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Unable to Format SD Card

InsomniacUK
Visitor

Unable to Format SD Card

Does anyone know how to actually format the SD card if the usual method via settings > storage > Erase SD card doesnt work?

When I select the above option, it just goes through the motions, says its unmounting then deleting but then all the files are still there afterwards. I did a brief search and someone suggested a program called 'SDformatter' installed that, but doesnt seem to give any option to select my phone's SD card (or any drive for that matter).

I really need to format my SD card as I cant read anything on it. And continually getting frustrated by Z3 Compact's internal storage limitation.

Thanks for any advice.

5 REPLIES 5
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_alexdon_
Expert

I would suggest a format using your laptop/PC. Or try a low level format tool.

alexdon
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ezy2ezy
Contributor

if the phone can still read but cant write to the sd card then it may be the SD card has gone into "safe mode" - safe mode means the card is toast but can still have the data retrived...

mine died a few months ago...  i suspect the heat of the phone as it is hottest right next to where the card sits and i had never had a failed sd card before. 

InsomniacUK
Visitor

I can read and write to the card...when its connected to my laptop via the phone (i.e. on my laptop). But my phone seems to be unable to read the sd card when it is actually in my phone. Not sure how to fix this problem.

InsomniacUK
Visitor


 

"I would suggest a format using your laptop/PC. Or try a low level format tool."



Sorry, how exactly do I format via my laptop? When I right click on the sd card there is no format option. 
 
Also what exactly is a 'low level format tool'? Sorry, bit of a novice here.
 
Thanks.
 
 
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_alexdon_
Expert

See this. A low level format will delete everything without any possibility of recovering.

alexdon