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SD card is now Read Only

Discussion in 'Windows Vista' started by Danno, Jun 26, 2009.

  1. Danno

    Danno Guest

    I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
    months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that "Disk
    is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock position. I
    have tried using the properties window to change it but their is no option
    to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If I click on a folder
    on the SD card and try to change it via the Properties Windows the window
    says that it is "Read Only" but when I uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't
    because the disk is Read Only. And again I can't find any option to change
    ownership or permissions.


    Thanks in advance,
    Danno

    --

    --------
    Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
    --------
     
    Danno, Jun 26, 2009
    #1
  3. Richard G. Harper

    Richard G. Harper Guest

    You could try formatting the card but most likely it has failed and is no
    longer useable.

    "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
    news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-977410A55D24@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
    > months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
    > "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
    > position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but their
    > is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If I
    > click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the Properties
    > Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I uncheck "Read
    > Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And again I can't
    > find any option to change ownership or permissions.
    >
    >
    > Thanks in advance,
    > Danno
    >
    > --
    >
    > --------
    > Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
    > --------
    > <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Richard G. Harper, Jun 26, 2009
    #2
  4. Danno

    Danno Guest

    Thanks Richard. However, it does pass chkdsk, and it can be read from.

    Any more ideas,
    Danno


    "Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@email.com> wrote in message
    news:eq$DZSr9JHA.4560@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > You could try formatting the card but most likely it has failed and is no
    > longer useable.
    >
    > "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
    > news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-977410A55D24@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
    >> months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
    >> "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
    >> position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but
    >> their is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If
    >> I click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the
    >> Properties Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I
    >> uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And
    >> again I can't find any option to change ownership or permissions.
    >>
    >>
    >> Thanks in advance,
    >> Danno
    >>
    >> --
    >>
    >> --------
    >> Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
    >> --------
    >><!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    --

    --------
    Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
    --------
     
    Danno, Jun 26, 2009
    #3
  5. John A

    John A Guest

    Some SD cards have a tiny switch on the side that make them read-only
    - if yours has then maybe you bumped the switch?

    On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:05:43 -0500, "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net>
    wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    >I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
    >months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that "Disk
    >is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock position. I
    >have tried using the properties window to change it but their is no option
    >to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If I click on a folder
    >on the SD card and try to change it via the Properties Windows the window
    >says that it is "Read Only" but when I uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't
    >because the disk is Read Only. And again I can't find any option to change
    >ownership or permissions.
    >
    >
    >Thanks in advance,
    >Danno<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    John A, Jun 27, 2009
    #4
  6. Oren

    Oren Guest

    On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:30:33 +1000, John A <none@none.com> wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    >Some SD cards have a tiny switch on the side that make them read-only
    >- if yours has then maybe you bumped the switch?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    The OP typed: " The tab on the SD card is in the unlock position."
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    >
    >On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:05:43 -0500, "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net>
    >wrote:
    ><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >>I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
    >>months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that "Disk
    >>is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock position. I
    >>have tried using the properties window to change it but their is no option
    >>to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If I click on a folder
    >>on the SD card and try to change it via the Properties Windows the window
    >>says that it is "Read Only" but when I uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't
    >>because the disk is Read Only. And again I can't find any option to change
    >>ownership or permissions.
    >>
    >>
    >>Thanks in advance,
    >>Danno<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Oren, Jun 27, 2009
    #5
  7. Gene E. Bloch

    Gene E. Bloch Guest

    On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:58:32 -0500, Danno wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Thanks Richard. However, it does pass chkdsk, and it can be read from.
    >
    > Any more ideas,
    > Danno<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    That doesn't necessarily prove it can be written to. Perhaps you could try
    it in different machine or use a different card reader.

    In fact, I had a card reader that started reporting to my computer that all
    the SD cards I put in it were read-only. I tried another reader (same brand
    and model) and the problem disappeared. I no longer use the first card
    reader :)
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > "Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@email.com> wrote in message
    > news:eq$DZSr9JHA.4560@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> You could try formatting the card but most likely it has failed and is no
    >> longer useable.
    >>
    >> "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
    >> news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-977410A55D24@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
    >>> I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
    >>> months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
    >>> "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
    >>> position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but
    >>> their is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If
    >>> I click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the
    >>> Properties Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I
    >>> uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And
    >>> again I can't find any option to change ownership or permissions.
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> Thanks in advance,
    >>> Danno
    >>>
    >>> --
    >>>
    >>> --------
    >>> Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
    >>> --------
    >>><!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    --
    Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom
     
    Gene E. Bloch, Jun 27, 2009
    #6
  8. R. C. White

    R. C. White Guest

    Hi, Danno.

    Last week, after copying my latest batch of photos to the computer, I put
    the SD card back into the camera, which promptly announced, "This card
    cannot be used" or similar language. After several tries, I was convinced.
    So I put the card back into the card reader and told Disk Management to
    format it. In a few minutes, I put it back into the camera and have been
    using it ever since.

    I'm told that SD cards are good for only a finite number of write cycles.
    It's a big number, but maybe we've hit the limit. I'll keep using my card,
    but cautiously, keeping a spare handy in case it fails while I'm away from
    home. So long as a new photo can be written to the card, my computer should
    be able to read and copy it - I think - I hope.

    RC
    --
    R. C. White, CPA
    San Marcos, TX
    rc@grandecom.net
    Microsoft Windows MVP
    Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100

    "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
    news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-977410A55D24@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
    > months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
    > "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
    > position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but their
    > is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If I
    > click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the Properties
    > Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I uncheck "Read
    > Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And again I can't
    > find any option to change ownership or permissions.
    >
    >
    > Thanks in advance,
    > Danno <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    R. C. White, Jun 27, 2009
    #7
  9. Danno

    Danno Guest

    Thank you to Gene, John A, and you for replying.

    The switch is indeed in the unlocked position. Since the card reader is
    built into my laptop, changing it is not an option. Reformatting is a last
    choice of mine, but I may have to go that route. I haven't tried using the
    card back in a camera, that might tell us something.

    Does anyone know how to reset the read only attribute to the card? Would
    taking ownership/permissions help? And how would I do it?

    Thanks for the help!
    Danno



    "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
    news:uaLy$w59JHA.4204@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Hi, Danno.
    >
    > Last week, after copying my latest batch of photos to the computer, I put
    > the SD card back into the camera, which promptly announced, "This card
    > cannot be used" or similar language. After several tries, I was
    > convinced. So I put the card back into the card reader and told Disk
    > Management to format it. In a few minutes, I put it back into the camera
    > and have been using it ever since.
    >
    > I'm told that SD cards are good for only a finite number of write cycles.
    > It's a big number, but maybe we've hit the limit. I'll keep using my
    > card, but cautiously, keeping a spare handy in case it fails while I'm
    > away from home. So long as a new photo can be written to the card, my
    > computer should be able to read and copy it - I think - I hope.
    >
    > RC
    > --
    > R. C. White, CPA
    > San Marcos, TX
    > rc@grandecom.net
    > Microsoft Windows MVP
    > Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
    >
    > "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
    > news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-977410A55D24@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
    >> months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
    >> "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
    >> position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but
    >> their is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If
    >> I click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the
    >> Properties Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I
    >> uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And
    >> again I can't find any option to change ownership or permissions.
    >>
    >>
    >> Thanks in advance,
    >> Danno<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    ><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    --

    ----------
    Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.
    ----------
     
    Danno, Jun 28, 2009
    #8
  10. Oren

    Oren Guest

    On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:16:27 -0500, "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net>
    wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    >The switch is indeed in the unlocked position. Since the card reader is
    >built into my laptop, changing it is not an option. Reformatting is a last
    >choice of mine, but I may have to go that route. I haven't tried using the
    >card back in a camera, that might tell us something.
    >
    >Does anyone know how to reset the read only attribute to the card? Would
    >taking ownership/permissions help? And how would I do it?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    I can only guess. If you have ownership of the drive, give users read
    and write? Remove attributes for hidden, system files. Actually make
    the drive attributes with only "archive".
     
    Oren, Jun 28, 2009
    #9
  11. R. C. White

    R. C. White Guest

    Hi, Danno.
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Does anyone know how to reset the read only attribute to the card?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    But you said, "The switch is indeed in the unlocked position." And you had
    already said that in your OP. Which switch are you talking about? Does
    your laptop have a software switch to override the tab on the card.

    When I slide the tab to lock, the camera or card reader can read from the
    card, but not write to it. I can't take more pictures, but I can see and
    download the ones already there. "Write protected", "read only" and
    "locked" are just different phrases that mean the same thing in this case.

    When the card is physically unlocked, it can be formatted, either by the
    camera or by Disk Management. Just be sure that you've safely stored all
    the pictures from the card onto your hard disk before formatting the card.

    RC
    --
    R. C. White, CPA
    San Marcos, TX
    rc@grandecom.net
    Microsoft Windows MVP
    Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100

    "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
    news:B0A8C8D9-361A-4363-9AF8-65B53036DCB1@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > Thank you to Gene, John A, and you for replying.
    >
    > The switch is indeed in the unlocked position. Since the card reader is
    > built into my laptop, changing it is not an option. Reformatting is a
    > last choice of mine, but I may have to go that route. I haven't tried
    > using the card back in a camera, that might tell us something.
    >
    > Does anyone know how to reset the read only attribute to the card? Would
    > taking ownership/permissions help? And how would I do it?
    >
    > Thanks for the help!
    > Danno
    >
    >
    >
    > "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
    > news:uaLy$w59JHA.4204@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> Hi, Danno.
    >>
    >> Last week, after copying my latest batch of photos to the computer, I put
    >> the SD card back into the camera, which promptly announced, "This card
    >> cannot be used" or similar language. After several tries, I was
    >> convinced. So I put the card back into the card reader and told Disk
    >> Management to format it. In a few minutes, I put it back into the camera
    >> and have been using it ever since.
    >>
    >> I'm told that SD cards are good for only a finite number of write cycles.
    >> It's a big number, but maybe we've hit the limit. I'll keep using my
    >> card, but cautiously, keeping a spare handy in case it fails while I'm
    >> away from home. So long as a new photo can be written to the card, my
    >> computer should be able to read and copy it - I think - I hope.
    >>
    >> RC
    >>
    >> "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
    >> news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-977410A55D24@microsoft.com...<!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
    >>> I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
    >>> months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
    >>> "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
    >>> position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but
    >>> their is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions.
    >>> If I click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the
    >>> Properties Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I
    >>> uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And
    >>> again I can't find any option to change ownership or permissions.
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> Thanks in advance,
    >>> Danno <!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    R. C. White, Jun 28, 2009
    #10
  12. JEWboy

    JEWboy Guest

    Try using in a different host system - a computer, digicam, videocam, audio
    player, etc whatever can use and write to SD cards,

    So if another machine cannot write to SDcard, backup its entire contents (if
    you care for it!), and try reformatting.
    If even formatting fails, card is bad, it can be used as ROM however [​IMG]
     
    JEWboy, Jun 28, 2009
    #11
  13. JEWboy

    JEWboy Guest

    look, is that difficult to copy entire contents to harddisk NO. So do
    that.
    Then try reformattign card, whatever filesystem errors there're, they will
    be cleared up.

    If formatting failed, well, your SD card simply turned into ROM memory, it
    cannot be written to anymore.
     
    JEWboy, Jun 28, 2009
    #12
  14. Tim Slattery

    Tim Slattery Guest

    "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net> wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    >Thank you to Gene, John A, and you for replying.
    >
    >The switch is indeed in the unlocked position. Since the card reader is
    >built into my laptop, changing it is not an option. <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    A note on that: card readers that connect via USB are very cheap. My
    laptop came with a built-in card reader. But when we used it to read a
    card that had been used in our camera, the pictures came out garbled.
    Buying a cheap USB-connected card reader made things work right.


    --
    Tim Slattery
    MS MVP(Shell/User)
    Slattery_T@bls.gov
     
    Tim Slattery, Jun 29, 2009
    #13
  15. Gene E. Bloch

    Gene E. Bloch Guest

    On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:07:33 -0400, Tim Slattery wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net> wrote:
    > <!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >>Thank you to Gene, John A, and you for replying.
    >>
    >>The switch is indeed in the unlocked position. Since the card reader is
    >>built into my laptop, changing it is not an option. <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    > A note on that: card readers that connect via USB are very cheap. My
    > laptop came with a built-in card reader. But when we used it to read a
    > card that had been used in our camera, the pictures came out garbled.
    > Buying a cheap USB-connected card reader made things work right.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    This is what I was gong to recommend when Danno pointed out that his card
    reader is built in - in fact, I thought he'd get the hint from my first
    post :)

    --
    Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom
     
    Gene E. Bloch, Jun 30, 2009
    #14
  16. Mike

    Mike Guest

    "Gene E. Bloch" <not-me@other.invalid> wrote in message
    news:15fu9jv8vvq2i$.1lor3y5e1vxxm.dlg@40tude.net...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:07:33 -0400, Tim Slattery wrote:
    ><!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net> wrote:
    >><!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
    >>>Thank you to Gene, John A, and you for replying.
    >>>
    >>>The switch is indeed in the unlocked position. Since the card reader is
    >>>built into my laptop, changing it is not an option.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >>
    >> A note on that: card readers that connect via USB are very cheap. My
    >> laptop came with a built-in card reader. But when we used it to read a
    >> card that had been used in our camera, the pictures came out garbled.
    >> Buying a cheap USB-connected card reader made things work right.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    > This is what I was gong to recommend when Danno pointed out that his card
    > reader is built in - in fact, I thought he'd get the hint from my first
    > post :)
    >
    > --
    > Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    FWIW not all computers that read SD card will read SDHC cards.
    Regards
     
    Mike, Jul 4, 2009
    #15
  17. Gene E. Bloch

    Gene E. Bloch Guest

    On Sat, 4 Jul 2009 16:54:59 +0100, Mike wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > "Gene E. Bloch" <not-me@other.invalid> wrote in message
    > news:15fu9jv8vvq2i$.1lor3y5e1vxxm.dlg@40tude.net...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    >> On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:07:33 -0400, Tim Slattery wrote:
    >><!--coloro:darkred--><span style="color:darkred <!--/coloro-->
    >>> "Danno" <rubyjack@frontiernet.net> wrote:
    >>>
    >>>>Thank you to Gene, John A, and you for replying.
    >>>>
    >>>>The switch is indeed in the unlocked position. Since the card reader is
    >>>>built into my laptop, changing it is not an option.
    >>>
    >>> A note on that: card readers that connect via USB are very cheap. My
    >>> laptop came with a built-in card reader. But when we used it to read a
    >>> card that had been used in our camera, the pictures came out garbled.
    >>> Buying a cheap USB-connected card reader made things work right.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >>
    >> This is what I was gong to recommend when Danno pointed out that his card
    >> reader is built in - in fact, I thought he'd get the hint from my first
    >> post :)
    >>
    >> --
    >> Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    > FWIW not all computers that read SD card will read SDHC cards.
    > Regards<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    FWIW, we were talking about the inability to write to a card that used to
    allow writing.

    Incidentally, the ability to read (and write) an SDHC card depends on the
    card reader, not on the computer. You can add a USB SDHC reader to any
    computer that has USB, regardless of what any built-in reader can do.

    --
    Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom
     
    Gene E. Bloch, Jul 6, 2009
    #16

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