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Question

Memory card is unreadable, then readable????

Jun 27, 2011 11:54AM PDT

My Panasonic Lumix had no problems with it's 8 gig SDXC card, then one day...BAM! Didn't recognize it! But my computer did!
The next day, out of nowhere, the camera recognized the card again!
Should I send the camera for repair while it's still under warranty?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
No
Jun 28, 2011 12:32AM PDT

I have never heard of a 8 gig SDXC memory card.
All SDXC memory cards are 64 gig and larger capacity.

I assume you have a SDHC memory card.
SDHC memory cards are 4 gig through 32 gig capacity.

All SD memory cards should be formatted with the CAMERA before taking pictures.
If you did not do that ... do it now.
Formatting a memory card will delete all pictures on the card, so make sure you copy (to your computer) all pictures on the card before formatting it with the CAMERA.

Things to avoid:
If you have a card reader on your computer, it is OK to use it to copy pictures to your computer.
But:
You should not write to the memory card with the computer.
You should not format the card with the computer.
You should not delete pictures from the card with the computer.


..

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Wow!
Jun 28, 2011 4:41AM PDT

Thank you!
Sorry for the typo; it is an SD card.
And I NEVER formatted it!
And I ALWAYS delete pictures through the computer!
Nor did Panosonic tech support ask that question!
I will go format the card now through the camera.

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Nod!
Jun 28, 2011 5:34AM PDT

" I ALWAYS delete pictures through the computer! "

I see what to do next is supplied above. Let me add that new cards, cards I can't remember when they were last formatted or moved from camera to camera also get a fresh format in the camera.
Bob

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I've never heard that
Jun 29, 2011 1:05AM PDT

(I'm someone else) Why is that? I always use a card reader and after I download the pictures to my computer I usually delete them from the SD card while it's in the card reader. And I've rarely used the camera to format the card. And I have written to the card from my computer. Don't recall if I've ever had any problems. I also have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 now. It's a great camera!

Thanks for the info. Guess I'll change my ways.

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It's because others have issues.
Jun 29, 2011 4:53AM PDT

I don't like problems so I do this simple thing to avoid them.

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I learned the hard way (twice)
Jun 30, 2011 7:41AM PDT

When you write to the card with the camera, the camera has to write a File Information Block (FIB) on the memory card so that it can find the files it stored.

If you then write to the card with the computer. The computer may (or may not) write a new file information block (FIB) on the card.

Then you have two File Information Blocks. (not good)
Each one can write over some of the files controlled by the other, and in some cases will write a file over the other FIB itself.
You have a ticking time bomb.

From that point on - it is all luck.

It is not of matter of will it fail, it is a matter of when it will fail.

In my case, it took three months.
Then I get that awful message from the camera that says "Format the card".
And it may not even let you format the card.

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Learning first hand = pain.
Jun 30, 2011 7:50AM PDT

Learning by watching others = not so much pain.

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Fix to the problem
Sep 11, 2013 3:52PM PDT

Hey all, I followed a link in a separate thread dealing with the same issue to this thread. Below is a copy of the post that I made with a solution.

*******************

I was an idiot and had no idea about the DONT FORMAT an SDXC in the computer caution......

Aside from the above don't do's.....you can actually get the card working again from your computer. This works if you have Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP (SP1 or later).

1) insert the SDXC card into your card reader
2) right click on the appropriate removable drive
3) click format
4) under the drop down menu that gives you the format style (ie FAT, NFST) there is an option for exFAT. Choose exFAT and then format away.

This will put the proper SDXC file system back on the card and make it incompatible with PC's again. Take the card out and re-insert it into your camera. The camera should now recognize the card again, however you will have to format it a second time in the camera following your manufacturer's directions.

I found this worked for me and I hope it can save others a ton of searching on the internet and hours of frustration/calls to tech support. If my directions are not clear enough or you don't have the exFAT option please go to https://www.sdcard.org/consumers/sdxc_capabilities/using_sdxc/

This is the site I haphazardly stumbled upon with the golden answer! It has the instructions clearly laid out and how to get your PC updated with the proper software should you not have the exFAT format option already available. REMINDER: YOU NEED Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP (SP1 or later) for this to work.