SD Card Problems

An SD memory card is a type of portable memory widely used in cameras, cell phones and computers. If you are trying to use an SD card, but it will not read or write your data, there could be several things amiss with your card. Although your first instinct may be to throw the card away and get a new one, here are some common issues that SD cards have and the easy ways to fix them.

Card Formatting

Although SD cards are designed to be versatile and work with a multitude of devices, some devices format the card so that it will work only with that device. If, for instance, you have been using an SD card in an MP3 player's expansion port and then you want to use the SD card to back up documents from your PC, it might not work the way you anticipate. The best way to deal with this issue is to re-format the card to work with the device you are using presently. Back up the files currently on the SD card to an external drive, insert the card into your device and run the formatting program. If you are using a PC, you will need to go to "My Computer," select the SD card, right click and then select "Format." All current data will be lost, but your SD card will now work with any gadget.

Adapter

Most modern computers come pre-equipped with an SD card slot, many older machines require the use of an adapter. If you are using an adapter, particularly one connected to a USB drive, make sure the adapter is connected fully to a USB drive, and that the SD card is placed data side down inside the adapter. If you are using another type of adapter (PCI, MMC or Microdrive) double check that the SD the port is using is active by going to the hardware profile in "My Computer" to see if there has been a drive error. If there has been, you can either have it repaired or try another port for the SD card.

Write-Protection Switch

SD Cards generally include a security switch that enables write-protection. This disables files from being modified on the SD card when in the active position. Simply toggle this switch (often found on the left side of the SD card) into the inactive position to disable the security features and regain access to the files on the SD card.

Security Software

Some SD cards come equipped with special software that locks down the content on the card if unauthorized access is detected. If you have switched computers or cannot remember your administrator credentials, you will need to wipe the contents of the SD card to regain access. To wipe the card completely, you may need special software, as the security features will probably prevent you from re-formatting the card. A free formatting software download from the SD Card Association (see link in Resources.)

Drive Icon Does Not Show Up

If you are trying to access your SD card on a PC, but the icon does not show up or the computer will not recognize it, you may be low on virtual memory. Remedy this by closing all unnecessary programs and then letting the computer idle for a few minutes. If you are using Windows Vista, there is a known bug regarding SD cards, and you will need to download a special patch to fix it