SD Memory cards

Ray · Jun 13, 2009, 17:35:05

I've just experienced my first failed SD card ,I took some pictures on my digital camera this afternoon and then connect my camera to my PC to download them, no problem windows detects new hardware and does it's stuff. Reboot PC and try to access card in camera and everything freezes and explorer stops responding, so I decide to take the card out of the camera and replace it with a different one - everything starts working again.

I then try the suspect card in a usb card reader, same problem as soon as I try to access the card explorer stops responding, so I've come to the conclusion that the SD card has passed it's sell by date and has failed, unfortunately it's not a new one I've had it for about 3 years.

Rik · Jun 13, 2009, 17:37:20

I've not had that happen with an SD card yet, Ray, but I used to see it too frequently with SmartMedia cards.

It might be possible to recover something with one of the dedicated recovery programs, though it sounds more as if the card is terminal, rather than just corrupted.

Ray · Jun 13, 2009, 17:41:03

Quote from: Rik on Jun 13, 2009, 17:37:20
I've not had that happen with an SD card yet, Ray, but I used to see it too frequently with SmartMedia cards. It might be possible to recover something with one of the dedicated recovery programs, though it sounds more as if the card is terminal, rather than just corrupted.

It looks as though it is, Rik, I've since tried viewing the pictures on the card in the camera, I can see 2 of them and then get a blank screen and the camera preview stops working at that point.

Rik · Jun 13, 2009, 17:45:55

How about re-formatting it?

Ray · Jun 13, 2009, 17:54:05

Quote from: Rik on Jun 13, 2009, 17:45:55
How about re-formatting it?

Well that seems to have worked so far, Rik.

Rik · Jun 13, 2009, 17:57:06

I'd probably label that card as suspect and keep it for emergencies, Ray.

Ray · Jun 13, 2009, 17:59:48

Quote from: Rik on Jun 13, 2009, 17:57:06
I'd probably label that card as suspect and keep it for emergencies, Ray.

Already done, Rik.

Rik · Jun 13, 2009, 18:19:07

We think alike.

Ray · Jun 13, 2009, 18:57:05

I've just run Recuva on the formatted card and recovered the pictures I took earlier.

Rik · Jun 13, 2009, 18:58:29

That's good, Ray. Some sort of spike, I guess.

Ray · Jun 13, 2009, 19:01:26

Quote from: Rik on Jun 13, 2009, 18:58:29
That's good, Ray. Some sort of spike, I guess.

Must have been, Rik, though I was surprised I got them all after re formatting the card, must only do a quick format when you do it in the camera.

Rik · Jun 13, 2009, 19:05:57

I suspect so, Ray. It might be worth doing a full format and CHKDSK on the PC and then a re-format in the camera...

Ray · Jun 13, 2009, 19:29:52

Quote from: Rik on Jun 13, 2009, 19:05:57
I suspect so, Ray. It might be worth doing a full format and CHKDSK on the PC and then a re-format in the camera...

I've done all that now, Rik, no problems found, so it's still a bit of a mystery, I'll keep it as a spare and leave it marked as suspect I think.

Rik · Jun 14, 2009, 10:12:59

At the price they are these days, Ray, they become a 'consumable' after a year or so. Even the one's with a multi-year warranty, because I can never find the receipts.

Steve · Jun 14, 2009, 10:30:45

Having had one compact flash card fail , I don't worry about replacing on a yearly basis, tend to buy 2x 4Gb instead of 1x 8Gb,just in case one fails again.

Rik · Jun 14, 2009, 10:36:14

Like you, Steve, I prefer to use more smaller cards than risk losing a lot of photos in one hit. The only time I use 8GB or larger is in the camcorder.

Ray · Jun 14, 2009, 11:23:59

Quote from: Rik on Jun 14, 2009, 10:12:59
At the price they are these days, Ray, they become a 'consumable' after a year or so. Even the one's with a multi-year warranty, because I can never find the receipts.

My thoughts as well, Rik, haven't got a clue where I bought this one from, I know from the make it's one of the early ones that I bought.