack I need to do on the phone to can use the unformated like a media storage like you say...
"The partitions aren't visible under Windows, with some registry hacks in Windows 7, the card gets mounted as a media player, where you can throw the music or pictures.
"
Thanks a lot !!!!!!
No problems.
I couldn't find the guide on XDA forums, and as i'm a new user here i just found out that i'm not allowed to post external links Check your inbox..
Used the device in this way just a couple of times, as i'm using WP7 as main OS only during the last 3 days, but it worked, can copy from device and to device also..
Is there's a way to increase the FAT (200MB) partition ?