This updated post (first published four years ago) is not about retirement or Asia. However, a mobile or cell phone, smartphone, tablet, notebook, netbook, computer, digital camera, pda or mp3 player are used daily by people of all ages, in all walks of life, all over the world. These mostly portable devices have extra storage or ‘flash’ memory – a fingertip size card (micro SD) located in a receptacle inside the device, often accessible through an external slot or small flap on the casing.
There are quite a few types on the market from manufacturers such as Kingston and SanDisk, and they come in different capacities; several gigabytes are common on today’s new phones and tablets. For many, this extra memory functions as part of the system, without needing setting; they may not even be aware of the card or its features. But problems can arise when the card is nearly full and files need deleting, transferring to other storage, or replacing the current SD card with a higher capacity one. And sometimes they just quit or lock for no apparent reason.
Having had issues myself, I created a Micro SD page on the R-A website several years ago. Since then it has been consistently one of the most popular, receiving hundreds of hits every day – over 210,000 by the end of 2012. There’s no doubt that many have problems and card failures; there are numerous forums where people post, including phone and card manufacturer support sites.
Common issues: file access from phones with locked or encrypted SD cards, files lost
1. If a microSD cannot be recognised by a computer (read, write, format etc), it may not be the card itself but a microSD to SD adapter typically needed for it to fit in a standard size card reader slot. The adapter usually comes with it. This is the first thing to check for a fault. Try using a different adapter (Kingston seem to have faulty ones); if you don’t have one, borrow one or get a USB card reader with Micro SD slot for about $4 or less than UK £1.
2. Nokia phones with locked microSD cards that need a password for access (happens suddenly without user intervention). Retrieving or removing the password depends upon the model. Some Nokias have an “MMC store” folder; copy this to a computer and open with Notepad to find the password. Reformatting the card (losing all content) allows a new password e.g. 1234 to be set if needed.
3. BlackBerry card encryption (.rem) problems were originally addressed in February 2013. A summary of comments and replies was posted on May 13. See all comments below.
4. Android phones and tablets card data loss/files unable to be read. New 2013 software for data recovery from Android devices including messages, contacts, photos and videos. Download Android Data Recovery (free trial – Windows).
How to copy/move files between SD cards or transfer to and from a computer
There are different options for working with files. One is with the USB cable supplied with the phone and used in conjunction with a software program also supplied by the manufacturer. e.g. Nokia Data Suite. Another is Bluetooth – a wireless link between the two, as also is WiFi. If you have a built in or USB card reader, removing the microSD card from the phone and connecting it directly to a computer is easiest, but it doesn’t always work.
Some card readers now accept a micro SD card directly (see above); previously it needed a micro to standard size SD adapter often but not always supplied with a micro SD purchased separately and often the cause of problems, one of which is the write protect switch on the adapter – the micro SD itself does NOT have a switch.
Whichever way you connect the card to a computer, a file manager such as Windows Explorer should see an extra external hard drive . The drive letter (G in the image) depends on how many drives are already in the computer, including the CD or DVD drive.
T
he card’s folders and files (not always all of them) will be visible too and can be copied or moved by dragging and dropping them to a folder on another hard drive or perhaps burning a CD for archiving purposes.
Sometimes they are hidden or copyright-protected by the manufacturer and other means are needed to move or copy them. See our main MicroSD page for how to copy all SD card content to another location.
Due to the sheer scope of this topic, and the different problems that users experience, the web page is long and rambling – even more so than this post – especially for someone looking for a ‘quick fix’. When I find the time, I will sort the information into categories and incorporate a summary on this blog, where issues will be easier to identify. Readers can also comment below and see answers which hopefully help others with similar problems.
NOTE: Before posting a problem with your SD card, PLEASE visit the MicroSD page at Retire-Asia.com. There are a lot of things you can try and tools you can download and use; many are free or have trial versions.
If you cannot find a solution there, (or you have found one and want to help others) you are welcome to post a comment. BUT you should provide the make and model of the phone, camera or other device, the card type (SD microSD, SDHC, SDXC etc), brand name and capacity (Gb) of the card. Describe the nature of the failure and the procedures you have already tried to fix it with the tools offered here or elsewhere.
Please don’t comment “My card doesn’t work, I’ve tried everything; what can I do?” and expect an answer. If you don’t see your problem listed here, look below in comments from others. Otherwise I will probably suggest you replace the card under warranty if possible, go to a phone service centre or just ‘byte the bullet’ and buy a new SD card! They are not expensive now in most places.
I have an interesting problem with A-Data 32GB SDHC MicroSD card. I can write files to it and as long as I don’t unmount or remove it from device the content stays on it (at least that is how it looks). However when I unmount card from computer or remove it from my android device (or nokia phone) the content “resets” back to what was stored there previously. Windows check disk reports error during phase 2 (no details about error), in all devices I’m able to format the card without problem but after re-insert the content is still same as if I even didn’t perform format. Today I tried to format the card in my PC and then copy 20GB data on it. Everything seems OK. I’m able to open files from SD card, play videos etc. Then I do the “magic trick” by removing SD card from reader and putting it back and voila – all data I have previously deleted (ie before the format) are back again. I though I know how SD cards / flash drives are working but in this case I really don’t know whats going on…
Re your A-Data 32GB SD card problem, neither do I! Perhaps someone else reading this may have an idea.
My Problem is stange and very particular.
I used my smarth phone connected by usb mode to format my micro sd ( Verbatim16 Gb class 2). then removed it and changed the microsd with a bigger one.
I put the 16 gb microsd (with 2 files of 5gb each ) inside my tablet and was not recognized.
from this moment neither any pc windows 7/8 or xp ( i tryed 5 ) any with 5 different adapters ( multi card reader with 3 sandisk adapter or kingston adapter or other direct microsd to usb adapter skipping the microsd to SD adapter ) is recognizing this micro sd. Neither other hardware, samsung photo camera , or tablet, mp3 player.
Is that possible the microsd has beed damaged in the moment i formatted it ?
5GB files are basically too big for microSD or SD cards with FAT32 format (used on most devices); there is a 4GB maximum file size and Android may additionally have a 2.1GB limit. See http://go2c.me/sdfilesize
NTFS as well as Ext4Fs & Ext3Fs formats have much higher single file limits, but cameras and other devices usually don’t support them. For the more technically minded, there are ways to get around these restrictions: http://go2c.me/sdfiletech
I have a 32gb micro SD card that I was using with my android phone. Since yesterday, It seems like the card has gone into copy/write protected mode. When I connect the card to my computer(windows 7), it automatically recognizes the micro sd card and shows the window which asks to open/play flies..etc..
I can browse through all the files and folders in the card. But it does not allow me to copy any file from the card to the computer. Nor does it allow any file to be copied from the computer to the card. No files can be opened either.
I tried formatting the card, but it says it is write protected.
The situation is the same when trying to access the files directly from the phone. It displays all the files and folders, but does not allow me to copy to or from the card. It does not allow me to open any files either.
I have a hunch that the firmware is corrupt or something. So, is there any way I can fix this?
Any help is appreciated.
Help.
I had no luck with a 4GB micro sd from my camera (folders showing but no files), but here’s another free utility you can try: TestDisk
Already tried it.. All the repair softwares gives me the result that my card is perfectly healthy. But the problems remain just as before. I just finished a deep analysis with Zero Assumption Recovery(ZAR) and Driver Restore Pro. Both says there is nothing wrong with the card. (good sectors, no partition errors, boot records). If there is anything else I can try, do tell. I don’t care about the data in the card.. I just want the card to be back in working condition..
Did you try WinImage yet? Download the free version: http://www.winimage.com/download.htm
i have prob with my transced memory card . its 8gb class 4 micro SDHC. i had use USB data cable to check my data of memory but the anti virus stop its reading means it not open n after some time i check my phone to send tht file to other mobile . there was nathg in it all blank just one file was there (Removable Disk (8GB).Ink)
size of ths file was 483B . i didnt delt it til now but my phone shows me the capcity of memory its has 3745mb free. wht i shuld do can u help me
You can try the TestDisk utility. If no success it is likely the card has lost its data files.
I have a similar problem like Pavel i am having 2gb sd card wen i copy from system to card it is being deducted in system not in my phone.
my SD card says sd card blank unamount or unsupport file system.would you help me to access sd card to enable storege!Thank you!
No details, cannot help. Sorry
Good news for those with lost Android internal storage or micro SD card files: New software for data recovery from Android phones and tablets including messages, contacts, photos and videos. Download Android Data Recovery (free trial) from http://go2c.me/drfonefree. About 16MB (for Windows PC).
I hv just transfered files frm blackberry 9780 micro sd card 2 galaxy s2. . I m nt able 2 view .jpeg.rem files. Hw cn i fix dis
February comments about BlackBerry encrypted files covered this. On the BlackBerry you can set a password that will be required to access the files if the card is moved to a different phone. Alternatively, disable encryption before removing card from the BlackBerry.
A summary of comments and replies relating to this BlackBerry SD card encryption issue was posted May 13. Hope it helps those with this problem.
BLACKBERRY REM ENCRYPTED FILES
C Submitted on 2013/02/12 at 1:47 am
On my blackberry 9900 i security reset the phone and took the sd card out before doing so, unfortunately the sd card was encrypted before i reset my blackberry. So when ever i try to put my memory card in the phone it say’s “A media card has been inserted that contains encrypted files which will be inaccessible by this device.” so therefore i cannot acess my photos and some videos. Any ideas??????
R Try copying the SD card contents (at least the folders with files you want to keep) to a PC, using a card reader with adapter if necessary.
Re-format the card in the Blackberry. Transfer the files from the PC into the correct folders on the card via USB and the Blackberry Desktop software.
C Submitted on 2013/02/13 at 2:17 am
Also is there anyway of getting back lost pictures from my phone after i had reset it?
R Submitted on 2013/02/13 at 11:56 am
That would depend on whether they were stored only in the Blackberry phone memory or on the SD card. If you can find them in a folder on the card when you read it on a PC, then you may be able to retrieve them, but not if they were encrypted.
Having done some research on your behalf, it seems that Blackberry encrypted files have a .rem suffix, in which case they can only be read using the same key that was in the phone at the time. If you reset it, this key has gone permanently.
However, if you have sent any of the photos to someone else via email etc they would have been unencrypted first to .jpg. That may be a way to get some of them back!
You need to visit Blackberry forums for help on these issues, including things to consider before resetting the phone, such as removing encryption first and copying the files to another device.
C Submitted on 2013/02/17 at 7:47 pm
I have tried to transfer the media on a computer reseting the memory card and then relading it on, I there any other Way because they are still locked on the memory card and. It still says unable to display file
Submitted on 2013/02/17 at 8:30 pm
Load the files from the computer onto a new card and try that in the phone. But if they are .rem files then they probably cannot be unencrypted.
In the hope that you and other Blackberry owners can avoid this encryption issue, read the last post on a Crackberry blog page, using the direct link below. The poster describes how to set up Blackberry encryption so that files can be read when the card is in another device. All you need to remember is the password you set for the SD card to begin with; this will ensure you have access to your .rem files if necessary.
Visit the related BlackBerry Forum thread here:
http://go2c.me/bbencrypt
I have a problem that my micro sd card is not getting formatted says its write protected so pls give me the solution to format either to release write protection from my micro sd card….there is nothing like adapter switch and all its just my sd card
Not enough information. What card, phone etc? If you want to format it in a computer you will need a card reader with micro sd slot or an adapter for full size sd card. This adapter has a switch.
My memory card has been n my BB for months now, but since last week it has been enabling and disabling itself. I have removed it and cleaned the golden strips as suggested, I have cleaned the phone with compressed air. I even made a back up and formatted the card, but it still keeps on doing it. Any other advice?
Not being a BlackBerry user, I can’t really advise, but trying a different SD card may help locate the problem.
Hello.I am a complete noob at this stuff, but I have recently encountered a problem with my memory card and it’s driving me insane.I own a Samsung Star S5230 phone, with a 2GB microSD inside.I have always used the Youtube to mp3 converter to download music to my phone and I’ve never downloaded any viruses or had any problems, but last week something strange happened.While copying a song on my phone (connected to my PC through the USB cable) in a hurry, my phone somehow turned itself off.I turned it back on, but then it started showing that my memory card is completely full (it is actually just about half full with files).I turned my phone off, turned it back on and everything seemed to be working fine, except for the slow performance of my phone while opening my music files.However, when I opened the pictures located on my memory card through my PC, it showed the last taken picture as a 0 byte file.I am unable to delete that file.It also sometimes shows the pictures in windows photo viewer, and a second later it gives me the message “Windows photo viewer cannot open JPEG files because either the file format is not supported or you do not have latest updates to photo viewer”.I have found that this is a common problem out there with no solution at hand.It is also impossible to delete said files because they are apparently “write-protected”.I am also unable to take pictures, as my phone shows a warning when I open the camera stating that there is no more space on the memory card.When I click on “properties” of any of the files which have stuff saved on them (i.e. Sounds, Pictures etc.), it shows they are “read only” files, but I cannot untick he box, as it is grayed out.Sorry for the long comment, but this is pretty important to me, as I have some important photos and basically all of my music saved on the card, and am unable to copy it anywhere else.
Sorry, forgot to mention the memory card is a SanDisk.
Using a PC card reader, you need to make a copy of the SD content. Try using one of the recommended programs like WinImage. Also use trial versions of card recovery programs mentioned in the post, previous comments or the web page to retrieve images. Then perhaps reformat the card, preferably in the phone. Sorry I cannot fix this for you, but if the files are important to you, use any tools you can to see them.
Thank you very much for your quick reply.I am happy to inform you that I have found a way to work around the problem.After restarting my computer and another “restart” of my phone, I copied the files to my desktop without opening them, formatted my card through my phone and presto – problem solved.Everything seems to be working fine, I can view the photos and my card is clean.Thank you very much for all the info about memory cards and your help.
Glad to be of service and thank you for your feedback, Ana.
My transcend class 10 micro sd card is all of a sudden not able to be formatted. I tried sd formatter and multiple windows option but it says that the sd card is locked. I do not use an adapter so there is no problem with having the switch in the lock mode because a micro sd does not have lock switch. It said on the website: ‘http://www.retire-asia.com/microsd.shtml’ that this could be fixed with regedit in windows and that this fix could be found in this forum. But I could not find it anywhere on this page or when using the search field. How can I do it?
Jack, here is the link to the regedit related comments. Good luck, but this error often indicates a failed card.
Thank you for your quick response. I hope it wil work