Some Help With My Cell Phone Please

SVT Cobra

Lifer
Mar 29, 2005
13,264
2
0
I bought a Sandisk MiniSD, 512mb, to use in my LG VX8100 Mp3 phone. I used it for now I guess it has been 2 and a half months. I have put movies and mp3's on the card to listen/watch them on my phone. (while i am typing this I am remembering more so bear with me).

So today I listened to the songs, and then took the card out for a second to show someone (I have taken it out before, no big deal, I do it all the time to put it in my card reader to transfer files to it). I put the card back in my phone and then suddenly it does not work, it says that there are no songs on the card. I get home and put it in my memory card reader, and it does not even register. I think the card is dead. My questions are:

What type of things can cause it to fail or for a device to not be able to read it? (static electricity, smudges on the metal parts, etc?)

When I was listening to Mp3's on the phone right before it died it kept skipping a bit, but I ignored it because it has done that before when I have been in the car and go over bumps, or turn the headphone jack when it is plugged in. But maybe it should not do that, has it been defective all along? Also while typing this I am thinking it is possible (but doubtful) my phone killed it (see next question)

Before it stopped working I tried to listen to music after putting the card back in, and the card worked and everything, but no sound came out of my Phone's speakers, only the headphones (not even the regular non mp3 sound like the phones beeps), so I turned the phone off and then turned it back on and then the sound worked but thats when it started to not recognize the card. Is it possible that my phone was acting up and killed it or something?

It has a 5 year limited warrenty, and I meet all of the criteria to get the warrenty (I was using it in an approved device properly) but I do not have the original packaging, I either lost it or threw it out. I also probably do not have the receipt, but I have the case that it came in. Do I need that? I only have the packaging of my 256mb mini SD card that still works.


:( :( Any help or information that you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot for your time :)

(I will add more backroung info if I think of any, I might also try howardforums to see if it has happened to anyone else, SanDisk's site gives me nothing)
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
How do you transfer to and from the memory? Those things are NOT supposed to be used like a compact flash card, because they're so fragile.
 

AStar617

Diamond Member
Sep 29, 2002
4,983
0
0
I have a VX8100 and have never heard of them eating cards.

You should definitely check HowardForums though.
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
They wouldn't "eat cards", but taking it in and out of the phone all the time is risky. How do you go about transferring files?
 

slpaulson

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2000
4,414
14
81
I've heard you're really not supposed to take those cards in and out very often, because they are very fragile.
 

AStar617

Diamond Member
Sep 29, 2002
4,983
0
0
Originally posted by: Ornery
They wouldn't "eat cards", but taking it in and out of the phone all the time is risky. How do you go about transferring files?

They are solid state just like every other flash memory device--how are they any more fragile than the next? If you are talking about the click-lock mechanism for holding it, he says he has another card that still works so that's not it.

Transfer occurs by removing the card and using a MiniSD->SD adapter, then a SD->USB card reader (I dont know of any native miniSD readers).
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
It's referred to as "semi-removable" and there is some type of warning about that on its packaging, but I'll be damned if I can find mine! :confused:

The VX9800 uses USB for file transfers, but I don't know about that VX8100.
 

SVT Cobra

Lifer
Mar 29, 2005
13,264
2
0
Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it!

Well my phone has bluetooth functionality, but I did not feel like paying the 200$ to be able to use it to transfer files that way. So I spent 10 bucks on an USB SD card reader and I put my mini SD card reader in the adapter that came with the Mini SD card. I probably transfer files to it once a week and only take it out then (except this time in preicular where I took it out to show this girl (she was hot so that might explain my stupidness) what exactly a mini SD card was, when she handled it she took it by the metal part at the bottom which i never have touched (but she was hot so i was not going to jump on her about it) then she gave it back. Thats why I wondering if maybe static electricity or something?).

Hmm I wonder why it says "semi removable" i'll look into it.

I should clarify I was listening to the music while my friend was driving, or I have the headphones out and listen to it through the speakerphone, so no i do not drive with headphones on that would be too scary for me.
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
I probably transfer files to it once a week...

Can you transfer files from the phone's memory to the card? I can't imagine how you could get by, just throwing files on the card in no particular directories, and expect the phone to see them. There must be some structure to where pictures, audio and contacts are filed, no?
 
Aug 25, 2004
11,151
1
81
go to sandisk's website, find customer support and email them. they'll ask you to mail the card to them at your expense, and they'll send you a replacement in the mail at no extra cost to you.
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
If you can write to, and read from files on the card, when plugged into your PC, then there's nothing wrong with the card.
 

SVT Cobra

Lifer
Mar 29, 2005
13,264
2
0
No the card is dead, I cannot transfer files to the card, even on my computer.

The phone puts 4 folders onto the card the first time you put it in (pix, flix, sounds, mp3), thats where it reads it from.

George if that is the case then that is awesome, I will try that!

And also thank you very much Ornery, you have been very helpful, not to mention you PM'ed me when I was deciding to buy this phone and showed me some other options, and also turned me on to howardforums. Ornery for elite! (oh wait...dammt :) )