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Hi all,
Currently, the Focus/WP7 in general is having some technical difficulties with external SD cards. Below is the list that users have confirmed compatible and incompatible. I will keep this updated until the issue is resolved, in hopes that new users find this list and make the correct purchases. Please post your results with brand name / storage capacity / class #. Also, please only post your results after installing the card using the prescribed methods from the Samsung Focus instructions or the Windows Phone 7 site. This includes formatting the card and then testing the stability with soft reset(s).
*Note* Some people are reporting that their cards will work for about a day, then proceed to make the phone go berserk, restart, and then return with the data cleared and only 15MB of available storage. If this happens to you after initially reporting a compatible card, please check back in with us! Use this list with caution, as the results are based on our short time with the device. Thanks
Confirmed Working(Data remains after soft reset):
Centon
Centon 8GB Class 6
Kingston
Kingston 4GB Class 4
Kingston 16GB Class 4
Microcenter
Microcenter 16GB Class 2
Patriot
Patriot 16GB Class 2
PNY
PNY 8GB Class 4
PNY 16GB Class 2
SanDisk
SanDisk 8GB Class 2
SanDisk 16GB Class 4
Currently Unstable/Unsure:
Kingston 8GB Class 4
Kingston 32GB Class 4
SanDisk 16GB Class 2
SanDisk 32GB Class 2
Confirmed Not Working(Data gone after soft reset):
A-Data
A-Data 4GB Class 6
A-Data 8GB Class 6
A-Data 16GB Class 6
Lexar
Lexar 16GB Class 6
Transcend
Transcend 8GB Class 6
Transcend 16GB Class 6
I just got the regular 8 GB Sandisk MicroSD in the AT&T store and it works just fine. I used the reset option from within the phone's settings, not by holding down the phone's buttons.
So far, no issues. Memory was detected and allocated properly and my music has been synced and everything.
So far I can gather the cards that are not correctly working, as in you can get them to recognize and sync initially but once you power down the phone and bring it back up everything is gone and the phone only reads "15mb" of storage space. Only way to get it working correctly again is a full hard reset / format.
Transcend - Works but has the listed issue above (I have a 8gb class 6, back to amazon it goes)
A-Data - Works but has the listed issue above
Kingston - Works but has the listed issue above
SanDisk - Works 100% reboots and all no issues (friend has a 32gb class 2, no issues at all!)
Hope that helps
Using a SanDisk 16 GB class 6 (whatever that's worth) that I bought back in May or June this year. Popped it in and ran the format utility via hard reset (vol down + camera + power) which formatted the device.
Have 22 GB or so of total space with about 12 GB in use via mostly music, with a few apps and games, and a handful of my favorite photos. The phone appears to be running just fine. I've soft reset twice ('goodbye' via power button) and haven't had any data loss / configuration issues at all.
norsairius said:
I just got the regular 8 GB Sandisk MicroSD in the AT&T store and it works just fine. I used the reset option from within the phone's settings, not by holding down the phone's buttons.
So far, no issues. Memory was detected and allocated properly and my music has been synced and everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you have performed a soft reset and your data remained intact? Also, if possible, can you post what Class (2-10) you are using? As stated by MS, the class isn't so much of the issue as other factors, but just for reference's sake. Thanks!
TheMarkness said:
So far I can gather the cards that are not correctly working, as in you can get them to recognize and sync initially but once you power down the phone and bring it back up everything is gone and the phone only reads "15mb" of storage space. Only way to get it working correctly again is a full hard reset / format.
Transcend - Works but has the listed issue above (I have a 8gb class 6, back to amazon it goes)
A-Data - Works but has the listed issue above
Kingston - Works but has the listed issue above
SanDisk - Works 100% reboots and all no issues (friend has a 32gb class 2, no issues at all!)
Hope that helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the brands that you listed as working, but with the issue listed above, I'm hesitant to post those as not working as it may only be for certain sizes or speeds with that given brand, and I don't want to cause panic for anyone who may have purchased that particular brand but has a working configuration. I will post the 32gb class 2 sandisk model and 8gb class 6 transcend, but if you can provide any specific configurations (size/class) for the brands you listed, that would be helpful. Thanks for your input
AT&T rep had me walk through the setup at the store when I bought it. I didn't have the microsd card with me so I installed it when I got home (Kingston 16 GB Class 4). After powering on the phone it didn't see the card. I completed a reset and after that it worked. I thought it has been said the cards wont be seen if it was inserted after the first setup because of the way it sets up the storage as one virtual disk from the first setup......
wmpoweruser.com/expandable-storage-confirmed-in-windows-phone-7-required-a-hard-reset/
windowsphonesecrets.com/2010/10/12/windows-phone-7-and-removable-storage/
Here is a good article on it from Paul Thurrott:
windowsphonesecrets.com/2010/11/06/samsung-focus-microsd/
Samsung said this in their press release Nov 4th:
- Memory:
- 8GB internal storage memory
- External microSD™ memory card slot up to 32 GB (class 2 (or higher) microSD card, card sold separately)
http://www.samsungusanews.com/2010/11/samsung-focus-available-to-att-customers-on-november-8/
cwiley2566 said:
Samsung said this in their press release Nov 4th:
- Memory:
- 8GB internal storage memory
- External microSD™ memory card slot up to 32 GB (class 2 (or higher) microSD card, card sold separately)
http://www.samsungusanews.com/2010/11/samsung-focus-available-to-att-customers-on-november-8/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason I thought it might be useful to put this list together is many people are reported that despite meeting those requirements, there are certain cards that simply don't work. According to Microsoft's own website, simple matching the class requirement won't necessarily mean your card works, as there are other factors not listed that factor in to it. If it gets cleared up in the next few days with an OTA patch, then this thread will be moot but for all the early adopters who are trying to get an SD card in this phone before that, this list might prove useful
Oh I understand and agree. I more or less thought it was interesting that Samsung said that a class 2 would work.
Also this was posted in another thread. Too bad there are currently 3 or 4 threads on this issue. Microsoft has a KB on this now:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2450831
Still waiting on UPS to deliver my Class 6 Transcend 16GB card today. Will test and post here in a few hours.
The card in question will be:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026L7DGA/ref=oss_product
ADDED: Product sheet/specs about the card is at:
www.transcendusa.com/support/dlcenter/datasheet/TS16GUSDHC6.pdf
Color me clueless yet maybe the built-in Error Correcting Code (ECC) to detect and correct transfer errors is key??? i felt everything has error correction nowadays, though i could be incorrect.
---------------------
---> ADDED DOES NOT WORK
---> First recognizes it all, then after reboot only recognizes only the first 8 GB
-----------------------
I put a 16GB Class 2 in lastnight, everything worked fine, lots of stuff sync'd to it.. then this morning after some music playing, the phone started crashing and rebooting itself.. then I lost all my settings and memory and had to do a complete format again without the SD card in place.. so far running without the SD card. its doing fine.
I'm thinking maybe class 2 is not fast enough and class 6 or 10 would be better.. I think I'll go get a class 10 later today try that out
emjee87 said:
So you have performed a soft reset and your data remained intact? Also, if possible, can you post what Class (2-10) you are using? As stated by MS, the class isn't so much of the issue as other factors, but just for reference's sake. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did a reset via the phone's settings (Settings -> about -> reset your phone) and everything that was on the phone was gone when it booted up again. However, since I did that, my data has remained intact on the phone and I've had no issues since.
The card I have is a Class 2 Sandisk 8 GB micro SD card.
alvinswim said:
I put a 16GB Class 2 in lastnight, everything worked fine, lots of stuff sync'd to it.. then this morning after some music playing, the phone started crashing and rebooting itself.. then I lost all my settings and memory and had to do a complete format again without the SD card in place.. so far running without the SD card. its doing fine.
I'm thinking maybe class 2 is not fast enough and class 6 or 10 would be better.. I think I'll go get a class 10 later today try that out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What brand was the card you were using? Also, did you follow the instructions for inserting a sim card as per the Focus manual? Thanks
emjee87 said:
What brand was the card you were using? Also, did you follow the instructions for inserting a sim card as per the Focus manual? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SanDisk, and yep.. I followed the instructions, Format, etc etc. 20GB or so was available.. and everything was normal for 12 hours or so.. then.. BAM.. it started crashing,, and then all settings lost.. and space of course.. it was like it just became corrupted.
I wonder if the mircro sd was loose or something. or dirty contacts. dunno.. I may try it again tonight. or just buy a faster class card
alvinswim said:
SanDisk, and yep.. I followed the instructions, Format, etc etc. 20GB or so was available.. and everything was normal for 12 hours or so.. then.. BAM.. it started crashing,, and then all settings lost.. and space of course.. it was like it just became corrupted.
I wonder if the mircro sd was loose or something. or dirty contacts. dunno.. I may try it again tonight. or just buy a faster class card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds good, let us know the results if you try the SanDisk again, as most people have posted that they had good results with them.
Not working:
A-data 16GB class 6
A-data 4GB class 6
EDIT: let me rephrase "not working". The phone will recognize it and work fine until your soft reset. Then all settings, etc are gone.
I just tried my Kingston 4GB class 4 and it worked.
WORKING : Kingston 32GB class 4
I first tried volume down, camera and power button. That gave me the download mode window and it lasted for about 20min before I gave up and took out the battery. then the phone came on fine without the new memory. I then went to settings>>about>>reset and that worked perfect. I have re-setup my phone with apps and exchange.. then I powered off (goodbye) and then on twice.. all my data is still there and it says I have 34.17 gb of free space ..using 2.36gb
but 2.36 + 34.17 = 36.53
where are my other 3.47 gb? I suppose they are the OS
but the world is great.. a windows 7 focus with 32gb card.. AWESOME!
Hi. I've benchmarked my class 2 SD card with several different benchmark programs (both android and pc) and they all return the same result: read - 1.5 mb/s and write - 5 mb/s. Is this normal?
You might be experiencing what is called write caching.
This would lead to display of higher speeds with small amounts of data.
Try copying a large file - 2GB or more, for instance - and you will see that it will stabilize around your actual write speed at some point. It might still be 5MB/s as the Class 2 of your SD card guarantees minimum speeds, not maximum
There was recently a WP7 benchmarking app called WP BENCH released in the market and I am interested to see how the stock sd card is functioning compared to the user replaced sd cards. The benchmark consists of 3 main parts. These are CPU, DATA and GPU.
Stock 16GB SD Card (NoDo)
*non typical result
CPU
Sequential: 21558*-10875 ms
Parallel: 13058*-10312 ms
Data
memory: 13.07-9.8* MB/s
storage: 3.56-0.19* MB/s
GPU
Frames: 698-666*
avg: 23-22 FPS
Here are my results. DVP unlocked 8GB NoDo Tmo USA. Base on my 5 tests, the Storage speed on test #1 is .25MB/s and the others are ~3MB/s+.
Test #1 with reboot
Sequential 10888ms, Parallel 10470ms
Memory 13.07MB/s, Storage 0.25MB/s
694 frames, avg: 23FPS
Updates:
Test #2 no reboot
Sequential 10859ms, Parallel 10404ms
Memory 13.07MB/s, Storage 3.27MB/s
676 frames, avg: 22FPS
Test #3 no reboot
Sequential 10938ms, Parallel 10414ms
Memory 13.07MB/s, Storage 3.02MB/s
689 frames, avg: 23FPS
Test #4 with reboot and #5 without reboot
results were consistant with tests #2 and #3.
My storage on DVP 8GB no-do was 3MB/s
kartbart said:
My storage on DVP 8GB no-do was 3MB/s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here on my pre-nodo 8GB DVP.
FWIW I also tried on a stock Samsung Focus (no SD card, no updates) and got 2.6MB/s.
I have a 32GB Transcend card (upgraded 16GB model), no NoDo (OS version 7008).
CPU
Sequential : 10892
Parallel: 10552
Data:
memory: 13.07 MB/s
storage: 1.56 MB/s
GPU:
640 frames, 21FPs
Replaced stock 16GB card with another class (6) SanDisk 16GB from RadShack
NoDo
CPU
time: 21292 ms
Sequential: 10856 ms
Parallel: 10436 ms
Data
time: 17442
memory: 13.07 MB/s
storage: 3.02 MB/s
GPU
Frames: 692
avg: 23 FPS
Did 2 runs on my stock 16gb DVP w/ NoDo
CPU
sequential: 11014, 12584 ms
parallel: 10462, 11296 ms
DATA @ 0.8 MB
memory: 13.07, 13.07 MB/s
storage: 0.09, 0.35 MB/s <-- huge variability!
GPU
699 avg 23, 692 avg 23 FPS
Installed NoDo on my 8GB and now getting 3.25MB/s pretty reliably. Pre-NoDo was 3.0MB, so results didn't change much and are probably within the margin of error.
16GB Stock card....
First Run:
Memory : 13.07mb/s
Storage : 0.14mb/s
Second Run:
Memory : 12.9 mb/s
Storage : 0.19mb/s
Third Run:
Memory : 9.8 mb/s
Storage : 0.13 mb/s
So am I to believe that the 'Memory' test was for reading and the 'Storage' was for writing?
If this is the case, these damn cards are as defective as could be. I know 2 other guys with Venue Pro 16 GB and they both have the same problem.
How the hell do they get an entire warehouse of defective cards? Did they buy these things refurbished?
Here are my stats based on a 8GB stock Dell Venue Pro pre-nodo:
Test #1 - Power Off & Power On
CPU: Sequential 10866 / Parallel 10471 - 21337ms
DATA: Memory 13.07 / Storage 3.56 - 14810ms
GPU: Frames 694 / Average 23
Test #2 - after 15 minutes of browsing & calls
CPU: Sequential 10868 / Parallel 10470 - 21338ms
DATA: Memory 13.07 / Storage 0.53 - 77737ms
GPU: Frames 692 / Average 23
Test #3 - after 30 minutes of idle
CPU: Sequential 10884 / Parallel 10468 - 21352ms
DATA: Memory 13.07 / Storage 3.56 - 15007ms
GPU: Frames 681 / Average 23
manually replaced with Sandisk 32G Class 2 after NoDo (changed dehydrateonpause to 0):
Test 1 @ 0.8m:
Memory 13.07m
Storage 3.27m
Frame:668 average:22 FPS
Test 2 @ 0.8m：
Memory 13.07m
Storage 3.02m
Frame:660 average:22 FPS
So who's got the best 32gb sd card?
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220452&cm_re=32gb-_-20-220-452-_-Product
And will a class 10 word, or does it have to be 2?
Updated my 16gb DVP w/ NoDo to 32gb Sandisk class 2
Did 2 test runs immediately after
1) installing 32gb micro sdhc
2) set up phone
3) set up all my accounts
4) installed 60 apps & games over wifi
5) synced with PC, copying pictures, videos, and songs totalling 11 GB
AND I HAVEN'T FROZEN OR HAD TO REBOOT ONCE!!!
CPU
sequential: 11049, 11068 ms
parallel: 10486, 10322 ms
DATA @ 0.8 MB
memory: 13.07, 13.07 MB/s
storage: 3.27, 3.27 MB/s <-- MUCH IMPROVED!
GPU
23, 22 avg FPS
Also, the ##634# CIT sd card test now shows status 0 OK.
All in all, I'd say the sd card swap was a huge success.
I got a class 4 SanDisk from Amzn and the write speed dropped (from previous 8 GB SanDisk class 4) from 3 MB/s to 0.64 MB/s.
Update: Ok, just reinstalled and re-ran the WP Bench app - and data performance shows 13.07 MB/s for reads and 3.27 MB/s for write. I say the WP Bench app has issues
For those interested, I posted about my experience in upgrading to a 32gb card.
kartbart said:
I got a class 4 SanDisk from Amzn and the write speed dropped (from previous 8 GB SanDisk class 4) from 3 MB/s to 0.64 MB/s.
Update: Ok, just reinstalled and re-ran the WP Bench app - and data performance shows 13.07 MB/s for reads and 3.27 MB/s for write. I say the WP Bench app has issues
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You´re right. It happens to me as well. I have a Samsung Focus, NoDo installed (with Chevron.Updater), and a Sandisk 16Gb Class 4 loaded with 13Gb.
The storage speed varies from 0,18 to 4.9mb/s but the higher speeds (above 3mb/s) I only got during the first 3 or maybe 4 times running Wp Bench.
Nevertheless, the usage of my device has no lags at all, even when WP Bench shows a slow storage speed.
So, I think that this odd speed variation is due to a WP Bench´s issue or, even if it doesn´t has an issue, the way that WP7 manages the device´s memory is causing this odd behavior on WP Bench´s speed results.
What I do see - and I've seen others post about it as well is that when you download large apps (Fruit Ninja, Star Wars game, etc), the phone grinds to a halt. I didn't have to pull the battery, but I did have to do a power-off/on. I noticed that leaving the phone in the download screen helps - takes a looooong time to download but it does eventually finish.
Don't know if DVP firmware or Mango or something else is needed to address this.
I do have 14 of 32 filled.
kartbart said:
What I do see - and I've seen others post about it as well is that when you download large apps (Fruit Ninja, Star Wars game, etc), the phone grinds to a halt. I didn't have to pull the battery, but I did have to do a power-off/on. I noticed that leaving the phone in the download screen helps - takes a looooong time to download but it does eventually finish.
Don't know if DVP firmware or Mango or something else is needed to address this.
I do have 14 of 32 filled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems that you´re having a microsd card incompability with your device. Check this thread below where I have recommended a microsd card that doesn´t present any incompability issues like slowness, auto-resets and data loss.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=834144&page=103
Here's the test results for my custom 32gb DVP w/ FW 212 & Mango 7712
CPU
sequential: 8251 ms (improved from 11055)
parallel: 7792 ms (improved from 10400)
DATA @ 0.8 MB
memory: 13.07 MB/s (same)
storage: 13.07 MB/s (improved from 3.27?!)
GPU
23 avg FPS (same)
Looks like either the new mango or the new FW really boosted my cpu and data/storage scores... anybody else care to share results? I'm interested to see what improved with just the new FW, so if somebody can run the test on NoDo w/ and w/o the new FW that'd be great.
I just tested our TF101 with "sd card tester" and the write speeds are really slow - 2.24 MB/s for a 472MB test file while the read is pretty decent - 12.09 MB/s. Compared with my new Kingmax MicroSD Class 6 doing :
read speed - 9.89 MB/s average
write speed - 10.81 MB/s average
How's it possible that the write speed is so incredibly slow? Could anyone test it out with the "sd card tester" app from the Android Market and let me know?
i got 9.59 write speed and 11.54 read speed
damn...
the internal memory is so slow at writing..
i use a cache of 3072 with 300mb test file lenght
internal sd card:
write 2.68 mb/s
read 19.97 mb/s
class 6 external card
write 10.44 mb/s
read 18.66 mb/s
Internal
Write 8.18
Read 16.07
External 8Gb MicroSDHC class4
Write 43.77
Read 43.29
FullSD Panasonic HighSpeed
Write 31.7
Read043.78
FWIW my write to internal SD was ~5 mb/s initially. I freed up about 6 gigs space by deleting some video content and it improved to close to 9 mb/s.
Those with > 5mb write speed, are you guys on custom or stock rom?
also guys please try it on a larger test file like > 2gb if you have the space or as much as you can, the results would be more accurate. using a small test file i could get around 9mb too
I personally have used both 128gb and 256gb cards on my note 3 both seem to work however i am getting a odd issue on my 256 gb when i download a file over 5mb to be saved on the card the phone reboots. Not sure if it is an issue with the phone being able to address the space above a certain point. update it turns out it was in fat 32 im emptying it and going to format to exfat
mirrin said:
I personally have used both 128gb and 256gb cards on my note 3 both seem to work however i am getting a odd issue on my 256 gb when i download a file over 5mb to be saved on the card the phone reboots. Not sure if it is an issue with the phone being able to address the space above a certain point. update it turns out it was in fat 32 im emptying it and going to format to exfat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update 512gb card works fine formatted as phone storage got error message that it thinks it is a slow card.