SD Card Formatter (FAQs)

FAQs

FAT32 is the 32-bit version of the File Allocation Table (FAT) file system. A file system defines the protocol for storing and organizing data on a hard drive, including aspects like file names and permissions.

Before the introduction of the New Technology File System (NTFS) in 1993, Windows operating systems, such as Windows 95, primarily used FAT32. NTFS later became the standard with the release of Windows NT.

A GUI formatter, or graphical user interface formatter, is a software tool that enables users to format storage devices such as hard drives, USB drives, or memory cards through a visual and user-friendly interface.

Unlike command-line formatting tools that require users to input text commands, a GUI formatter offers buttons, menus, and other visual elements, allowing users to select options and initiate the formatting process easily.

Formatting predominantly fixes data corruption issues. Corrupted SD cards can be reused by formatting.

You can recover a corrupted SD card by following the method:

1. Connect/ insert the SD card into the computer.
2. Open "My Computer" or "This PC" to open File Explorer.
3. Identify your SD card device under "external drives and devices"—Right-click on your SD card device. Select the Format option from the menu. This opens the Format window.
4. Choose the file system format. You will have three options: NTFS, FAT32, and exFAT. The option to choose depends on the size of the storage cards you're using.
5. Click Start.

1. Connect/insert your SD card into the computer. If your computer does not have an SD card slot, place your SD card within the card reader decently.
2. Click on "My Computer". This will open the internal and external drives of your system.
3. Identify your SD card device under "external drives and devices ".
4. And right-click on it. Click on "Format ".
5. After selecting "Format", a format window appears in the newly emerged menu of "File System formats", select the "FAT" option.
6. Click on "Format" at the bottom of the window and wait for the process to complete. This may take several minutes.

1. Take a note of the drive letter assigned to your SD card device.
2. Enter "command" in the search box.
3. Right-click the "command prompt" icon and always select the "Run as administrator" option.
4. In the newly opened Command Prompt, enter "chkdsk" followed by the drive letter assigned to the SD card device, then by a colon symbol and the/f option. (e.g., chkdsk H: /f)
5. Press Enter. The Check Disk utility will scan for errors and attempt to repair a corrupt SD card.
6. After some time, if it displays "Windows has made corrections to the file system," the damaged SD card is fixed correctly, and you should now have access to your data.

Update your obsolete memory or SD card driver. Due to an outdated SD card driver, your computer may not accurately detect the SD card.

Follow the steps below to update the SD card drive:

1. Connect your SD card to the computer.
2. Right-click on My Computer/This PC and select "Manage ".
3. On the left taskbar, click "Device Manager" and then click "+", which is located next to "USB Serial Bus controllers."
4. Right-click on the yellow exclamation mark that appears and select "Update Driver Software." Then, select "Automatically search for updated driver software."
5. Wait till the driver is installed and restart your computer.

1. Due to spyware or a virus, the SD card may be compromised. Your phone will no longer be able to read it.
2. The slot is compressed. The design of the slot is very fragile. If the thickness of the battery exceeds a specific limit, the slot may become too narrow.
3. SD chip is dirty – often, there is an accumulation of dust or dirt due to careless handling of the chip.

The SD card is formatted improperly. This may happen due to the wrong selection of the file system. Your mobile phone may not support the file system on your SD card. The SD card is not compatible with the device.

The most common reason why the SD card is undetected is that the SD card reader is faulty, incorrect, or obsolete. The card reader may not be compatible with the SD card.

The SD card is formatted improperly. This may happen due to the wrong selection of the file system. Another cause of an undetected SD card is the accumulation of dirt and dust on the chips, leading to poor contact.

Hardware problem – Either your USB port or the card is faulty. If your SD card is not recognized or detected, it may be due to obsolete drivers installed on your PC.

1. Unmount and remount the SD card device – find the SD card section in the settings. Perform the mount SD card or unmount SD card operations to solve the problem. This is the most effective solution for some SD cards with unrecognizable issues. Your phone should not be connected to the computer during the above process.
2. Restart your Android phone.
3. Remove the phone's battery and SD card, and then reinsert them.
4. Clean your SD card lightly. Poor contact between slots and cards may be the reason.
5. Repair hardware problem – either your Android or SD card may be damaged.
6. Factory reset the Android phone.

There is minimal possibility of data recovery if your card is physically damaged. But there is still a chance to recover the data if it is corrupted due to the virus's attack.

Using a card reader, insert the corrupted SD card into your computer, and note the drive letter.

Type "command" in the Windows search box and Right-click on the "command prompt" icon and choose "Run as administrator".

In the command window, type the command "chkdsk [drive letter assigned to SD card device]: /f" and hit Enter.

The Check Disk utility will start scanning and repairing any errors on the corrupted SD card and recovering any stored data.

Very often, SD cards are write-protected due to software.

1. Run the command prompt. The Command Prompt window will open. Type "diskpart" on the keyboard and press Enter. Next, type the command "list disk" in Windows and hit Enter.
2. The new window will show the disk connected. Select the SD card. Next, enter the command "select disk 0 ", then hit Enter.
3. Next, type the command "Attributes disk clear read-only" and press Enter.
4. Attributes will be cleared, and writing this action will remove protection.
5. These actions will remove the attributes and write protection from your micro SD card.

1. By Checking the Physical Write Protection. If the switch is moved down inadvertently, slide the tiny switch up toward the top of the SD card.
2. If this does not work, try out the following steps.
3. Run the command prompt. The command window will open. Type "diskpart" on the keyboard and press Enter. Type the command "list disk" and hit Enter.
4. The new window will show the disk connected. Select the SD card. Next, type the command "select disk 0", then hit Enter.
5. Next, type "Attributes disk clear read-only" command and hit enter.
6. Attributes will be cleared, and writing this action will remove protection. This will remove write protection from your micro SD card.

A tiny sliding switch is provided on the left side of the SD card. It is provided to prevent the accidental deletion of data stored in it. If you are experiencing issues with a write-protected SD card, check the small switch on the side.

If the sliding switch has been unintentionally moved down towards the bottom of the SD card, it will lock the card and make it write-protected. Unlock the SD card by sliding the tiny switch up towards the highest point of the SD card.

This may unlock the SD card and remove the protection. Now you will be able to delete and modify the content on the SD card.