SD Card Error!

[Monty Gibson]

This has happened once too many times. I'm using my Pocket PC (T-Mobile) and using the SD card (SanDisk 256mb) to access some programs throughout the day. All of the sudden, for no apparent reason it will say: "Would you like your Pocket PC to format the card so that the device can read from it?" This then makes the SD card unaccessible! As if it's been erased and lost it's format or FAT table! There is no other way around this but to re-format it and re-install everything. Has anyone else had this problem? I have Pocket Backup but it stores the backup files to the SD card. Not really handy when this happens and you cannot get to it! I also have StorageTools and have backed-up my FAT and when I try to use StorageTools to try and repair it the program does not even recognize it's even there. Any advice, any help would be appreciated. Or, if anything just let me know that I am not the only one who has this problem.

[wiljs]

i used a compact sd for over a year without any problem, but now my ipaq 3970 cant see it or the sandisk...even after reformating, it cant see either one...although both still work in the 38xx i have...let me know if you get any good advice....

[Janak Parekh]

The bad news I have for you is, it's probably because it's a Sandisk card. :( Sandisk SD cards seem to have more issues than any other brand, especially capacities > 128MB. At least, that's what I've repeatedly heard on this board. My Lexar 512MB has worked perfectly on my PPCPE so far... :knock wood:

--janak

[Monty Gibson]

i used a compact sd for over a year without any problem, but now my ipaq 3970 cant see it or the sandisk...even after reformating, it cant see either one...although both still work in the 38xx i have...let me know if you get any good advice....

Are they both SanDisk? I would hate to think that SanDisk would put out a corrupted SD card. I have another 256 SanDisk and the same thing happens. It's annoying and hence why I bought the Pocket Backup program. I'll let you know if I hear anything or just keep following the thread. I don't have a clue. I am going to do one backup and store it on my spare SD card and one on my PC at home. What a pain :grumble: .

[Monty Gibson]

The bad news I have for you is, it's probably because it's a Sandisk card. :( Sandisk SD cards seem to have more issues than any other brand, especially capacities > 128MB. At least, that's what I've repeatedly heard on this board. My Lexar 512MB has worked perfectly on my PPCPE so far... :knock wood:

--janak

Awwww man :huh:! Thanks for the information. I think I will have to purchase another brand from now on if this is the case; which I am beginning to believe it is.

[droppedd]

The SanDisk SD cards seem to have issues the most with Dell and Toshiba PPCs. I know I read a thread a few days ago where someone said they spoke to Sandisk techsupport and they acknowledged that it's a known issue with their cards, and they offered to replace it with a CF card of equal size. Of course that won't help you all that much if you've got a device with SD only.

[GadgetDave]

Same card, same problem. I've had it too. And SanDisk has replaced it twice, but it's still annoying ...

[Monty Gibson]

The SanDisk SD cards seem to have issues the most with Dell and Toshiba PPCs. I know I read a thread a few days ago where someone said they spoke to Sandisk techsupport and they acknowledged that it's a known issue with their cards, and they offered to replace it with a CF card of equal size. Of course that won't help you all that much if you've got a device with SD only.

Well lets see, that's:

Dell
Toshiba
02, XDA, MDA, T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition
(Insert Other Name Here)

I think SanDisk needs to ensure quality control before making such statements (that their cards are compatible). Aren't they the ones who just issued a 1 Gigabyte card recently? I think I'll wait and take some advice and wait until Lexar manufactures theirs. I'm tired of this "error." I appreciate all the support that you all have given me. I thought I was going :silly:.

[Monty Gibson]

Same card, same problem. I've had it too. And SanDisk has replaced it twice, but it's still annoying ...

You'd think they would ensure that they sent you a functional card... two no less! I was under the impression that SanDisk was the best SD Card Manufacture around. Sort of a de facto standard. I suppose I was wrong :bangin:. Besides, aren't Lexar cards black? I think that would look better than a blue SD card sticking out of the bottom of the device anyway :wink:. Thanks for the support and your story. I know now that I would just be wasting my time trying to get support from them. I do believe; however, that I will pressure them for my money back. We'll see, but I highly doubt it. :roll:

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

I actually get this message occassionally, but for me its always easily fixed by pulling the card out and pushing it back in??

I do agree though that SanDisk flash cards can be problematic.

[Monty Gibson]

I actually get this message occassionally, but for me its always easily fixed by pulling the card out and pushing it back in??

I do agree though that SanDisk flash cards can be problematic.

I've been "lucky" enough to have this happen to me at least six or seven times. But, the rest of the times it's been unrepairable and had to be reformatted. I wonder if it gets worse over time. It seems to be.

[Cortex]

i too have a sandisk 256 mb card and i have problems with it but they are slightly different.

also i had the card replaced one with the same errors on the second card.

for me, when i try to copy large files to it i get a "memory error inconsistancy check" or some such thing. it only happens for some files -- others seem to copy over. then when i go to use it my device only some (if any) of the files are available for use. also sometimes when i go to browse the card it will be filled with folders that are named "."

these errors tend to occur when i use an external card reader to transfer files.

i have a sandisk 128 mb card that has never failed me and i use that one for all of my important stuff.

[Monty Gibson]

i too have a sandisk 256 mb card and i have problems with it but they are slightly different.

also i had the card replaced one with the same errors on the second card.

for me, when i try to copy large files to it i get a "memory error inconsistancy check" or some such thing. it only happens for some files -- others seem to copy over. then when i go to use it my device only some (if any) of the files are available for use. also sometimes when i go to browse the card it will be filled with folders that are named "."

these errors tend to occur when i use an external card reader to transfer files.

i have a sandisk 128 mb card that has never failed me and i use that one for all of my important stuff.


That's horrible! I have not had this error (yet). You should be able to depend on your cards at any given moment. The price that we paid for these cards should have well been worth the extra effort to ensure their efficacy. I now have a backup of a backup of a backup. It's ridiculous what I have to do to ensure the safety of my large amount of data.

[Cortex]

i've found that if i use Storage Tools to format the card on the device (instead of my SD card reader i have attached to my desktop) and then transfer the files via ActiveSync explore its more reliable.

[Jeff Rutledge]

Same here. As long as I don't use my SD Card reader everything is fine. If I use it to read/delete/transfer files, there's a good chance I'll be reformatting shortly thereafter.

[james4204]

Hi all
well, i havent used a sandisk sd card in a pocket pc, but i have the same problems using it in my digital camera, the problem is the sandisk cards. the fat currupts on the cards from constant reading and writing, anything over 128mb appears to be unreliable, several times now after taking 50 odd pictures, it loses all the data! this problem has been happening to hundreds of people from whati can see!

ihave been told to format the card before every use in the device that im using it in, ie digital camera, pocket pc. but im afraid to delete any pictures in case this corrupts the fat


i have tried to contact sandisk, but no replies to several emails....

if you are looking for a memory upgrade, DO NOT get a sandisk sd card!
the sandisk memory sticks , flash and compact or fine, but the larger sd memory cards are useless!