microSD Card Format Problem

Robert Leaman · Post by **Robert Leaman** » 8 Mar 2013 7:17 pm

I have an 8GB microSD flash memory card in my Garmin GPS. Normally, I can transfer data from the Garmin memory to the flash card to make room for larger maps. Recently, the flash card showed that it was locked and had no available space. Also, it was not possible to access any information on the card. I tried to format the card in Win7 but it refused any access. Since I started many years ago with CPM and DOS, I thought to try a format manually in a command window.

To bring up a command window, click on the windows start icon and then type in the search box: cmd
This opens a black window.
In that window type: diskpart
Then type: list disk
Then you can see a list of the disks connected to your machine. This includes all the hard drives and floppies that are presently installed.

Select your microSD card. Be absolutely certain to select the microSD card. DO NOT select a hard drive !

If your hard disk is #1 and your microSD card is #2, then type: select disk 2

Then, you will see that: disk 2 is now selected
Then type: clean
Then type: create partition primary
Then type: format fs=fat 32 quick
Then type: exit

If you close the command window, the desktop will return to its normal view.

Check to see if the microSD has been formatted.
If you use a microSD adaptor to do a format, verify that the card is not locked (with the little key found on the side of the adaptor) or try to try it with a new SD adaptor if the format fails.

Be absolutely certain that you DO NOT select any of the hard drives that are installed in the computer.

If you clean a hard drive, the information will not be easily recoverable with normal means.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 9 Mar 2013 3:21 am

Did you try the Windows "create and format partitions" before going to the command prompt?
I've reformatted and fixed a flakey flash drive that way.

Start/Control Panel/System and Security/create and format hard disk partitions.

Robert Leaman · Post by **Robert Leaman** » 10 Mar 2013 9:35 am

If you read my post carefully, you will see that I tried to format the card in Win7. Since that failed to produce a result, I used the command prompt method.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 10 Mar 2013 9:45 am

I saw where you said Win 7, but there are several ways to do it. You didn't specify which way you tried.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 18 Apr 2013 5:07 pm

Robert,
If you are not wanting to save the data on it, try putting it in a camera, and format it. Just a computer illiterate mind at work.

Bill

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 19 Apr 2013 5:53 am

Robert Leaman wrote:If you read my post carefully, you will see that I tried to format the card in Win7. Since that failed to produce a result, I used the command prompt method.

And the result was?

I'm still unclear - was this a tutorial?