SD card problems

steveOh

Junior Member

750

114

Dayton Area

• Mar 2, 2016

• #1

Went to check my cam today ( it was out for 2 months) and when I tried to download the pics I got a "card is locked". I checked the tab on the SD card and it is in the "unlocked" position. The tab seems to be OK, it stays in the unlocked position, so it is not broke. I tried a different card in the cam and it works.. So I assume that this card is trashed. What do you think? Chalk it up to another 'Murphy's Law" scenario???

 

xbowguy

Dignitary Member

Supporting Member

29,699

234

Licking Co. Ohio

• Mar 2, 2016

• #2

I had that happen once flipped the lock on and off 2 or 3 times and the card started working. I marked it and replaced it soon as I got a new one.

 

Spencie

Senior Member

5,046

145

Constitution Ohio

• Mar 2, 2016

• #3

xbowguy said:

I had that happen once flipped the lock on and off 2 or 3 times and the card started working. I marked it and replaced it soon as I got a new one.

Click to expand...

Try that. If that doesn't work try another computer and/or another card reader. If all that doesn't work Murphy got ya.

 

xbowguy

Dignitary Member

Supporting Member

29,699

234

Licking Co. Ohio

• Mar 2, 2016

• #4

Sometimes you can put them in camera and reformat them. That may work also.

 

TimBuckToo

Junior Member

126

0

Northeast Ohio

• Mar 2, 2016

• #5

Reformatting will erase all data on the card. What you can try is get some clear tape, the thin stuff, and cover the notches cut out in the plastic. For some reason the card acts up and this will fix the issue. It's worked for me before.

http://youtu.be/-g7dsoHJoTQ

 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member

Staff member

38,859

260

• Mar 2, 2016

• #6

Also try cleaning the contacts on the card. Alcohol swab or a qtip with cleaner on it works well.

 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator

Staff member

48,922

274

Appalachia

• Mar 2, 2016

• #7

Jackalope said:

Also try cleaning the contacts on the card. Alcohol swab or a qtip with cleaner on it works well.

Click to expand...

This solved the problem the last time this happened to me.

 

at1010

*Supporting Member*

4,972

139

• Mar 2, 2016

• #8

Jackalope said:

Also try cleaning the contacts on the card. Alcohol swab or a qtip with cleaner on it works well.

Click to expand...

I got a card sitting on my desk that had over 4g pictures on it. I never could get it to read, will this maybe work on that?

 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member

Staff member

38,859

260

• Mar 3, 2016

• #9

at1010 said:

I got a card sitting on my desk that had over 4g pictures on it. I never could get it to read, will this maybe work on that?

Click to expand...

Worth a shot. Won't hurt anything.

 

at1010

*Supporting Member*

4,972

139

• Mar 3, 2016

• #10

Jackalope said:

Worth a shot. Won't hurt anything.

Click to expand...

thats what I figured. Thanks! `

 

steveOh

Junior Member

750

114

Dayton Area

• Mar 3, 2016

• #11

I have tried it all....it's trashed....

 

Spencie

Senior Member

5,046

145

Constitution Ohio

• Mar 3, 2016

• #12

Can you take a bad SD card to a computer shop and see if they can retrieve the pics?

 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member

Staff member

38,859

260

• Mar 3, 2016

• #13

Not really. It's solid state memory cells. Typically when a cell goes bad it's not recoverable.

 

C

chad@exodustrailcams

Junior Member

213

17

Trumbull County

• Apr 11, 2016

• #14

@steveOh

Look into the manufacturers warranty. Surprisingly quite a few card manufacturers offer very good warranties, I think I remember reading a few offering limited lifetime warranties. I can't say how hard it is to make a claim or deal with those folks but it may be worth a shot especially if it was a large capacity card...

 

steveOh

Junior Member

750

114

Dayton Area

• Apr 11, 2016

• #15

Thanks 4 the info...it was a 8g card and I already trashed it.

 

cotty16

Dignitary Member

Supporting Member

18,569

193

Woods or baseball field... take your pick.

• Apr 11, 2016

• #16

Watch the little plastic dividers between the contacts too. I have one card that, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. Same thing, kept saying it was locked. Ended up one the little plastic dividers (not sure what else to call them) was broken and sitting kind of crooked. Straightened it out and carefully inserted it and it worked.