Weird issue with new 32gb SD card

[Ummon]

I have this really weird problem a 32gb SD card I just got. This is for my car, so it will only have music files, mainly MP3s, on it. The first two folders I copied onto it function just fine. Total is under five gigs. They have folders within folders within folders.

Then the next few folders I copied came out empty. There was nothing in them when I opened them, and I can't delete them because Windows says the directory isn't empty.

I tried copying again, a folder at a time, and they came populated. BUT the files won't play. WMP says the file type or codec used to compress the files isn't readable/available. Some ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- like that. But it isn't WMP, because I put it in my car stereo and those folders were plain inaccessible. The files of the first two folders that do play on my computer were accessible and played on the stereo.

So, back on my computer, I moved the files to the main directory of the card. Then they played on my computer. ??  I put them in a new folder, and they won't play again.

I really need a folder structure, cos I have way too much different stuff.

- UPdate: I took the card out of my computer and went back to the car to see if maybe after re-copying a third time they were accessible but just not playing on my computer. Nope - folders still inaccessible. BUT GET THIS: come back in and plug the card back into my computer those re-copied folders that DID have files on them DON'T NOW. They're ---smurfin--- empty. I betcha I can't delete 'em, though....

Nope, can't. But the disc 'properties' says it's almost half full, so apparently something's on it.....

[protokatie]

This may sound silly, but do you have a camera or other external device that will take the SD card that you can also hook to the computer? It may give you another layer for troubleshooting.
Also, have you tried to reformat the SD card for FAT32 again?
As per windows not allowing you to delete an empty directory, that sounds odd. Almost like the thing was already corrupted by that point. (Query, did you try it under explorer or using Rmdir?)
Another odd point: The stereo may not be compatible with the specific breed of SD card you are using and may have corrupted the data by simply connecting it.

I have had a number of problems with USB based flash, and am not anxious to return to it. I can imagine that similar problems occur with SD cards as well...

Good luck.

EDIT: Did a little reading: Not all SD reading devices support sub-folders... Try a test with stuff in ROOT or in one folder... (Why the hell this is the case is beyond me)...

[Ummon]

I think it's bad:

After all the above, I formatted it - though I know it came pre-formatted - and it did a bunch of even weirder ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---. At one point in copying, there was an error, so it had to quit. What had been copied over in that folder was reading in screwy japanese fonts with blocks, like un-translated web pages, and were reading in the tens and hundreds of GBs!  And of course I couldn't delete it. However, in properties, it wasn't showing anything. Then to top it off, I pulled the card out and put it back in and it said it needed formatting. ??  So I clicked on that and it said 254 GB format.  Pulled and plugged again and it said only 8gb.  Must be ---fouled up beyond all recognition--- up. Or it being from Hong Kong means there's some language issue in the firmware or something - though my other (8gb) card was from Hong Kong and I ain't had no issues. Hopefully they'll send me a new one.

[2600]

Is it a SD card or SDHC card?

[SirPeale]

Hopefully there wasn't a virus on the card.  A lot of electronics are coming from China with viruses on them right from the package.

Or it's bad.  I'd exchange it.

[ChadTower]

Or it being from Hong Kong means there's some language issue in the firmware or something

Last time I checked CPUs and microcontrollers don't speak Chinese.

[Ummon]

Hopefully there wasn't a virus on the card.  A lot of electronics are coming from China with viruses on them right from the package.

I have my AV set to scan removable drives. Although, my concern is stuff in the firmware of whatever that isn't, or wasn't when I heard about it a year or so ago, detected by AV.

Last time I checked CPUs and microcontrollers don't speak Chinese.

Hehn hehn hehn hehn....I dunno, but that's what it was showin.


I just looked back. It is (or was) an 32GB secure SD SDHC digital Flash Memory card camera. I guess I should've done more research?

Anyways, it's completely un-responsive now. On either reader, Windows says 'insert a disc into drive...' . My other (SD) card reads fine in both readers. I just put the above one in my camera, which then said the card needed formatting, and after it starts to format the camera goes back to 'card needs formatting'. I think the card took a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.

[Spaz Monkey]

Several things leap to mind.  See if you can use the "SD Memory Card Formatting Software Ver.2.0" to reformat your card.  (Google it).  Someone mentioned if it was a SD card vs. SDHC (high capacity).  Depending on how old your stereo is, it may not like your card since it is SDHC.  Had an old original Compact Flash camera (think thick paperback book size) that couldn't use a 128MB card.

[Ummon]

No no no no no......you mis-read. When it did work, files that were readable on my computer were readable on the stereo (which, by the way, is full USB 2.0 compatible). Now the card is completely unresponsive on the computer. Computer doesn't even see it, so when I right-click on it, XP says 'insert disc into drive'.

And, no surprise, when I got some version of that software and installed and loaded it, the select drive box is grayed out.

[protokatie]

In reference to your SD card:

[Ummon]

Hahahahahahah. Damn.


Okay, I have another question. I got this 5' M-F extension and when I plug it in and then something into it, I get this little USB icon down by the clock. When I click on it, a little window comes up that shows I have six ports unused. I only have six USB ports. More practically, when I plug my U360 into the extension, there's no upward 'duh duh' sound from Windows, and it's unresponsive. Of course it works by itself. What does this mean?

Note: I recently changed my bios settings from fullspeed to hi-speed. I don't know why it was at fullspeed...though I'm not sure I see a change in data transmission to external media, like my SD cards.

[SavannahLion]

I'm not sure what's up with those M-F A/A extension cables. I don't remember if they're allowed under USB specs so that might be the source of the problem.

Trying to "accessorize" my laptop, I had the same problem. One relatively bulky A/A cable (came as part of an universal adapter kit) works fine with most of my USB accessories except any of my memory based devices such as a USB stick unless that device uses the supplied adapter such as A->B ie the camera.

So I got a more compact cable, and the problem was reversed... sorta. USB sticks worked on the A/A extension but not other devices unless it required an adapter with exception to anything sporting additional ports eg a hub.

So I got a dedicated M-F A/A cable and the damn thing didn't work on anything I tried plugging into it.

I ended up settling on a tiny four port USB hub which I promptly lost anyways. 

[Ummon]

I'm not sure what's up with those M-F A/A extension cables.

So I got a dedicated M-F A/A cable and the damn thing didn't work on anything I tried plugging into it.

I ended up settling on a tiny four port USB hub which I promptly lost anyways.  

Hah hah hah hah ....  hah hah hah hah hah.  Mind, I've just been laughing ---my bottom--- off at other ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, but still, that's classic, dude.

Well, I may've found my problem. Doesn't affect that SSD card, it's still toast (but, hey!, I got another one even cheaper, so now I'm just getting a refund on this one and not having to wait turn-around time!!...hopefully this one'll work right), but my ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- works like before. I changed the bios back to 'fullspeed'.

My U360 still won't work with the extension - but an SSD card reader does! Which is what I needed to see to make sure it would work with my stereo deck. Got that in today, and now I'm not doing this ridiculous plugging and un-plugging of the thing on the front of my deck every time I first get in and when come home. I take the face off it every time I get out of the car.

[SavannahLion]

Looking through some past posts (looking for a particular USB thread), the extension cord topic has come up before. u_rebelscum wrote that  USB 2.0 specifications does not allow extensions (unless they're devices, eg hubs).

[Ummon]

That makes sense, cos (I forgot to mention this) my U360 already has a cable connected to it, so it was two cables in-between stick and PC.

[2600]

That makes sense, cos (I forgot to mention this) my U360 already has a cable connected to it, so it was two cables in-between stick and PC.

Why is it always "I forgot to mention this" when you are trying to help someone.  Not busting your balls.

[Ummon]

HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH. I know, huh?  The main issue was the card, though, which I sent back yesterday.