Hi, I've got a 1 GB Micro SD card that has been used in a R4 card in a ds.

It was removed whilst on and I think may be knackered.

I cant read the card at all and /var/log/messages shows the following (at bottom of post..

I've tried testdisc and parted but neither can read/write to the disc, testdisc can see the size of the disk.

Any ideas are welcome.

Thanks

Kenny


Nov 4 18:51:39 linuxbigbox kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev sdc, sector 0
Nov 4 18:51:39 linuxbigbox kernel: ldm_validate_partition_table(): Disk read failed.
Nov 4 18:51:39 linuxbigbox kernel: unable to read partition table
Nov 4 18:51:40 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] 2012160 512-byte hardware sectors (1030 MB)
Nov 4 18:51:40 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
Nov 4 18:51:40 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 03 00 00 00
Nov 4 18:51:40 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Nov 4 18:51:40 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] 2012160 512-byte hardware sectors (1030 MB)
Nov 4 18:51:40 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
Nov 4 18:51:40 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 03 00 00 00
Nov 4 18:51:40 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Nov 4 18:51:41 linuxbigbox kernel: sdc:<6>sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Device not ready: <6>: Sense Key : Not Ready [current]
Nov 4 18:51:41 linuxbigbox kernel: : <<vendor>> ASC=0xff ASCQ=0xffASC=0xff <<vendor>> ASCQ=0xff
Nov 4 18:51:41 linuxbigbox kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev sdc, sector 0
Nov 4 18:51:41 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Device not ready: <6>: Sense Key : Not Ready [current]
Nov 4 18:51:41 linuxbigbox kernel: : <<vendor>> ASC=0xff ASCQ=0xffASC=0xff <<vendor>> ASCQ=0xff
Nov 4 18:51:41 linuxbigbox kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev sdc, sector 0
Nov 4 18:51:41 linuxbigbox kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev sdc, sector 0
Nov 4 18:51:41 linuxbigbox kernel: ldm_validate_partition_table(): Disk read failed.
Nov 4 18:51:41 linuxbigbox kernel: unable to read partition table
Nov 4 18:51:42 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] 2012160 512-byte hardware sectors (1030 MB)
Nov 4 18:51:42 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
Nov 4 18:51:42 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 03 00 00 00
Nov 4 18:51:42 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Nov 4 18:51:42 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] 2012160 512-byte hardware sectors (1030 MB)
Nov 4 18:51:42 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
Nov 4 18:51:42 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 03 00 00 00
Nov 4 18:51:42 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
Nov 4 18:51:43 linuxbigbox kernel: sdc:<6>sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Device not ready: <6>: Sense Key : Not Ready [current]
Nov 4 18:51:43 linuxbigbox kernel: : <<vendor>> ASC=0xff ASCQ=0xffASC=0xff <<vendor>> ASCQ=0xff
Nov 4 18:51:43 linuxbigbox kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev sdc, sector 0
Nov 4 18:51:43 linuxbigbox kernel: printk: 38 messages suppressed.
Nov 4 18:51:43 linuxbigbox kernel: Buffer I/O error on device sdc, logical block 0
Nov 4 18:51:43 linuxbigbox kernel: sd 8:0:0:0: [sdc] Device not ready: <6>: Sense Key : Not Ready [current]
Nov 4 18:51:43 linuxbigbox kernel: : <<vendor>> ASC=0xff ASCQ=0xffASC=0xff <<vendor>> ASCQ=0xff
Nov 4 18:51:43 linuxbigbox kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev sdc, sector 0

I don't know what thr R4 card is. What are you using to read it in Linux? Linux can see it and knows the capacity but can't read the partition table. If this is correct the card just needs to be reformatted. I say "if" because it's also possible that your cad reader could have problems.

Now, for formatting, the tools you tried were unsuccessful. Since Linux is able to assign the device to sdc you might try "zero"ing the card first, like this:
and wait for it to reach the end. With 1GB it'll take a few minutes. Then try your partitioning tool, I use cfdisk myself, then make the filesystem vfat.

Hi, thanks for the quick reply. the dd dint work guess its knackerd not to worry they are about £8 online...

Thanks

Kenny

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdc
dd: writing to `/dev/sdc': Input/output error
1+0 records in
0+0 records out
0 bytes (0 B) copied, 1.57025 s, 0.0 kB/s

I had one that would not read and let it set for about a year. Gave it another try and it worked. try it in a Windows machine and see what it does.

Brian

Ouch! I guess it is knackered, as you put it. If you have access to a Windows machine you can try formatting it from there. That's worked for me more than once. If you have different card readers try one. I've also seen some digital cameras and pdas that will format the memory card. With a miniSD or SD adapter that might work. For only 8 I guess it doesn't hurt to buy a replacement, but I wouldn't discard the old one right away. You may get some more ideas later.

Hi, windows machine cant read it either....

Sounds knackered all right. It might be under a warranty if not too old.

Brian