Tablet can no longer read its SD card

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PSLog

291 posts

Ultimate Geek

#270246 30-Apr-2020 11:38

Have had a Lenovo Tab 8 with an installed SD card for a couple of years.

Suddenly it can no longer read the SD card. I have tried removing and re-inserting the card - to no effect.

It MAY have occurred when the tablet battery ran down to dead flat at one stage.

What can I try to resurrect the card, please?

Thanks for your help.

wellygary

8312 posts

Uber Geek

#2473983 30-Apr-2020 12:27

Can you read the SD card in other devices?, That will show if its a corrupted card or the device?

PSLog

291 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2474113 30-Apr-2020 14:51

Would that mean reformatting it on the other device? (thus losing any data?)

andrewNZ

2487 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2474120 30-Apr-2020 14:57

There is a high chance the data is at least partially gone. SD cards aren't terribly reliable, and uSD cards are even less so.

You can put the card into another device to check it without reformatting. You will probably need a computer not a phone or tablet.

However, if the data is important, STOP NOW and seek professional help.

PSLog

291 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2474919 1-May-2020 17:26

OK. I put another SD card in the tablet and fired it up.
The tablet recognises the second SD card.

That means the device is OK but the card has been corrupted?

If so, then do I have two choices
1. take it to a professional to try to recover data (when we reach level 2)
2. Try to somehow reformat the card.

Is that right?

webwat

2036 posts

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Trusted

#2490250 23-May-2020 22:13

PSLog: OK. I put another SD card in the tablet and fired it up.
The tablet recognises the second SD card.

That means the device is OK but the card has been corrupted?

If so, then do I have two choices
1. take it to a professional to try to recover data (when we reach level 2)
2. Try to somehow reformat the card.

Is that right?

Reformatting anything will wipe the data, ie dont format unless you want to delete everything. SD cards are normally FAT16 file system so any computer can read them without having to format. However if the card is corrupted or has some failed electronics then theres not always a lot you can do compared to a normal hard drive.

Time to find a new industry!

richms

28168 posts

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Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2490306 23-May-2020 23:28

SD cards are consumables, and with the constant writing that can occur with some things using them as basically a cache, they die quickly. Particually cheap no brand ones that dont do any wear levelling etc in them. I just dont trust them for virtually anything other than temporary placement of video etc before it gets backed up over to the cloud.

Richard rich.ms