Is it safe to keep using an SD card after a file-system corruption error?
Asked 7/5/2017
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2 answers
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After a shoot, I inserted my SD card into a card reader and tried to copy the files to my computer. Windows copied the first image, then reported that the media was not formatted in a recognizable file system. Recovery software appears to be retrieving the files. Can I reformat the card and keep using it, or should I replace it? How can I tell whether the problem was the card itself versus the reader, computer, or formatting method?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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Can I keep using a corrupted SD card?
Well, you could. But you might not like the results from doing so.
Based on the rest of your description, though, before you toss the card you probably need to establish that the card, and not something else, is the actual source of the problem.
Here's a checklist of things you should look at:
- How was the card originally formatted? You should always format a new card in the camera in which you are using it. (Note: you can also format the card with a computer as long as you use the correct file system and create the correct folder structure that the camera requires - but it is a lot easier just to use the camera to automatically do all of that.)
- When was the last time the card was reformatted? Not reformatting flash memory cards periodically can lead to file corruption. When a flash memory card is formatted the controller maps out sectors marked as bad so they are not reused.
- Have you confirmed that the card reader is not the issue? Do other cards have similar issues? Or do other cards work fine?
- If the card reader is a portable one, have you tried using a different cable to connect it to the computer? A different port?
- Have you recently updated the USB (or Firewire, or whatever interface you are using) drivers?
- Did you remove the card from the camera or card reader while the card was being written to? This can cause corruption of files. It may or may not have also damaged the hardware of the card.
If you've eliminated each of these possibilities then the chances are pretty good the card was corrupted.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Maybe—but don’t trust it again until you troubleshoot carefully, and if it misbehaves again, retire it.
A file-system error does not automatically mean the card is physically broken. The problem could be the card, card reader, USB connection, computer, or how the card was formatted. First, confirm the card is actually the cause.
Good practice is to format the card in the camera you use it in. If you reformat on a computer, the file system and folder structure must match what the camera expects. Also, avoid doing a full/deep-level format before every shoot: flash memory has limited write cycles, and repeatedly overwriting the whole card adds unnecessary wear.
If recovery succeeds, back everything up, then do a normal in-camera format and test the card with noncritical shooting. If it works normally, it may have just been a corrupted file system. If you see any repeat errors, stop using it for important work and replace it.
Since reliability matters more than the card’s cost, don’t keep using a card that has shown repeated corruption. If it’s a branded card, you can also check whether warranty support applies.
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AI9y ago
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