Database Users

How to format the Mini SD card

Hi guys
My 2GB Mini SD card is not working. I have a Trinity - Orange SPV M700, I wonder if anyone could tell me how to I fromat it and which FAT system to use?
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I did try to use File explorer and looked everywhere in the Settings section.
I am thinking, maybe I need to use my card reader in the computer or do I have to buy a 3rd party program to do this?
Any idea
Thanks

Using the cardreader in your computer is fine. Use the FAT format, not FAT32.

lts said:
Using the cardreader in your computer is fine. Use the FAT format, not FAT32.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not FAT32? I've been using a 4gb miniSD fromatted in FAT32 for months without a problem.

If You don't have a card reader or an adaptor for the Micro-SD You can do it via wm5 storage. FAT32 should be better than FAT.

I also had problem with SD card (2Gb). Then I used one program for formating Panasonic SDformatter an now I don't have problems anymore.
Link: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/sd/download/sd_formatter.html
Try with this program.
By

As you may know, the SD specifications are not open but must be licensed and are protected by NDA's. Therefore I pesonally can't say for sure whether or not FAT32 is within the SDA 1.0/1.1 standard, but I would guess that it's not.
It's true that using FAT32 seems to work with most cards and controllers in the PPC world, but apart from eliminating the 512 files limit, I don't really see any advantage over FAT.
FAT32 is not a 'high performance' filesystem, so in terms of read/write speed it doesn't give you anything compared to FAT.
If you use a 4GB non compliant card, then of course you must use FAT32, since FAT only allows for 2GB.
So in short, unless you can't live with the 512 limit, I don't see that FAT32 will give you anything over FAT, and when you use FAT, you are sure to be within the standard.

lts said:
...but apart from eliminating the 512 files limit, I don't really see any advantage over FAT...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanx for nice info, if that's true, FAT32 is the only option user may have when formating card, this limit is a way to small !

banesi said:
Thanx for nice info, if that's true, FAT32 is the only option user may have when formating card, this limit is a way to small !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please note that 512 is not the limit of the total number of files that can be stored on the card, it is the max. number of entries in the root directory.
The max. number of files that can be stored on a FAT filesystem is 65517.

thank you for clarification, is there a way I can already check in what format my card is formated?

banesi said:
thank you for clarification, is there a way I can already check in what format my card is formated?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it hasn't been reformatted since it left the factory, then I think it's safe to assume that it's FAT formatted.
If you want to check, then put it in a card reader and look at its properties (assuming your PC is running Windows).

i'm using Windows XP, but in my computer my pda is listed as a windows mobile phone and if right click the storage card, there's no option to format it...what should i do ?
thanks

[Q] Max SD supported by recovery?

Hi,
I've noticed that my 64GB Class 10 Micro-SD is not mountable in recovery but have validated that a 8GB Micro-SD is mountable.
Is there a way to mount a 64GB in recovery? What is the max supported size in recovery?
Thanks!

reTARDIS said:
Hi,
I've noticed that my 64GB Class 10 Micro-SD is not mountable in recovery but have validated that a 8GB Micro-SD is mountable.
Is there a way to mount a 64GB in recovery? What is the max supported size in recovery?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Recovery does not care what size your sd card is. It does care how it is formatted.

lafester said:
Recovery does not care what size your sd card is. It does care how it is formatted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response.
I let my S4 format the card. Is there a better way or so you know which format would be best.

reTARDIS said:
Thanks for the response.
I let my S4 format the card. Is there a better way or so you know which format would be best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 64GB card comes exFAT formatted which is likely not supported yet by the recovery you are using.
If you can mount the sd card in a Windows PC you should be able to format it to FAT32 using the Windows disk management utility.
The downside to FAT32 is the 4GB file size limit.

Get EasyUS Partition Masters (GREAT PROGRAM and EASY to use) it can format your 64gb to FAT32. I did that with mine and it runs great in recovery. I had to do this on the SIII because i had like 5 roms i jumped from and these roms are not tiny.

kyhassen said:
Get EasyUS Partition Masters (GREAT PROGRAM and EASY to use) it can format your 64gb to FAT32. I did that with mine and it runs great in recovery. I had to do this on the SIII because i had like 5 roms i jumped from and these roms are not tiny.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Thanks!

reTARDIS said:
Awesome. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your welcome

So is FAT32 the ideal format (sans file size limits)? I just bought a Sandisk 64GB SDXC last night & it was immediately not recognizable by the phone when installed. I formatted it to FAT32 & phone still doesn't recognize it. Looking for feedback ASAP!

LAYGO said:
So is FAT32 the ideal format (sans file size limits)? I just bought a Sandisk 64GB SDXC last night & it was immediately not recognizable by the phone when installed. I formatted it to FAT32 & phone still doesn't recognize it. Looking for feedback ASAP!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually ended up using my Mac to format as FAT and that did the trick.
Been a fully usable and recognized by the phone amount now.
Also fully recognized in recovery mode, which was important to me.

reTARDIS said:
I actually ended up using my Mac to format as FAT and that did the trick.
Been a fully usable and recognized by the phone amount now.
Also fully recognized in recovery mode, which was important to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, well, I just let the phone format the card, it formatted it as FAT32. I'm backing all the stuff off my 32gb card from my laptop back onto the card . . . then my music . . . after I verify it'll read the contents.

LAYGO said:
Ok, well, I just let the phone format the card, it formatted it as FAT32. I'm backing all the stuff off my 32gb card from my laptop back onto the card . . . then my music . . . after I verify it'll read the contents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually did the same exact thing initially.
I put my 64GB micro-sd in, let the phone format it, loaded it up but then started to get errors reading the card and corruption warnings.
I couldn't see it or mount it when in recovery.
Android could still use it though.
If it took it out and connected it to a Mac or PC it'd not see it as a valid readable drive and would say it needed to be initialized.
It must be something about the way allowing the phone to format it but after formatting from my Mac it's been solid. No issues.

reTARDIS said:
I actually did the same exact thing initially.
I put my 64GB micro-sd in, let the phone format it, loaded it up but then started to get errors reading the card and corruption warnings.
I couldn't see it or mount it when in recovery.
Android could still use it though.
If it took it out and connected it to a Mac or PC it'd not see it as a valid readable drive and would say it needed to be initialized.
It must be something about the way allowing the phone to format it but after formatting from my Mac it's been solid. No issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, phone formats it as FAT32. I stuck it back in my laptop, it was working. I copied a bunch of files to it, put it back in the phone, it was working, now back in the laptop copying my 30gb of music over. It seems to be working fine in the laptop. I hate messing with formatting/copying as it is just time consuming. I remember I thought I'd be sneaky & format some discs for a Synology NAS & copy the files over via SATA. That went over like a turd in a punchbowl because as soon as I plugged that formatted/loaded drive into the NAS, it didn't recognize it . . . and I had to do it all over again!

Ok, all 30GB copied music successfully & the apps see it no problem. I hope I don't have these problems others have had with these cards.
Thanks!

Micro SD 64 GB problem (sandisk)

Hi Guys,
Can anyone help me, i cannot format my SD card 64gb. although im using 32 gb sd card.
i want to format it so it would be clear. i tried using other methods for format but still cannot format.
could anyone help me? TIA

icyzx said:
Hi Guys,
Can anyone help me, i cannot format my SD card 64gb. although im using 32 gb sd card.
i want to format it so it would be clear. i tried using other methods for format but still cannot format.
could anyone help me? TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
convert it to FAT32 n then try formatting
Sent from my OCTA CORE I9500

Mandark52 said:
convert it to FAT32 n then try formatting
Sent from my OCTA CORE I9500
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for help but there is no option for FAT32, it has only exFAT.
still i cannot format it.

can anyone help?

icyzx said:
can anyone help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try formatting through command line.Use this command : convert drive_letter:/fs:FAT32.
hit thnx if helped

icyzx said:
can anyone help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, there is deeply hidden top secret procedure to follow, which would allow you to do it, although Windows systems are normally preventing Fat32 formatting over 32GB. Follow it HERE.
Personally, I prefer Ridgecrop's fat32 format with nice GUI...

spamtrash said:
Of course, there is deeply hidden top secret procedure to follow, which would allow you to do it, although Windows systems are normally preventing Fat32 formatting over 32GB. Follow it HERE.
Personally, I prefer Ridgecrop's fat32 format with nice GUI...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip, just to confirm, i need to convert my 64gb to fat32 so i can format my sd card?

have you tried formatting is using your phone?
the basics: are you using an SD card adapter? if so, check if the write protect switch is toggled.

icyzx said:
Thanks for the tip, just to confirm, i need to convert my 64gb to fat32 so i can format my sd card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is your choice. You can format it either: exFAT, NTFS, Fat32. Your phone may support anything except NTFS. Your computer can format it natively under exFAT or NTFS.
I'd try to format it via phone, first. If phone cant recognize it correctly, I'd try ExFAT. finally, I'd use third party soft to make it Fat32.

deandoi said:
have you tried formatting is using your phone?
the basics: are you using an SD card adapter? if so, check if the write protect switch is toggled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup i tried my formating it through my phone but after i reboot my phone, all files comes back.
and yes, write protect is turn off via sd adapter

icyzx said:
yup i tried my formating it through my phone but after i reboot my phone, all files comes back.
and yes, write protect is turn off via sd adapter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what do you mean all files come back?

spamtrash said:
Of course, there is deeply hidden top secret procedure to follow, which would allow you to do it, although Windows systems are normally preventing Fat32 formatting over 32GB. Follow it HERE.
Personally, I prefer Ridgecrop's fat32 format with nice GUI...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i did try to format but still error occur, here is the screenshot for your reference.

deandoi said:
what do you mean all files come back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
after i have format my sd card, once i reboot my phone. all my previous files that were deleted due to format reappears again..

icyzx said:
i did try to format but still error occur, here is the screenshot for your reference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From the screenshot, you have opened several explorer windows. If one of it is pointed on the card, format cannot access the card properly.
Secondly, I hope you have run the guiformat as administrator?
Finally, looking on your other posts, if you were unable to format the card under the phone, please copy all your files to PC, and try to format it from PC, under normal Windows procedure, as NTFS. If that will fail - most likely you have faulty card.

I guess you should read microSD card reviews before buying them. That's why I chose a Samsung microSD card. I have read that Samsung phones have had problems with sandisk cards.

deandoi said:
I guess you should read microSD card reviews before buying them. That's why I chose a Samsung microSD card. I have read that Samsung phones have had problems with sandisk cards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RLY?? All of my phones are working with Sandisk flawlessly.

spamtrash said:
RLY?? All of my phones are working with Sandisk flawlessly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, well you're lucky. I believe the problems are with the 64GB cards.

deandoi said:
Yeah, well you're lucky. I believe the problems are with the 64GB cards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all are 64's... one difference: bought in official shop, not fake ones from ebay for £3 each..

My phone can't mount the SD card (Meizu M2 Note)

I have the Meizu M2 Note, and i have recently I bought a Samsung SDHC card 128GB.
When I first use it in my computer (with an USB adapter) i formatted it to be a NTFS (didn’t know back then that Android OS doesn’t support it), of course my phone didn’t recognise the card.
Then I formatted it to be an exFat file system and my phone couldn’t mount it either.
So I turn to use third-party softwares to turn it into FAT32 which failed as well, even tried to make partitions (4 of 32GB - FAT32) and I couldn’t do it with “Paragon” (it didn’t succeed formatting the other three partitions).
What can I do? my phone just won’t recognise my SD card!

[Removed]

OnbekendV said:
Hi,
Are you using Windows? If yes, insert your SDHC card and format it to FAT32. If this doesn't work, you probably broke your SDHC card. But you said that you bought it recently, so I think that you still have guarantee. Good luck!
Regards,
OnbekendV
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, first I want to thank you for your quick reply, but I can't format it to FAT32 without using third party software (only has two options: exFat and NTFS), and when I tried to format it with the third party software it didn't work as well.
It can't be broken because it works just fine in my computer.

[Removed]

OnbekendV said:
Hi,
If you are using Windows, you don't need third-party software to format your SDHC card. Just insert it in your computer, since you have said that your computer recognised your SDHC card. Then open Windows Explorer -> This PC -> Right-click on your SDHC card -> Click on format -> Choose FAT32 -> Choose format. This should solve your problem. If this doesn't work, go to windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/convert-hard-disk-partition-fat32-format#1TC=windows-7 and follow these steps. Good luck.
Regards,
OnbekendV
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It gives me only two option when formatting : exFat and NTSF

Ori5800 said:
It gives me only two option when formatting : exFat and NTSF
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download this tool (best partition manager for Windows): http://www.partitionwizard.com
Now select your SD Card and format the partition on it to ext4 and try on the phone.
If it does not work with ext4 try with ext3.
Remember that in that program when you make all the changes you want, you have to press the apply button.
If it still doesn't work try factory reseting (and backing up of course) and formating options ext4, ext3, exFAT, FAT32 in that order (they are from best to worst).

[Removed]

janekmuric said:
Download this tool
(best partition manager for Windows):
Now select your SD Card and format the partition on it to ext4 and try on the phone.
If it does not work with ext4 try with ext3.
Remember that in that program when you make all the changes you want, you have to press the apply button.
If it still doesn't work try factory reseting (and backing up of course) and formating options ext4, ext3, exFAT, FAT32 in that order (they are from best to worst).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does Android support ext4? I know windows doesn't right?

[Removed]

@Ori5800
Yes, android does support ext4.
@OnbekendV
The only reason I see to format in FAT32 is because Windows supports it. It is slower than ext4, holds smaller partition, name and any other size.
I would reccomend ext4.

[Removed]

OnbekendV said:
Hi, @janekmuric Thanks for sharing this information. Looks like I've learned something new today .
Regards,
OnbekendV
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. Hey, instead of writing a post saying thanks, you could use the thanks button! :silly:

Ori5800 said:
I have the Meizu M2 Note, and i have recently I bought a Samsung SDHC card 128GB.
When I first use it in my computer (with an USB adapter) i formatted it to be a NTFS (didn’t know back then that Android OS doesn’t support it), of course my phone didn’t recognise the card.
Then I formatted it to be an exFat file system and my phone couldn’t mount it either.
So I turn to use third-party softwares to turn it into FAT32 which failed as well, even tried to make partitions (4 of 32GB - FAT32) and I couldn’t do it with “Paragon” (it didn’t succeed formatting the other three partitions).
What can I do? my phone just won’t recognise my SD card!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Ori5800, how about your sd card, it read with meizu now? I have Meizu M2 Note too. Plan to buy 128 GB SDXC. Thanks

Micro SD card wont be mounted by Samsung Tab a6

So I have a Samsung Tab a6 7 T280 wifi and I've inserted a MicroSD card (128GB). I've done this with the stock os first and I just got the message card can be removed safely. and it wouldn't let me mount it.
Now I've installed the Tinker V5.1 Stock Rom over it and it still happens. (wanted a faster os on it).
I can reformat the card with twrp to be ext4 or exFAT and it doesn't change a single thing. if I insert the sd card I get a quick preparing card and then instantly the message card can be safely removed. clicking on mount sd card in storage from settings doesn't do anything except prompt same message.

I'd try a different sdcard.

Okay, so I hope I can help, I have the SM-T280, I do not use Tinker ROM, instead I debloated my stock ROM and use an SPA kernel by @_mone. If you're trying to extend storage to your tablet, you'll need to use a PC to partition the SD card two PRIMARY partitions. I used on Windows MiniTool Partition Wizard (free), and I used a FAT32 partition and an ext2 partition. With the stock ROM/kernel I had problems using ext4 or extFAT which didn't make sense to me but it is what it is, and I used the app Apps2SD to handle all the work.
The main thing, you need to make sure your SD card has TWO (2) PRIMARY partitions.
Good luck.

zenful said:
Okay, so I hope I can help, I have the SM-T280, I do not use Tinker ROM, instead I debloated my stock ROM and use an SPA kernel by @_mone. If you're trying to extend storage to your tablet, you'll need to use a PC to partition the SD card two PRIMARY partitions. I used on Windows MiniTool Partition Wizard (free), and I used a FAT32 partition and an ext2 partition. With the stock ROM/kernel I had problems using ext4 or extFAT which didn't make sense to me but it is what it is, and I used the app Apps2SD to handle all the work.
The main thing, you need to make sure your SD card has TWO (2) PRIMARY partitions.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about the Sizes? As in one partition 60 GB the other one also 60 GB ? Or the fat32 partition 1 GB and the ext2 the rest?

Panslothda said:
What about the Sizes? As in one partition 60 GB the other one also 60 GB ? Or the fat32 partition 1 GB and the ext2 the rest?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FAT32 is not for large capacity storage. Use exFat. There isn't much point in having such a large ext2 partition. It's incompatible with media transfer protocols unless you use a Linux system.
This device fully supports exFAT. I use a 64gb sdcard no issues.

ashyx said:
FAT32 is not for large capacity storage. Use exFat. There isn't much point in having such a large ext2 partition. It's incompatible with media transfer protocols unless you use a Linux system.
This device fully supports exFAT. I use a 64gb sdcard no issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well my current one is exfat formatted. works perfectly fine on PC only thing is its 128 GB.... I mean is that maybe the issue? that its to large?

Panslothda said:
Well my current one is exfat formatted. works perfectly fine on PC only thing is its 128 GB.... I mean is that maybe the issue? that its to large?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't think so, I'm sure it supports 128gb cards.
Just partition it into to halves. First partition exfat. Leave the other unformatted and see what happens.

ashyx said:
I wouldn't think so, I'm sure it supports 128gb cards.
Just partition it into to halves. First partition exfat. Leave the other unformatted and see what happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
partitioned into a 40 GB exFAT partition and left rest unpartitioned. Didn't change anything. if I pop it in the tablet I get a short preparing sd card notification then immediately an SD card safe to remove notification...
I'm really confused by this. The tablet is new so I doubt that it's broken but I don't know. Do you know if there's a way to check any kind of logs on Android like dmesg on Linux as an example to see what happens with the sd card?

Panslothda said:
partitioned into a 40 GB exFAT partition and left rest unpartitioned. Didn't change anything. if I pop it in the tablet I get a short preparing sd card notification then immediately an SD card safe to remove notification...
I'm really confused by this. The tablet is new so I doubt that it's broken but I don't know. Do you know if there's a way to check any kind of logs on Android like dmesg on Linux as an example to see what happens with the sd card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's best just try out another card to rule out the card.

ashyx said:
It's best just try out another card to rule out the card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welp gotta buy one first then :/

Panslothda said:
Welp gotta buy one first then :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nobody can lend one for a few minutes? Or try the card in someone else device?

Panslothda said:
So I have a Samsung Tab a6 7 T280 wifi and I've inserted a MicroSD card (128GB). I've done this with the stock os first and I just got the message card can be removed safely. and it wouldn't let me mount it.
Now I've installed the Tinker V5.1 Stock Rom over it and it still happens. (wanted a faster os on it).
I can reformat the card with twrp to be ext4 or exFAT and it doesn't change a single thing. if I insert the sd card I get a quick preparing card and then instantly the message card can be safely removed. clicking on mount sd card in storage from settings doesn't do anything except prompt same message.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to Samsung, the T280 will support a 256gb SD card BUT I know from experience that SD cards over 32gb can be VERY touchy. If you use a PC to remove all of the partition and then let the tablet try to do its own formatting and it still doesn't work, I'd say you have an incompatible SD card. That doesn't mean the card is bad but that it just won't work in the T280.
As an example, a Samsung EVO+ card (which can be found on eBay for $30) will probably work while a "no name" card from China, probably won't.

lewmur said:
According to Samsung, the T280 will support a 256gb SD card BUT I know from experience that SD cards over 32gb can be VERY touchy. If you use a PC to remove all of the partition and then let the tablet try to do its own formatting and it still doesn't work, I'd say you have an incompatible SD card. That doesn't mean the card is bad but that it just won't work in the T280.
As an example, a Samsung EVO+ card (which can be found on eBay for $30) will probably work while a "no name" card from China, probably won't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always use Samsung EVO cards and they always work perfectly. Price per GB they are very reasonable too.

Scandisk ultra i find ok no matter what size
Sent from my SM-T585 using XDA-Developers Legacy app