Want to copy micro SD for backup

[lakedude]

I've got a new Android 4.4 car stereo head unit that came with a micro SD card pre loaded with navigation maps. I want to back up this SD card. Is at as simple as copying the files over or do I need to do a clone? It is an Android system but I think it uses some type of FAT file system which Windows should be able to read, right?

 

[VirtualLarry]

There's a reason why SD cards are referred to as "Secure" Digital. They can be encrypted, basically DRM-protected content. Not all of them can just be raw-copied.

Sansa or Sandisk or someone used to sell pre-encoded SD/microSD cards with music on them, that couldn't just be copied.

I expect that your situation is much the same.

 

[holden j caufield]

Hmmm I've used a microsd to usb adapter. And stuck both the source microsd drive and the new microsd. With both plugged in I used clonezilla or parted magic should have some utility that makes the exact copy bit for bit so that my computer saw them as the exact same thing. It's good for backups.

I don't know much about DRM so it's a exact clone so might work for your needs.

 

[lakedude]

So this was super easy after all. I just did a simple Window's copy to my laptop at about 40MB/s and then copied from the laptop back out to the new microSD card at about 25MB/s.

Once the 32GB UHS microSD card had all the files on it I copied them back to the laptop (after erasing and emptying the recycle) just as a test and the speed varied wildly but it was around 200MB/s and the entire 4G of files was done in just a few seconds. This is curious since it is much faster than the UHS-1 rating of 10MB/s or even the 48MB/s claimed as the max speed by Samsung. Maybe they are talking about write speed? That must be it since write speed is important for taking pics/video.

So as a final step the new Samsung 32GB UHS-1 card went in the head unit and the maps work and faster than ever since the new card is UHS...