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[Jan 17] [Tutorial] Format Your Windows Phone Micro 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 ??

help my sd card, please !!!

hi everyone,
yesterday i've installed window phone 7 on my HD2 (my current OS is NAND android). After few hours try it, i'm really disappointed b/c it's too boring. i've formatted my SD card by mini tool partition 5.2 to back to android. When i format complete, i copy file from my laptop to sd card normally. after that, i boot my phone and try to copy a new file and it's done. But the problem is when i plus my sd card into phone, the phone see the card but my new file is not enable. I've formatted the card and my phone but nothing appear. Please help me

I don't know "mini tool partition" and I'm too lazy to search so I will take your words.
You just format your SD? Did you notice that it's just a 200Mo SD now?
You copied files to your SD "normally"... what do you mean by "Normally" (via card reader, in WM7, in MAGLDR... there's so many "normally" so it's difficult to know which one is yours).
You format the card and your phone... what do you mean by formating your phone? You put it in the card reader of your laptop, right clic on it and choose "format"??? And after format it's still booting?
I would like to help... help me to understand your problem.
(maybe English is not easy for you, I can understand but the result make it very difficult to understand... if this is the case, try again please).

I use this litle apps, its for free and works perfect
1. minitool partition wizard
2. panasonic sd formater
So u already got partition wizard than use panasonic formater after.
Should help u.
And also if u have digital camera with SD slot u can try to format in that camera. I have read about it somewhere.

damaged sd

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.

Can't Partition 8 GB Sd

Ok so i bought a new 8gb Sandisk Micro sdhc card. the problem is i cant partition it. ive tried 3 different partition programs and none will allow me to delete the main Fat32 and create new. My old 2gb works fine.
I can reformat it but just cant delete or create any partitions.
Any suggestions?

pcrat said:
Ok so i bought a new 8gb Sandisk Micro sdhc card. the problem is i cant partition it. ive tried 3 different partition programs and none will allow me to delete the main Fat32 and create new. My old 2gb works fine.
I can reformat it but just cant delete or create any partitions.
Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use windows to format it to fat32. Then use Ubuntu, either installed or from a live cd, and use gparted to create whatever partitions you want.
Sent from my cm7 Aria.

You can also use Clockwork.

I do all partitioning using GParted in Ubuntu. Never had a problem.

Ok i tried Gparted and it wont partition, comes up with errors, then i cant format it back to fat32, so i have to use windows. I still have the reciept, maybe i will bring it back today and get a new one. this one is probebly faulty.
oh yea and clockwork dont have an option to partition. i tried rom manager and it reboots then tries to do it , progress bar goes anout 25% then reboots normallay. unsuccesful.

If you are having trouble formatting the card, I recommend trying this before returning it: http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter_3/
It's a very simple tool but it is designed specifically for formatting SD cards. This program has revived SD cards that I thought were out of commission. Hope it helps.

ok. So i bought a new micrsd HC. This one is a PNY card. I used Gparted to partition it. worked like a charm. then insterted into the phone and did the a2sd reinstall ( Root privleiges of course ) all works well now.
thanks!

pcrat said:
Ok i tried Gparted and it wont partition, comes up with errors, then i cant format it back to fat32, so i have to use windows. I still have the reciept, maybe i will bring it back today and get a new one. this one is probebly faulty.
oh yea and clockwork dont have an option to partition. i tried rom manager and it reboots then tries to do it , progress bar goes anout 25% then reboots normallay. unsuccesful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For other people with this problem...
Rom manager - partition SD card - choose your partitions. It will reboot into recovery and try but fail to partition your card. Pull battery. Replace battery - hold volume down and power. Wait for it to try and find the libde. Img then press volume down and it will highlight recovery then press power. It will boot into recovery and finish partitioning your card.
I think that's how I got it to work. Sorry I didn't see this earlier and possibly save you some money.
Edit: I guess Ubuntu doesn't like sandisk. That's how I figured this way out.

jdwhite87 said:
Edit: I guess Ubuntu doesn't like sandisk. That's how I figured this way out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
I couldn't get Ubuntu to do anything with my sandisk sd until I first used windows to format it to fat32. After that I was able to use Ubuntu to make partitions/format.
Sent from my cm7 Aria.

If you have problems formatting an SD card, you should use this tool to basically completely reset the card: http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter_3/
This is much better than using Windows or another program to format the card because this works at a lower level and is designed specifically for SD cards. This program can usually revive SD cards that appear to be dead (when in reality the partition table is just messed up).

drumist said:
If you have problems formatting an SD card, you should use this tool to basically completely reset the card: http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter_3/
This is much better than using Windows or another program to format the card because this works at a lower level and is designed specifically for SD cards. This program can usually revive SD cards that appear to be dead (when in reality the partition table is just messed up).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip, drumist!

[Q] I want my sd full... 200MB HELP !!!!!!!!!

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 ?