Card error

Zafar Iqbal · 08-20-2014, 02:17 PM

Yesterday, and first time ever I experienced a card error. I do not remember the exact error message, but I'm sure "card error" was in there.

The card has been used before and was formatted prior to the photo session. I took some 2-3 photos before the error message showed. I formatted it again and was able to use it, but to be on the safe side, I swapped it with a different card.

How do I test the card?

Not a Number · 08-20-2014, 02:46 PM

If you have a card reader for your PC or Mac you can try formatting the card with SD Formatter

https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/

This should catch some errors.

If you are running a PC a benchmark program Crystal Disk Mark should show any read/write errors.

CrystalDiskMark - Software - Crystal Dew World

You can only write to the memory a finite number of times. After that you start getting errors. If you had the card for a while and used it heavily it may just be time for a new card.

JohnX · 08-20-2014, 02:48 PM

Why bother? They're cheap enough, so don't risk a failure, buy a replacement, but if you want to test, download H2testw.

Zafar Iqbal · 08-20-2014, 03:00 PM

Thanks for the links. I already have Chrystial Disk Mark installed and will give it a try with that.

JohnX: That's a good point. I suppose I want to make sure it's the card and not the camera.

sterretje · 08-24-2014, 12:09 AM

There is a program called h2testw that can check your cards (Windows). You can do a search here (and elsewhere on the web) to find more info. For Linux, badblocks can do the same.

**Kerrowdown** · 08-24-2014, 02:18 AM

Originally posted by JohnX

Why bother? They're cheap enough, so don't risk a failure, buy a replacement

+1 on this, just ditch it and move on, that having been said, I use SanDisk Extreme cards and I don't think I've ever had a failure.

However I do renew mine every six months, so perhaps that's why, cards are the cheap bit as I'm old enough to remember film.

**savoche** · 08-24-2014, 03:07 AM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

+1 on this, just ditch it and move on, that having been said, I use SanDisk Extreme cards and I don't think I've ever had a failure.

However I do renew mine every six months, so perhaps that's why, cards are the cheap bit as I'm older enough to remember film.

Exactly so. I have had a few cards fail over the years. There is no way I will reuse a card that has shown any kind of suspicious behaviour. With time I have realised that buying quality cards really is worth it.

My past experience with card failures, few as they are, was an important factor when I got the K-3 with its dual card slots. No more losing pictures due to bad cards

Zafar Iqbal · 08-24-2014, 03:03 PM

My oldest is 4 years old and still working, and I do shoot a lot. I tested and used the card since the error and didn't experience anything bad.

All cards are SanDisk except for a single Kingston card.

aleonx3 · 08-24-2014, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by Zafar Iqbal

Yesterday, and first time ever I experienced a card error. I do not remember the exact error message, but I'm sure "card error" was in there.

The card has been used before and was formatted prior to the photo session. I took some 2-3 photos before the error message showed. I formatted it again and was able to use it, but to be on the safe side, I swapped it with a different card.

How do I test the card?

"Card error" can occur if the SD card write-protection lock is on, just make sure that it is not accidentally moved to on when putting the SD card into the camera.

Zafar Iqbal · 08-24-2014, 04:44 PM

When a card is write protected, my K-30 won't take the shot at all on AF-S/C, and when in manual focus mode, it will say "Card is locked". Beside this I also get a locked card icon in all modes, on the display.

I deliberately used the card yesterday, to see how it would behave in a real life scenario and filled it up entirely without anything going on. It's possibly it was a rare fluke and I'm currently not worried about the card being too old or anything like that.

I have other and older card, which have also been used much more frequently, and so far not had card related problems* (but sure, there is a first for anything).

*two of my (previously) most used cards have the lock mechanism break off. They are still working fine with some tape applied to them

08-20-2014, 02:17 PM	#1
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229	Card error Yesterday, and first time ever I experienced a card error. I do not remember the exact error message, but I'm sure "card error" was in there. The card has been used before and was formatted prior to the photo session. I took some 2-3 photos before the error message showed. I formatted it again and was able to use it, but to be on the safe side, I swapped it with a different card. How do I test the card?

08-24-2014, 02:18 AM	#6
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by JohnX Why bother? They're cheap enough, so don't risk a failure, buy a replacement +1 on this, just ditch it and move on, that having been said, I use SanDisk Extreme cards and I don't think I've ever had a failure. However I do renew mine every six months, so perhaps that's why, cards are the cheap bit as I'm old enough to remember film. Last edited by Kerrowdown; 08-24-2014 at 03:55 AM.

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08-20-2014, 02:46 PM	#2
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	If you have a card reader for your PC or Mac you can try formatting the card with SD Formatter https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/ This should catch some errors. If you are running a PC a benchmark program Crystal Disk Mark should show any read/write errors. CrystalDiskMark - Software - Crystal Dew World You can only write to the memory a finite number of times. After that you start getting errors. If you had the card for a while and used it heavily it may just be time for a new card.

08-20-2014, 02:48 PM	#3
JohnX Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London Posts: 1,116	Why bother? They're cheap enough, so don't risk a failure, buy a replacement, but if you want to test, download H2testw.

08-20-2014, 03:00 PM	#4
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229 Original Poster	Thanks for the links. I already have Chrystial Disk Mark installed and will give it a try with that. JohnX: That's a good point. I suppose I want to make sure it's the card and not the camera.

08-24-2014, 12:09 AM	#5
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	There is a program called h2testw that can check your cards (Windows). You can do a search here (and elsewhere on the web) to find more info. For Linux, badblocks can do the same.

08-24-2014, 03:07 AM	#7
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,312	Originally posted by Kerrowdown +1 on this, just ditch it and move on, that having been said, I use SanDisk Extreme cards and I don't think I've ever had a failure. However I do renew mine every six months, so perhaps that's why, cards are the cheap bit as I'm older enough to remember film. Exactly so. I have had a few cards fail over the years. There is no way I will reuse a card that has shown any kind of suspicious behaviour. With time I have realised that buying quality cards really is worth it. My past experience with card failures, few as they are, was an important factor when I got the K-3 with its dual card slots. No more losing pictures due to bad cards

08-24-2014, 03:03 PM	#8
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229 Original Poster	My oldest is 4 years old and still working, and I do shoot a lot. I tested and used the card since the error and didn't experience anything bad. All cards are SanDisk except for a single Kingston card.

08-24-2014, 04:22 PM	#9
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by Zafar Iqbal Yesterday, and first time ever I experienced a card error. I do not remember the exact error message, but I'm sure "card error" was in there. The card has been used before and was formatted prior to the photo session. I took some 2-3 photos before the error message showed. I formatted it again and was able to use it, but to be on the safe side, I swapped it with a different card. How do I test the card? "Card error" can occur if the SD card write-protection lock is on, just make sure that it is not accidentally moved to on when putting the SD card into the camera.

08-24-2014, 04:44 PM	#10
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229 Original Poster	When a card is write protected, my K-30 won't take the shot at all on AF-S/C, and when in manual focus mode, it will say "Card is locked". Beside this I also get a locked card icon in all modes, on the display. I deliberately used the card yesterday, to see how it would behave in a real life scenario and filled it up entirely without anything going on. It's possibly it was a rare fluke and I'm currently not worried about the card being too old or anything like that. I have other and older card, which have also been used much more frequently, and so far not had card related problems* (but sure, there is a first for anything). *two of my (previously) most used cards have the lock mechanism break off. They are still working fine with some tape applied to them