How to format an sdcard so it can be operational again? It's not mounting.

Xenphor · 07-22-2014, 06:58 PM

I have a Patroit sdcard that was working fine but somehow became inoperational after a series of formats I did to it when I was moving files around. I don't see how it could just stop working unless some error in the formating process could permanately damage it? The kernel does seem to detect something:

Code:

tail -f /var/log/messages
Jul 22 16:41:35 localhost kernel: [   17.982368] usb 2-7: Product: USB Storage
Jul 22 16:41:35 localhost kernel: [   17.982372] usb 2-7: Manufacturer: Generic
Jul 22 16:41:35 localhost kernel: [   17.982375] usb 2-7: SerialNumber: 000000000260
Jul 22 16:41:35 localhost kernel: [   17.994053] usb-storage 2-7:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
Jul 22 16:41:35 localhost kernel: [   17.994284] scsi2 : usb-storage 2-7:1.0
Jul 22 16:41:35 localhost kernel: [   17.994396] usbcore: registered new interface driver usb-storage
Jul 22 16:41:35 localhost kernel: [   17.997181] usbcore: registered new interface driver uas
Jul 22 16:41:36 localhost kernel: [   18.937740] scsi 2:0:0:0: Direct-Access     Generic  Power Saving USB 0260 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
Jul 22 16:41:36 localhost kernel: [   18.938407] sd 2:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
Jul 22 16:41:46 localhost kernel: [   29.266453] sd 2:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disk

Also using the gnome-disk-utility shows something:
http://i.imgur.com/SXKuLY4.png

If I just try to write zeroes though it won't work

Code:

$ sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=1M
dd: failed to open ‘/dev/sdb’: No medium found

snatale1 · 07-23-2014, 05:52 AM

Why would you put it through a "series of formats"? Why not delete? SD cards aren't flash drives, you format the crap out of them, expect them to die. There made cheaper than ever these days. I've lost track of all the SD cards that committed suicide over the years, doesn't take much. SD card recovery success rates are low, but if there's something on their that you REALLY need there was a program called (I think) card recovery. I took FOREVER but pulled back most of what was on the card. Pretty sure it was in the repos (believe I was on Mint at the time). Good Luck

oneandoneis2 · 07-23-2014, 06:19 AM

Does it show up in "sudo fdisk -l"?

If it does, then the card is available. You may need to partition it (I prefer cfdisk for that) before you can format it with a filesystem.

Incidentally, writing directly to a filesystem with dd like that is a good way to nuke the partition table and cause this problem in the first place..

Xenphor · 07-23-2014, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Why would you put it through a "series of formats"?

Well it was like 2 or 3 formats. I forget why exactly but it wasn't really that intensive.

Quote:

Does it show up in "sudo fdisk -l"?

No it doesn't

jpollard · 07-23-2014, 08:15 AM

I think your sdcard is dead.

jefro · 07-23-2014, 02:51 PM

It could be either the sd card or the slot/adapter it is on.

Sd cards do just ..."go" like that. Some companies offer small programs that might help but a common thought is that you just pitch it.

You might try testdisk to see if you can get any data off it maybe.

Xenphor · 07-23-2014, 09:17 PM

ok thanks for the info.