Can't format card? Need Help?

T

TheBlkRev

New Member
Good evening. :( I'm new here and came to address an issue. Btw, I posted this issue on another site because I strongly need some assistance.


I've tried:
* Formatting with SD Formatter (says memory card is "write-protected")
* Formatting on Windows (PC) and Blackberry
* The "My Computer>Manage>Disk Management/Changing Path and Volume" method

I have a 4GB SanDisk MicroSD for a Blackberry Curve 8900, yet its capacity shows up as 1.30 TB on the computer, which is impossible. I'm pissed at myself because the card was working on Mass Storage Mode earlier (should've backed up the files), and I think yanking out the USB cable (from phone to computer) literally screwed my chances of seeing my data again. Smfh!

I seriously need help because I'm trying to do a normal/quick format successfully so I can recover all or at least most personal photos and videos that were/are on it. Something like a HDD Low-Level Format is NOT an option.

Did any of you ever had this issue? I'm quite worried.

Can anyone recommend any software (both free and commercial) and options to:
* Normally Format my card without ruining my changes of recovering data
* Recover my data after formatting?

--------------------------------------…

P.S. - Please, if your answer is that I'm SOL, do not post it because I'll start feeling pissed and upset at myself. If you have any good suggestions, I beg you to post them and will thank you greatfully.

My last resort is going to a professional in the next 10 years when I have a nice income (yeah, I'm almost 18).
 
I seriously need help because I'm trying to do a normal/quick format successfully so I can recover all or at least most personal photos and videos that were/are on it.
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This is not logical mate.

If you format it you will lose your stuff it's as simple as that.

Were you trying to back up your stuff whilst the SD card was in the phone?

Try using an Micro SD card adapter which will then turn it into an SD card which you then insert into your pc to get your stuff off, once done so you can then format it.
 
Wolfeymole said:
This is not logical mate.

If you format it you will lose your stuff it's as simple as that.

Were you trying to back up your stuff whilst the SD card was in the phone?

Try using an Micro SD card adapter which will then turn it into an SD card which you then insert into your pc to get your stuff off, once done so you can then format it.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if I have a SD Card adapter. My 4GB Sandisk mircoSD card is in my Blackberry and by using "Mass Storage Mode", the computer is able to detect it. And I meant that I need to normally format it so after all the files are "deleted", I can recover the lost files. I tried SDFormatter and it says that it's "write-protected". Any ideas and tips?
 
Wolfeymole said:
This is the thing that I speak of.

http://www.mymemory.co.uk/Micro-SD/MyMemory/MyMemory-Micro-SD-to-SD-Card-Adaptor

Take the Micro SD card out of the phone, put it in the adaptor and then into your pc, remove the files and then format it.

Make sure the lock on the SD card is not set to On.
Click to expand...

The SD card didn't come with the adapter. Also, the computer I'm using doesn't even have a card reader. I heard suggestions about heading over to a mobile place to see if they could do some of the process for me then recover it after it's formatted. Is this a good idea or is there a better resolution?
 
I heard suggestions about heading over to a mobile place to see if they could do some of the process for me then recover it after it's formatted.
Click to expand...

You will have serious issues trying to recover stuff AFTER it has been formatted Rev.
 
Wolfeymole said:
You will have serious issues trying to recover stuff AFTER it has been formatted Rev.
Click to expand...

Then what should I do?

I heard there are 2 kinds of formats: low-level and normal/quick. You're saying even if I do a quick, normal format on my microSD that it'll still be difficult to recover the data stored on it?
 
I don't think you realise what the word Format means.

Formatting is a method used to completely erase all data from a given device.

Did you take it to the mobile shop?
 
Wolfeymole said:
I don't think you realise what the word Format means.

Formatting is a method used to completely erase all data from a given device.

Did you take it to the mobile shop?
Click to expand...

No not yet. Lol, I can't drive there though I don't have a license. I know the definition of the term format. I've looked at online recovery software and a lot of them that I looked at stated that they can recover lost data from normally formatted cards, drives, etc. It is said that long as one does not overwrite the data, then they should be fine. I'm trying my best not to do a low-level format so data can be recoverable.

Btw, here's the pic of the card (if necessary). Lol, sorry for the picture quality; the camera I used took mirrored shots for some reason. Examine carefully at the 2nd card on the right. The spot where it says "4GB" got slightly scratched off. I was trying to take the card out of my phone's poorly built microSD slot, and some of the white print came off. Could this be a possible reason why the computer isn't reading it correctly? Besides this one little flaw, the rest of the card looks physically fine (both front and back). I looked at online pictures of microSDs for comparison.

final_1795827238.jpg
 
I reckon the card is dead mate but here's another angle.

Do you have any photo processing shops near you as some of them have machines that allow you to print pictures directly from a USB stick or memory card.

If the machine can't read the card it's dead.
 
Wolfeymole said:
I reckon the card is dead mate but here's another angle.

Do you have any photo processing shops near you as some of them have machines that allow you to print pictures directly from a USB stick or memory card.

If the machine can't read the card it's dead.
Click to expand...

I'm unsure if there are any nearby local shops specializing in photo enhancement within a 10-mile radius. The Blackberry camera is the only good camera I have, but even that couldn't pick up the small detail printed on the microSD (also I had trouble sending it to my email), so I just used a webcam.

It's not only the Windows machine. Even the Blackberry phones (models 8900 and 9300) couldn't read it. It was working fine on Mass Storage Mode when connected to computer, but then both computer and phone just began to ask me to "format" after I disconnected and reconnected the phone (with the card in it) to the computer's USB slot. I'm serious, nothing was in progress at the time (ex: nothing was being downloaded or writtten onto the card). Also, certain programs even said the card was "write-protected". How the hell could it be read one minute then "format-required" and "read-only" the next? This is something to worry about. I should've backed-up the data although I only had one chance to do it (this is not my computer that I'm using btw so I have limitations). It's bad enough memorable videos and photos of my baby sister and family are on there. I seriously regret not backing up the data and feel like a f*cking idiot and a horrible person.
 
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