Question SD card stuck with files on it

[rh71]

Have a 64GB SanDisk Ultra micro SD card that seems to be stuck with files on it. I just want to start fresh so I'm trying to format it on my WIN 10 PC. Neither Quick Format nor the non-quick format work - just says "Windows was unable to complete the format." The micro SD card used to be in an Android phone and it has ~30 GBs of pics/videos. When I hook it up to my WIN 10 PC with an adapter, it instantly says there's a problem with it - do I want to scan / fix. I say yes and it doesn't do anything.

Beyond that, I can still see it on This PC as a drive and it shows "27.4GB Free of 59.4GB" and I can see all the files/folders. It's formatted as ExFAT.

I can add files (and view the new files) and delete files so it's not in read-only or locked mode. But what's weird is I can eject the card, then re-insert it and it will be like I never did any of the above with adding/deleting files/folders. It will still have the original files/folders only. I tried using diskpart and chkdsk to no avail. I tried using AOMEI Partition Assistant to check the sectors and it's 100% ok. I also use it to wipe (write zeros) & delete the partition and it says it's complete but after remounting, it's still at 27.4GB Free of 59.4GB and I can still access all the files as before.

I've tried using another SD Card Adapter and it's the same results. Ideas?

 

[Tech Junky]

Boot into Linux w/ a USB and that should solve the issue. I use Ubuntu but, any distro should be able to mangle it to a fresh format.

Just pull up disks from the search option for starters and see if formatting it from there does the trick. If not there's a partition manager as well that goes a bit deeper and will allow you to zap things / apply them and then create a new partition again.

 

[Shmee]

It sounds as if it is behaving like it is locked or something, but then you already looked into that. One thing I can think of you could check is the adapters, sometimes those have locking switches on them.

It is likely though more of a filesystem/Windows issue, I agree that you should try Linux next.

 

[rh71]

From Ubuntu after trying to format with Disks:

Error formatting disk

Error synchronizing after initial wipe: Timed out waiting for object (udisks-error-quark,0)

 

[Tech Junky]

Sounds like the SD is corrupted. Get a new one and there are some higher speed options these days for cheap.

 

[rh71]

I tried GParted too and after it first loaded I think I unmounted then tried to format - exFat was grayed out so I tried ntfs (3 pics in order):

https://imgur.com/a/YZM1fGZ

I wasn't able to find a way to remount (if necessary).

 

[Tech Junky]

Mounting should be easy from "disks" if it's a working drive. There's something borked on the SD filesystem though. Usually see these errors on failing disks.

 

[sdifox]

Try Rufus. Having said that, it's dirt cheap to replace.

 

[rh71]

Yeah they are definitely dirt cheap now. I did try to claim the 10yr warranty and they actually wanted me to send it back first on my dime, for a $10 card. F that noise.

 

[Tech Junky]

For whatever a stamp costs and an envelope it's cheap. If they don't approve the replacement you're out $0.50. I would just by a newer faster one though. You can get 128gb 100MB/s ones for under $20 though.