Solved SD Card Problems

ArthurDent · May 22, 2024

Hi folks

Hope someone can help with this.

I have a Transcend High Endurance 128Gb micro SD card which was used in a dashcam that WILL NOT FORMAT.

It has loads of files on it, which I want to wipe.

I have tried numerous ways to format the card - all to no avail.

If Windows won't (for whatever reason) format the card, can I do it in Linux Mint (and if so, how exactly)?

There is no hardware or software 'write protect' on the card as far as I know

Thanks in advance,

Art

Berton · May 22, 2024

The problem is that Windows has a 32GB partition size limit for FAT32 which also has a 4GB single-file size limit. You may be able to delete the partition on it in Disk Management but I find it best to reformat SD/SDHC cards in the camera they are to be used in, sometimes Windows formatting doesn't work properly in the camera. For difficult cleaning of a drive I use Linux Mint with GPARTED [GNU/Gnome Partition Editor] to delete and recreate, could also download the GPARTED .iso file used to create/burn a bootable LiveCD then boot to it and clean the card.

ArthurDent · May 22, 2024

Thanks Berton.

I have a copy of Linux Mint on a bootable USB stick, but in all truth, I haven't played with it much and your reply doesn't really make sense to me.

I have heard of GPARTED but have no idea how to use it (indeed, is it part of LM or is it something else I need to install) - your reply seems to hint of that it is separate?

Could you do a quick 'Idiot's Guide' as to how with a bootable USB copy of LM running and the micro SD card fitted into an SD Adapter and plugged in, how I might format the card?

Do I, for example, need to mount the SD card when plugged in and Mint is running?

Cheers

Art

glasskuter · May 22, 2024

Have you tried formatting the drive as ntfs

cereberus · May 22, 2024

It is most likely that the whole 128 GB card is formatted as fat32 which is a problem for Windows as Windows cannot format partitions over 32GB.

You have not said what you want to use card for.

If it is to reuse in dash cam then:

I would use minitool partition wizard free to delete the fat32 partition, create a new 32gb one, format as fat32, then expand it to 128 GB.

If it is to reuse in pc, simply format drive as exFAT.

Berton · May 22, 2024

GPARTED is included on the Linux LiveUSB and the install routine uses it to partition/format an internal drive if choosing to install from the USB. I use it to delete partitions then create new, have done a 500GB HDD as FAT32, Windows can read and write to it. My largest USB Thumb drive is 256GB and factory formatted as FAT32.

Steve C · May 23, 2024

ArthurDent said:
Hi folks

Hope someone can help with this.

I have a Transcend High Endurance 128Gb micro SD card which was used in a dashcam that WILL NOT FORMAT.

It has loads of files on it, which I want to wipe.

I have tried numerous ways to format the card - all to no avail.

If Windows won't (for whatever reason) format the card, can I do it in Linux Mint (and if so, how exactly)?

There is no hardware or software 'write protect' on the card as far as I know

Thanks in advance,

Art

Can you write to the SD card. If not, your card is bust.

ArthurDent · May 23, 2024

Tried putting the card into the dashcam to format it.

Dashcam reported an error and said it couldn't fomat the card.

Is this a common error - I can look at the files on the card in my pc, I can click on any video file and it plays okay - I just can't format the card.

Art

ArthurDent · May 23, 2024

Steve C said:
Can you write to the SD card. If not, your card is bust.

No,

Card is "full" hence my trying to format it to clear it.

I'll try deleteing the odd video file using my pc and see if that works and repot back.

Art

Try3 · May 23, 2024

ArthurDent said:
Is this a common error

Yes

ArthurDent said:
I can look at the files on the card in my pc

Yes, cards can remain readable for a decade or more after they lose the ability to write / format.

ArthurDent said:
Card is "full"

Then I agree that trying to delete a file would reveal whether or not the card can still be written to.

Denis

ArthurDent · May 23, 2024

Update:

Popped card in laptop (as per System 2). Said card needed formatting.

Card won't format - gets part-way through formatting then get message similar to "Windows could not complete the format"

Solution:

Card snapped in half and binned.

I guess I can now mark this thread as "solved"!

Art

Steve C · May 23, 2024

ArthurDent said:
Update:

Popped card in laptop (as per System 2). Said card needed formatting.

Card won't format - gets part-way through formatting then get message similar to "Windows could not complete the format"

Solution:

Card snapped in half and binned.

I guess I can now mark this thread as "solved"!

Art

It might have a lifetime waarranty so remove from bin and make a claim?

ArthurDent · May 23, 2024

Steve C said:
It might have a lifetime waarranty so remove from bin and make a claim?

I looked into that when I was first aware of the formatting issue and as far as I remember, the warranty was 2 years (and card is older than that so a no-go).

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Art

Ghot · May 23, 2024

I use EaseUS Partition Master to format USB sticks and SD cards.
So far it hasn't failed me yet.

Btw... Gparted (Gnome Partition Editor), is it's own thing, so to speak...

GParted -- A free application for graphically managing disk device partitions

gparted.org

For bootable Gparted...

GParted -- Live CD/USB/PXE/HD

gparted.org

ArthurDent · May 23, 2024

Partition Manager couldn't do it either.

Slowly came to the conclusion that the card was FUBAR'd so snapped in half and binned to preserve personal information.

When all is said and done, we're talking about a memory card that costs less than 20 GPB (approx 25 USD) so no great loss.

Thanks to everone for their input.

Art