This newly updated post (first published two years ago) has nothing to do with retirement or Asia. However, a mobile or cell phone, smartphone, tablet, notebook, netbook, computer, digital camera, pda or mp3 player has become a tool used by people of all ages, all around the world. Most portable devices have extra storage or ‘flash’ memory – a small removable card (micro SD) either inside the device or accessible through a 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.
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 85,000 by 2010 and over 180,000 by 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.
Two common problems: microSD file transfer & Nokia phones with password-locked cards
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 dud ones); better still, get a USB reader with a Micro SD slot for $3.50; in the UK for £1.40.
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.
Ways 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 directly to a computer is easiest.
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 does not have this).
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; most are free.
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 must 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.
Don’t comment “My card doesn’t work, I’ve tried everything; what can I do?” and expect an answer, but if you don’t see your problem listed here, below in comments, or on the R-A MicroSD page, then I am probably going to suggest you replace the card under warranty if possible, go to a phone service centre or ‘byte the bullet’ and just get a new SD card! They are pretty cheap now.
yes I can still read them on the laptop. I just tried it. I tried erasing some files but it’s still doing the same thing
The problem seems to be the phone being unable to recognise the card format now. I suggest copying all the files somewhere else and try reformatting the card on the phone. If that works okay you can try copying some of the files back to the card into the correct folders.
Perhaps there’s another way you can import files e.g. WiFi, via cable, Bluetooth using Samsung software – without removing a functioning card from the phone?
phone model:nokia c3
memory card: micro sd 2gb
..when i put in da memory card into da card slot..and when i check,it tels no memory card inserted…. i have no idea how did it happened??
thr r many valuables photos in dat memory card.pls help me.
All da info I have to fix it or save da photos is on da micro sd page. You hafta use da tools yousef.
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hi all of my sd had locked before and i try every way:format,sitch lock key on adabtor,chek encryption on my phone(htc photon) and etc i realy need help.
I’m sorry but I think what you probably need is a new SD card. If you’ve formatted it, the data is probably lost. You could try one of the recovery tools mentioned on the MicroSD page. If a phone or computer can’t read the card after formatting, it has failed. I suggest you get a new one and test it in the shop if possible.
This website doesn’t show up correctly on my blackberry – you might want to try and fix that
Thanks for your feedback. The site now has a Mobile and Smartphone Detector which I hope fixes the display problem. Please let me know!
Phone model: Samsung Omnia Pro b7330
Memory Card: Micro SD
Size: 8 gb
Computer: Windows Vista
Whenever I want to copy something from my computor onto my sd card, I always get the same response: “The disk is write- protected. Remove the write- protection or use another disk.”I’ve tried fiddling around with the lock switch- up, down, in between. It never works.
Ben, it could be a faulty micro SD adapter for which you could try the ‘tape trick’ on the MicroSD page. The switch is supposed to press two contact pins inside the card reader together and the tape sometimes helps. Insulation tape is best as it’s thicker than Scotch/Sellotape. Better to try using a different card reader. If you can’t get one easily, here’s a page I just found that shows you how to fix the card reader contact pins: http://go2c.me/sdtom. Scroll down to see photos of what’s involved. Good luck!
I just wanted to comment and say that I really enjoyed reading your blog post here.
Phone model:Nokia 6500 Slide
Memory Card: Micro SD
Size:2 gb
Pc:Windows 7
when i try to copy something from my pc to mobile it copies.But when i see from my mobile the folder i copied show blank inside and show 0.0kb size. If I copy a file it says unknown format.Please help me
Try using a different method for file copying such as Nokia PC Suite via USB cable or Bluetooth.
Hi I had a scandisk SDcard which fits into my printer to print photos directly from the printer. The way I found to make the SD writable is Menu>DeviceSettings>readWriteAttribute>Writable from PC(.
This just worked.Hope someone find it useful.
It would be helpful to know which menu and device settings you are referring to. I think it may be for certain Canon printers.
I have so many problems with my phone but the only ones I researched on the net are these: how to open the back of my N70 and how to remove the “write-protect” of the card. you guys are so helpful but really, I don’t have anything to slide or to tape and I don’t have any reliable options in my phone menu, tried everything:C thanks anyway
i simply don’t get it … I mean my problem is instantly solved when I opened the windows disk manager and then I opened my memory card… and then it’s not write protected anymore… lol … thats all I did
Glad you solved your problem, Joshua!
sometimes when I attach it , it still says that it’s write-protected but I try to attach it again and again and then it’s not write-protected anymore… lol
okay… now what have I done?? the files don’t show up anymore in either phone or computer… but it does same that it has 868 mb free space, the same memory when the files were still there. so how come they don’t show up? what now???
Joshua, it’s interesting reading your ongoing commentary, but tell me exactly how you are trying to read the card, what type of connection, what operating system.
Ok, so I experienced the very same issue like everyone else, I have a small caffe-internet and I am always downloading stuff for people into their micro sd or m2, and I have gone true 4 or 5 adapter reader’s… now I always have a spare adapter ready for the next write-protected error… than I know it’s time to crack open a new package; every-time I get that error message… here where am at those adapters go for 3 – 4 $ each…. so I hope this helps some one out-there….
Great idea, Willy; it’s often a faulty card reader or SD adapter that’s the problem. Now that micro SD adapters are available and cheap (see the post), it’s better not to use an adapter.
nokia 5320 xpress music
kingston 4 gb micro sdhc class4
recently the card got locked unexpectedly. it asks for a lock code, i suspect a slight physical damage,
whether the card is locked or damaged,
and how to use the card again….
Santosh, if nothing on the web page helps you, then try these solutions I just found which should work on various Nokia phones:
1. Use or download File Manager to read the phone memory. Copy the “MMC store” folder to a computer. Open it with Notepad and you will find the password.
2. Try reformatting the card in a computer. Then use password 1234 in the phone if asked.
If you think the card is damaged, replace it. Go to a Nokia service centre if there’s one near you.
Hi,
I had bought Nokia 5800 2 years back and it came with a 8-GB micro SD card (no company name mentioned on it). 3 days back, I was putting a CFW on my phone and when it booting up for the first time, I inserted the Micro SD card in the phone. Since then, my phone shows ‘Memory Card Corrupted’ when I view the card. While formatting thru the phone, it won’t. On XP, it can’t format. On DOS, it can’t (says Disk Unusable or Sector 0 error (or something)). I’ve tried on Disk Mgmt, but it can’t. Tried with HP formatting tool, Low Level formatting, and even yours ‘SD Formatting’ software…… however none of them work. Its also Write-Protected (by some software). Its not a SD card (to have a notch). The files have become RAW and can’t be converted into FAT or NTFS. I just want to save the card (I still have my data backup). And I’ve tried all the basic formatting techniques known on DOS and Windows…
Any help would be appreciated….
my phone 2700c my memorycard SD micro 4GB
memory card problem is very defcult. it can’t be delete,formating and renaming any folders and meory card what can i do?
If you’ve tried everything I list on the web page, then the only alternative is to send it to a professional, but that’s probably going to cost more than a new card.
Have you tried using a computer with card reader? If none of the suggestions on the web page work, then you might need a new card.
Kingston 2GB MicroSD Card and a SanDisk 4GB MicroSD HC Card
Kingston Micro SD Adapter
ALL IN 1 CARD READER USB
With a micro sd card plugged in to the micro sd adapter, I plugged the adapter in to the adapter slot in the ALL IN 1 CARD READER USB.
I then tried many(if not all) of the fixes I found online. None worked, still write protected.
Then I removed the micro sd card from the adapter and plugged the micro sd card(without the adapter) in to the micro sd slot in the ALL IN 1 CARD READER USB.
I am now able to format, and/or delete files/folders, from the 2GB micro sd card and the 4GB micro SD card at will. No more write protection.
Well there you go; the problem is often just a faulty microSD adapter. Did the SanDisk not come with its own adapter?
No, for the price of $3 the SanDisk 4GB MicroSD HC Card did not include an adapter.
That makes $3.50 for a microSD adapter (I just updated the post) more than what you paid for the card!
i’ve done soo much research on this tiny teeny little card, i dont have write protection anymore but i got another problem, it says access denied everytime i try to write on the microsd card. i dont know what to dooooooo. please help, i would very much appreciate it.
Sorry, you didn’t read the note above? No details, no help…
Ok so i bought a 32gb sandisck micro sd card i also have an adaptor that plugs into the computer to transfer files. I originally have a 16gb samsung micro sd card. My samsung sd card works perfectly the movies and music that is loaded on there works no matter if i plug it in my android tablet and phone it works. but with the sandisk it doesn’t work i transferred music and movies and only the music works. i have reformatted it many times and still nothing. The movies are mp4 format. Any help in what to do??
Sorry, no idea at the moment. Anyone else out there …?
I have 4 locked micro SD cards.
In general I have two problems:
- Not recognized as disk: When I insert them, typically error messages pop up saying that the drive is empty or not ready
- Read only: I cannot modify the content of the disk
I have used 4 different card readers ranging from:
- Windows 7 pc – dell reader + SD card adapter
- Windows 7 pc – Sandisk USB adapter + SD card reader
- Android phone – mounted as disk
- Panasonic camera + SD card adapter
All of these readers work perfectly with my other micro-SD cards.
I used the folowing software:
- Windows 7 format
- gparted-live-0.11.0-10
- EASEUS Partition Master 9.1.0 Home Edition
- MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition
- HP Flash drive boot utility
- SDFormatter V3.1
- killdisk
I tried the following:
- work with the lock switch on the SD card adapter
- format, overwrite, etc with all the mentioned options
Nothing works. And by the way, I do not believe that any of the cards below is really broken.
Cards
type: micro-sd
brand: sandisk
sku: sdsdqm-004g-b35
size: 4GByte
Problem: Not recognized as disk, most likely encrypted by windows phone 7.5
type: micro-sd
brand: samsung
class: 2
size: 8Gb
text: MMP3R08UACA-GE IY052F000 038
Problem: Not recognized as disk
type: micro-sd
brand: sandisk
size: 8Gb
text: 0826102875DOU
Problem: Read only
type: micro-sd
brand: sandisk
size: 4GB
text: 1036106020D3C
Problem: Read only
You’ve obviously spent a lot of time on this and have tried to analyse the problem. There may be more than one issue, even a virus. Perhaps test and/or reformat these cards using completely different hardware. You might find a common denominator. Sorry I can’t help, and best of luck.
hello just one week back by i removed my memory card from card reader at the time of transmission of data….afterthat my memory card is working in pc(with some errors in copying like parameters errors) but when m inserting to my mobile it says memory error….i formetted totally …but still it is showing the same msg….please give the good solution about it….
mobile :samsung guru Muzik
memory card : 2gb
I’ll give you the easiest solution: take your phone to a shop and try a new card. 2Gb is cheap.
can i use samsung micro sd to a nokia mobile phone?tnx…
Micro SD cards should be usable in any device with a slot for one. Note that some Nokia phones have files stored on the card by default.
i am not able to create a folder on the root of mmc while i can create folders inside the folder which was already in the mmc. I am also not able to download or copy files to root of mmc. I use nokia e63
Don’t have personal experience, but read the comments towards the end of this page: http://www.windowsreference.com/windows-vista/fix-for-cannot-copy-file-the-parameter-is-incorrect-error/
I have a HTC sensation beats phone ihave been using the memory card happily for some time,but all of a sudden it tells me there is no card inserted anymore,I have removed and reinserted and tried my other memory cards but still the same thing no sd card inserted
It sounds like a phone problem if you’ve also tried other cards. Maybe you should look for answers from HTC users.
I have a sandisk 2gb class 4 micro sd
i tried using a micro sd card reader and direct connecting the device (micro sd in it) to pc thro usb cable and i get the same problem
and the problem is : i copied 50 songs to the micro sd and it works , the second i remove the micro sd from the device or adapter and reconnect it back random files stops being readable!!! i tried formatting it and trying it again and same thing happens
any idea?? awating your kind reply
thanks
You don’t mention what the ‘device’ is. Are you using the ‘Safely Remove Hardware’ utility before removing the card from the reader and/or the reader or device from the PC? Have you tried rebooting before reconnecting same? Have you tried using different USB ports?