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microSD card and adapter write protection problem

Hello,

I've got a very strange problem with the microSD card + adapter from Toshiba. The adapter *does not have* the "lock" switch, that means you can't enable/disable write protection. At first I loaded some music from my PC to the card and then used the card in a Nokia cell phone and since then the card is write-protected. I can't delete anything on the card.
My question: how does the write protection work? Can I simply bridge some contacts (i.e. those that the MMC doesn't have) to disable the protection?

Regards
Sven

Sven
Sun, 10 Sep 2006 12:08:28 -0700

Are you sure it has no tab for the "lock" switch? Maybe it broke.

You can't delete stuff on it from your phone or from your PC? Try it on several devices. If it work on one device, but not another, then maybe the device is broken and not the card.

Chieh Cheng
Tue, 12 Sep 2006 14:44:37 -0700

It looks like windows XP has some problem with some cards or some readers, there is a path in the windows regestry that makes the card read only.

JR
Fri, 17 Nov 2006 17:29:44 -0800

could you tell me more about this issue JR?
Im having problems with a micro sd card right now.

thanks

assface
Sat, 02 Dec 2006 09:10:04 -0800

I Had the same problem and read this... i run on 98 upstairs and found that if you install the driver and keep the switch off of lock it should let you highlight the media you want and then right click and hit send to (in my case) F: and it let me go from there.

@$$Pirate
Mon, 02 Apr 2007 16:32:41 -0700

Hi
i also have an issue with my micro SD card it's brand new and so is the adapter howevewr when i conect it to the computer it works until i attempt to move any data onto it. will some one please help me
thanks jon

Jon
Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:19:34 -0700

Cameras, phones, MP3 players and all sorts of devices have this same exact problem. I have scoured the net looking for someone that has an answer and I have only found the same inane replies (flip the little switch (everyone tries that first}, remove read only attribute {you can't}, make sure you remove it from the phone properly {not while in use etc. - doesn't work either}, make sure the DRM allows you to use {irrelevant these are not DRM files and even if then only those files would be impacted}).
The problem seems to be either that the SW developers either deliberately leave the write protection (or read only) in place to prevent what they see as interference issues with other users writing "their" disk with data. (why don;t they just learn how to properly manage the issue?)
Or the SW developers think that writing to the device at the painfully slow rate via their app is ok...I am loading maps into a N95 phone - a map of NH is 12M and took 30 mins to load via the Nokia app. That means my 2G memory card would take 160 hours to write all of it....160 hours !!!

obviously I have little regard for sloppy programming (and its everywhere now literally everywhere)- I have even less regard for support services that don;t know of this issue (do they have google in the support center?) or don't care or don't know how to fix this problem (which I suspect is the real reason...hence th comment above)

If you know of a fix PLEASE let us know...I don't

Phil
Fri, 25 May 2007 15:14:44 -0700

yea I have the same problem

Mike
Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:20:00 -0700

Tape a small piece of brown package tape across the switch, keep doing this until it works. Mine took 3 pieces, but it works every time.

Mark Ward
Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:33:11 -0500

Other SD, MicroSD or other memory card problems exist, include needing to upgrade to a higher capacity card and copy all the files across to the new one. This may involve copyright issues, but surely owners who have bought devices (and presumably the licences to use any packaged applications) should be able to back them up or transfer them to new media?

Here's one Nokia phone owner's solution: MicroSD & Nokia SD Memory Card Copy, Transfer, Upgrade Problem

websel
Mon, 23 Jul 2007 07:29:26 +0000

I have an LG enV... im assuming that its part of the LG software that formats the card because only the enV can write anything to it... is there anyway to get around this!?!?

Wes
Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:56:32 +0000

I'm having this problem as well and I've done everything Phil talks about above. If anyone can help I'd really appreciate it.

Robert Young
Fri, 17 Aug 2007 05:41:34 +0000

I have a RAZR v3m ,a 2 gig MicroSD card,it has no switch to turn on or off it does everything i need it to do when its in the phone but will not accept anything from my computer, i am able to remove from the card to my computer but cannot add,delete, or format this card on my computer, because its copy write protected.HELP!

B.A.B
Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:55:38 +0000

As noted above, place some tape over the switch. I colored in the tape with a pen. It worked like a charm.

This is just like in the old days of 5.25" disks (anyone remember those?) and the high tech copy protect system they used.

LCD
Tue, 11 Sep 2007 20:44:10 +0000

i dont get it, which switch do i cover with tape??

emzybabe007
Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:58:20 +0000

Take a look at the photo that is shown in the "memory card locked" thread (in the TrackBack section below).

Chieh Cheng
Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:59:48 +0000

I'm having this same problem with a 4gb micro sd card. I cant delete anything off the card, and my phone gets stuck while trying to open the songs. So I'm pretty much out of luck. I've tried it on several comps and nothing. I dont understand. Theres no switch on the micro sd card. Theres nothing I can do.

Abe
Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:48:14 +0000

i have a similar problem with my new card. My nokia card is fine when connecting to my mac through a card reader or directy from my phome using the usb cord. But the sandisk card i just purchased does not want to load on to my desktop when i put it into the card reader and it is only recognized by my computer when i plug the phone into it with the usb cable... but then it is only on read only mode. I formated the card through the phone... but still i have no right to copy to it....i have written to the sandisk and nokia support with no answer at all.... is it the card that is broken?

jose Salmeron
Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:50:38 +0000

I have a nokia 6085 and when i go into gallery it usually says PNY memory. But now it says memory card and has a lock sign next to it. when i click on it it asked for a password. Of course i dont know what the password is becase i just turned the phone on and it was locked. at least i assume locked. the micro sd card does not have a lock switch. I cant plug it into my computer becase the sd extender that came with it doesnt work.

Blake
Wed, 24 Oct 2007 18:49:46 +0000

I thnk... none knows the solution... for tis,,, or wat... no one is postin d solutin.. every1 only... describin.. there problem,,,, plzzzz... stop describing ur problems... && turn to some useful solutions~~~

thegrchet
Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:19:56 +0000

is it possible that the service providers are finding a way to code & jam our cards? Mine worked fine till today. I took 3 pix, and read one txt. Tried to open the photos after I read the picture message, and the phone jammed up. Now the card is write protected, and I cannot add or delete content. My application is in a cell phone, if you could not tell.

anonymous
Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:57:04 +0000

I tried everything with my microSD card, the tape works...it's the only solution!
Thanks.

The tape worked
Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:12:05 +0000

MICRO SD CARDS HAVE NO COPY PROTECTION SWITCH PEOPLE !!! STOP SUGGESTING TAPING OVER SWITCH !!

leew
Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:47:26 +0000

I bought one 1GB microSD card of SanDisk for my Samsung cellphone. I am unable to add any file to it through Samsung PC Studio or Windows Explorer. Problem 'card is write protected'. It connects through USB as mass storage device to PC.
Any HELP please?
Thanks

ram48
Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:10:51 +0000

No, the microSD cards do not have a write protect switch. BUT the SD adapter that they slide into do have a switch. I was skeptical but on my first try at taping the switch (because the switch just slides loosely back and forth), it worked! In my case, I taped the switch so it was positioned closest to the adapter contacts. Once transferring started, it took only about 2 minutes to copy 100 songs occupying about 440 megs of space. Hope this helps!

Charles
Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:40:53 +0000

while i use to use my card reader it shows the write protection.

Suraj
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:29:53 +0000

Access through Cellphone or through Adapter with write protect switch tapped (in both way via USB), I can not copy any file to the SanDisk microSD card as it is "write protected". I have formatted it in the Cellphone, as well as in Windows XP with SDFormatter program several times.
I am sure there is some thing done by the manufacturer.

ram48
Sun, 04 May 2008 23:59:16 +0000

Sometimes you only have to use another adapter or unplug and replug into the USB port.
Or use a different port. Go to the link in my previous post:
MicroSD & Nokia SD Memory Card Copy, Transfer, Upgrade Problem

websel
Tue, 06 May 2008 01:45:33 +0000

To make a disk copy with Winimage, edit it & reload this image to microSD card requires copying/writting the image
on the microSD card which is not allowed. Any ways ?

ram48
Sat, 10 May 2008 16:41:21 +0000

I just got a Lexar microSD card and no matter what ive tried it alwasys says write protected. any help?

Katie
Sat, 24 May 2008 00:30:20 +0000

I bought micro sd card and i got adapter to sd in the box, when i put micro sd in phone it works and i can write, move, remove, everithyng.... but adapter is problem. there is no need to tape over the switch on adapter because i doesen't moves in reader, how does SD cards (regular) doesent have this problem with switch?

I need help please, in the meantime i will try with another reader....

Kaso
Wed, 28 May 2008 14:54:50 +0000

I tried with tape but now my adapter is stuck in my computer.. I had the same problem as many else here does. I can's remove or write on my memorycard..

Nette
Fri, 30 May 2008 14:56:28 +0000

hai friends iam having the same problem. i bought a sandisk 1GB microSD sd card with motorola adapter .i tried to connect to computer by opening the switch,but iget an error message the card is write protected.do you know how to solve the problem .please sent to my email address
deepu_dinesh2010@tyahoo.com.
i am waiting your reply.

deepu
Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:35:23 +0000

Enable/Disable Ability to Write to Removable Disk for vista

run reg edit
go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\storagedevicepolicies
set writeprotect to 0 to disable or 1 to enable

Ray
Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:32:35 +0000

my phone model is nokia 6085 and its memory card is locked. , i will forget my password of memory card.
give me some idea for ulocking the memory card.

vinit
Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:15:05 +0000

I simply copied the files that are on the card and then formatted it and copied them back. Problem solved :P

zerokas
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:47:13 +0000

simple .....put the files you want into a folder then copy the folder paste the files from the transfered folder then delete the folder ........works

david
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:38:11 +0000

Whenever i try to load up the sd it gets stuck right there?

Anonymous
Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:51:16 +0000

I have just had this problem occur and taping over the switch on the SD apater has solved the problem.

This will only work you those of you who are using a Micro SD in an SD adapter in an SD card reader, it took a couple of layers of sticky tape and a little piece of paper.

Reminds me of doctoring my old cassette tapes and video tapes so I could record over them... Ahh those were the days :)

I guess it's a case of tricking either the adapter or the card reader into thinking there is no switch, therefore no write protection.

But it DOES work!!!

Thanx all for this thread.

sticky
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:32:26 +0000

I HAVE FOUND A RESULT....USE ANY HOUSE HOLD DIGITAL CAMERA AND USE THE CAMERA TO SYNC THE microSD OR ANY OTHER SD CARD, THEN YOU CAN ADD OR DELETE ITEMS TO THE CARD AND USE IT ON A CELL PHONE OR ANY OTHER MULTI-MEDIA DEVICE.

Artin
Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:48:07 +0000

well done artin, this really works. however........ 'sticking tape over the switch' jesus!

anonymous
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:15:07 +0000

OMG!!!! I thought the same as most of you..at first i was like "the micro sd card doesnt have a switch...and then i realized they ment the adaptor and was like..."these guys are idiots, the tape isnt working..."... WELL, someone on here said something about tape and paper and i tried that and viola!!! i put a piece of paper then three pieces of tape and OMG!!! it worked...im sooooo excited! FINALLY!!!! good luck everyone. i PROMISE itll work!!!!

Arianna
Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:40:18 +0000

I had the same problem with a San Disk Micro memory card, 1 gig. I used it with the adapter after buying it and copied a couple videos, jpgs', mp3's to the card... my Samsung A737 read it fine. A couple months later, I tried to delete some of the videos to add new ones and it said I couldn't, the card was write protected. I tired the switch in all positions, top - middle - and bottom, no luck. So, I connected the phone with a USB cable (proprietary style for Samsung) and loaded PC Studio (free from Samsung). It worked and I was able to delete files and add new ones, which now proves the memory card itself is not bad, but that stupid adapter. Rather than go thru the hastle I already did once a couple years ago sending back a card, I will do it with the usb cable and eventually pickup a bluetooth usb device and then I don't even have to connect the cable. I thought SanDisk would have the best cards but not too happy with them anymore! When a off brand 4 or 8 gig go on sale, I will try them next.

Norme
Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:40:16 +0000

The tape works, thanks guys, it was driving me crazy.

Recardo
Thu, 25 Dec 2008 07:38:57 +0000

I HAVE A PROPER SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. IF U HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH YOUR SD CARD OR MICRO SD CARD WITH ADAPTOR. FIND A NOKIA MOBILE IN YOUR FRIENDS GROUP WHERE IN YOU CAN INSERT YOUR CARD AND FORMAT IT. IT WILL DEFENITELY WORK.IM SURE IT WILL WORK BECAUSE 5 OF MY CARDS ARE WHICH HAS SIMILAR PROBLEMS ARE WORKING NOW.

anonymous
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:16:27 +0000

just tried the tape thing and low and behold it works...
i had to put 4 layers of tape on..but it worked great..
thanks

jjd
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:26:35 +0000

Guys! Whoever said the sticky tape work is my man. It worked the 1st time i tried it. Thanks a lot you saved all amy sd cards.

big5kahuna
Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:08:03 +0000

Sticky tap worked for me too! Good goin, thanks sooo much =D

lindsay
Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:11:31 +0000

Hi, I`ve Had The Same Problem . I Bought A 2 GB Micro Scandisk & Threw It Away Cause I Could Niether Format Nor Add Things On It As It Was Saying Right Protected. Bought Another 1 & The Same Happened Again But I Sorted It .....It Wasn`t A Problem With Micro Disk It Was The Lock Switch On The Side Of The Other Cartridge The Microcard Slots Into That Was The Problem It Needs To Be Positioned About In The Middle & Hey Presto It Worked !!!AT LAST!!!
Hope This Helps...........

lynn
Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:12:55 +0000

i tried the sticky tape, it doesnt work for the fact my micro sd card adapters lock key locks into place when you slide it to the locked/unlocked position. it does not slide freely. i tried putting opaque tape over the connector tooth closest to the cut edge of the sd adapter... the didnt work either. i tried formatting it in my camera and mp3 player. and that didnt work either. theres gotta be a program or setting you can access of some sort to truly fix the problem.

mike
Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:02:44 +0000

I had the same problem...sticky tape did not help..changing the card reader did though! luckily i had a spare that i had not used before, so when i swapped it..voila! success...i have retired the other reader to the old shoebox which keeps the electronics junk i no longer use....

peter lue
Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:56:33 +0000

I bought a SanDisk Micro SD Card w/Adapter and had the same "write protected" problem. I slid the write protecter switch to the middle and put a single peice of tape over the entire write protection area and that worked. Try that and see if this works.

Craig
Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:44:03 +0000

I was pretty sceptical about the tape fix (thought that I must have missed some funky setting somewhere), but a piece of yellow post-it and 3 (1 then 2 layers did not sufficiently cover the indentation on side of card) layers of sellotape later and it works perfectly (it is a bit of a tight fit and requires a wee tug to remove it). Sometimes it is simple.

Moray Howie
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:52:49 +0000

3 wraps around the adaptor with scotch tape and BAM!!!! files are copying....Thanks guys!!!!!

Frank D.
Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:05:26 +0000

If anyone is still interested, the micros sd card does hold a set of configuration files in a hidden folder on the root of the drive. Although you maybe able to see them you will noit be able to just delete them. I have managed to format my micro SD card through various devices and resulted in a useable card; this is what I did.
1. Formatted the card in my Canon IXUS 9501S using a low level format option.
2. Inserted the card into my Nokia N82 and in the MEMORY app again formatted the card.
3. I then finally inserted the card into a micro SD USB flash adapter, not a micro SD to SD card adapter and again formatted the card using FAT32.

My micro SD card is a 8GB card, unbranded, supplied with my Nokia 5800. I could view the "Private" folder on the card after inserting it into the micro SD adapter, before I formating the final time.

I hope this is a bit more useful than the people who say "put some tape on it", which is clearly not the solution.

SKG

Voice of Reason
Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:48:14 +0000

Just bought a Nokia 7510.It has a Nokia 512mb card in it. Nokia says I can go up to a 2 Gig disk. Anyway I bought a SanDisk adaptor & 2 Gig disk. My computer won't even show that the adaptor & disk are plugged in. When I plug my Nokia 512mb card in the SanDisk adaptor; every thoing works GREAT. I transferred about 100 photos to the Nokia card with no problem. The SanDisk card wont show up at all in the SanDisk adaptor. GoFigure. So I guess I'll buy a 2Gig Nokia card.

Chuck
Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:35:20 +0000

THE TAPE WORKS I WAS SKEPTICAL BUT IT WORKS

Jake
Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:49:59 +0000

i have a route 66 micro sd card and it is saying write protected what can i do

Kabi
Tue, 05 May 2009 08:22:36 +0000

yea the sticky tape works perfect thanks....

melo
Wed, 13 May 2009 22:12:43 +0000

Tape alone didn't work for me. Paper with tape over the adapter tab finally did the trick.

Thanks Everyone.

Chris
Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:37:27 +0000

tape does the shizzle
USE THE TAPE

It took about 8 layers for it to work so combining paper and tape might be a shortcut

azbazfizzlefezzle
Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:01:29 +0000

i was continuing to use the printer to try and transfer files, i tried the tape trick, it didn't work, so finially i tried one last thing, i connected it to my laptop with the direct sd+microsd card slot, and it worked fine!

kevbo
Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:07:33 +0000

Yes, I used 3M's 'Magic' tape and coloured the part that has the lock black with a permanent marker. It works!

Ubin
Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:35:03 +0000

Hmm Well I just recently bought a 2GB Kingston Micro SD with adapter, iv been having this same type of problem... I do have a switch on it.. but its a lock switch, anyways. I had tryed on my computer to upload/download files to/from the card, wouldnt work.. kept getting errored up "disc is write-protected" etc. etc. But when I try in my girlfriends computer... it works perfect and lets me have complete control over my card. I need it to work on my computer though, its really a pain in the ass to save what I want onto a USB Flashdrive, turn everything off, switch all the cords to the other computer, put the files on that computer and then finally onto my card... I found this page through google and once I close it I doubt ill find it again, if anyone has any ideas about this problem, please email me. It would be much appreciated.

My phone: LG Script (Blue)

Zach
Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:42:10 +0000

so this might sound dumb but i tried the tape and with electrical tape couldnt get the adapter in the reader so i put the switch in the middle and bam... no longer write protected not sure why but hey ill take it

scottyboy
Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:52:45 +0000

Please believe the "tape" thing works on the SD adapter switch. i couldn't believe it honestly. my lock switch had broke off.

reggie
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:02:06 +0000

HOLLY CRAP!!!!!! IT DID WORK, I USE THE TAPE THING!!! I DIDNT BELIVED IT, REALLY TRY IT! :)

jayir
Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:45:54 +0000

I'm just a lowly hardware engineer, with about 40 years of electronic design experience, and I found myself in the same situation. Bought a new Kingston brand micro-SD with the SD adapter, and, after using it successfully a couple of times, got the "write-protected" message. I investigated the hardware, and there is no way that, as one person wrote on this thread, to "bridge a couple of lines" on the electrical interface to remove this protection.

Within this thread, I think I see some people who have software issues which I am not addressing, but most appear to have exactly the same issue I did - the damned "write-protect notch" on the side of the adapter. If I had to guess, I'd say that someone decided to save .001% of the plastic used (which adds up to big bucks when you're producing them by the millions) by making the tab right at the limits of the spec. Add in readers who are produced so that they can be sold for a couple of bucks, and the dreaded "tolerance overlap" winds up killing you. In layman's terms, the tab is to small to do its job, and you're screwed. I wound up using a piece of black electrical tape over the notch to fix my problem, but it required forcing the adapter into the slot. This is no problem for me, since I only have micro-SD devices at this time so I just leave the adapter in place and insert the micro card into it, but when I do get to the point where I have to remove it, I will disassemble the reader and see what is required to disable the notch reader, and I'll write a follow-up post.

bud
Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:50:07 +0000

MY micro SD card showing write protection error.I am unable to delete any data or copy any data.The card reader adopter has no luck.
How can I solve this problem

YUDHISTHIR RANA
Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:07:34 +0000

I've tried everything else first because putting tape over the lock/unlock slider seemd just too silly!! But you know what, sometimes the simplest solutions are the best!! THE TAPE WORKED IMMEDIATELY!! Now I can add or remove files from my memory card without a problem.

Skeptical
Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:18:04 +0000

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Title: memory card locked
Weblog: Camera Hacker
Excerpt: my digital card is stuck on lock as the small plastic knob on the side broke of is there anything i can do to unlock it manualy
Tracked: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 14:45:09 -0700

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