SD cards are incredible storage devices, they are very adaptive and faster than any of the storage devices in the past, it frustrates you when the SD card isn't working or videos and photos get deleted.
Imagine losing a perfect high-resolution picture taken with a camera like Fujifilm or losing a video you were planning to upload to your social media. It's a bit scary, isn't it?
Guys please help . My sd card has suddenly stopped working . I had many important files on it. Please help me to fix it .
None of my deviceses (android phone and windows pc ) are able to read it . Please help. It is very urgent. I beg you.
Source: Reddit
How do I know if my SD card is not working?
In almost all situations, the SD card is damaged because the file system is damaged or the Master Boot Record is corrupted. The file system and Maser Boot Record are like bookkeepers to your SD card.
What is Master Boot Record?
The information in the first sector of a hard disk or removable drive is known as the Master Boot Record (MBR). It specifies how and where the operating system (OS) of the system is stored in order for it to be booted (loaded) into the computer's main storage or random access memory (RAM).
When you access your SD card from any device, the device operating system will access the files through the SD card File system and MBR. Hence either of them is damaged, your SD card will be marked as corrupted or simply inaccessible.
Here are a few signs which confirm that the SD card is damaged or Corrupted. Prior to considering the following scenarios confirm the memory card reader status. Only after confirming that the card reader is properly working, consider the following situations.
- Unreadable SD card while trying to access the data saved on it. An error message encounters stating, cannot read from the devices.
- The SD card will be displayed as a RAW drive. (SD card will be displayed in the Windows Explorer but in the details, it will be marked as RAW)
- Windows Explorer will display a Blank SD card or an Unsupported file system.
- Format error after inserting the card into PC. Either Computer will prompt a box asking you to format the SD card.
These are a few of the most common signs that say that your SD card is damaged. However, there are a few complex and not-so-often memory card errors. Which are:
- CRC errors while copying data from/to a memory card.
- Memory card with “SD card won’t format on Windows” error
- SD card not detected on Windows Explorer and or Disk Management
- In the case of Mac OS, the user's face SD card will not be mounted by Mac.
- Partition Map corruption in turn results in data loss.
Sometimes SD card shows photos on camera but not on the computer. It simply means that the card reader is damaged. If this is what you are experiencing, just switch the SD card reader or SD card adapter and try again.
Why SD card is not working?
Your SD card might not be working due to the following reasons:
- Virus/malware attack
- SD card is write protected
- Using the same card on multiple systems often
- Abrupt removal of the card during the file transfer process
- Bad sector formation
- Mistakes or interruptions while changing card format
- Taking pictures or videos when the memory card is full
- File system error
So if your card and its data are important to you, then it is required to maintain it properly.
How do I avoid corrupting my SD card?
Tips to Avoid SD card corruption or Damage:
- Format the card as soon as you purchase it: Formating the Sd card on the hosting device will create compatibility between the SD card and the device.
- Instead of one big card, maintain multiple small cards: Having multiple small storage cards reduces the risks of data loss and also serves as a backup.
- Always safely eject the card: Let the data be completely written into the SD card so that there wouldn't be any data corruption issues.
- Turn off the camera or phone before removing the SD card: Turning off the device ensures that the SD card is safe from electrical contacts, reducing the risk of short circuits and damage to the drive.
- Don’t use the same card on various devices: Use a dedicated SD card for your device,
- Regularly scan your card to avoid virus infections: Use updated antivirus software to scan your SD card to keep them safe from viruses and Malware.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article helped you to understand what makes an SD card damaged and how to know whether it is damaged. So from now on, maintain your card properly, and if any of the symptoms are found on your card, then first recover data from a corrupt SD card and then fix it.
Frequently Asked Questions:
If your memory card suddenly stops working after being used with another device, reformatting can help. Unlike computers, which can read almost any format, mobile phones, cameras, and other devices may be unable to read your SD card unless it is formatted in its own supported file system.
SD card corruption symptoms include:
The card is not recognized by digital cameras or other compatible devices.
Card readers and computers do not recognize the card as a folder that can be read.
When you open files on the card, they appear distorted or have an error.
Although the card can be viewed as a folder, not all its files are visible.
Memory card is not storing data such as captured photos or videos.
