16 replies to this topic

[Leon01]

Hi Guys, Having had one problem sorted recently I now have another. I may be in the wrong place but here goes.I have a 4GB Sandisk SDHC memory card and when I try to transfer files from pc I get message" Write Protected. Remove write protection or insert another card ". I have made sure lock tab is in correct place and also tried tape over same with no success. Any help please. Fingers crossed.

[Andavari]

Do you have this problem when using Recuva, or is this for hardware help?

[Leon01]

Andavari, on 14 July 2012 - 07:59 PM, said:

Do you have this problem when using Recuva, or is this for hardware help?

Thanks for enquiry. I have used recuvva recently with success and transferred recovered photos onto memory card. I now have a new Sandisk 4gb SDHC but am having trouble as described in my posting. I have searched internet and tried various suggestions to no avail. By the way I can take photos with card in camera no problem. Help would be appreciated.

[DennisD]

Hi Leon.

Can you tell us what you've tried, as there are a few suggestions out there, and it would save us spending time searching for possible remedies that you have already tried.

[Leon01]

Leon01, on 15 July 2012 - 06:33 PM, said:

Hi Dennis, I think I have tried everything I could find online to the point where I think there may be no answer unless there is someone like you who just may be the one with the magic touch. Here's hoping. Thanks for your interest.

[DennisD]

I wish I did have a magic touch when it comes to getting folks photographs back.

I'll see what I can find, as will the other guys I'm sure, and get back to you. And the first thing I would do, which you've probably already done, is to toggle that write protect switch back and forth a few times. You never know.

Also try every elimination process you can think of ..

Try the card in another computer.

Try another card in your computer.

If you're using a card reader, try connecting your camera to USB with the card inside.

If there's nothing on the card you need to keep, format it in the camera, and try the above again.

And anything else you can think of before we look at stuff like registry type fixes.

EDIT:

I've just looked at your other topic Leon, and you're using XP. It's likely your card reader doesn't handle High Capacity SD cards. I think 4gb is OK size wise, but I don't have one to check.

Microsoft provided a fix for this, but if you have SP3, you'll be told when trying to install it, that it's already included in that service pack. In other words, as far as I'm aware, it's never worked.

I had to buy a USB camera card adapter to use SD High Capacity cards ...

http://www.amazon.co...r/dp/B000VY80AM

This is the one I bought, but you can get multi card adapters if you look around.

If you could try that card in a computer running OS later than XP, that would help.

Edited by DennisD, 16 July 2012 - 08:22 AM.

[Leon01]

DennisD, on 16 July 2012 - 06:47 AM, said:

I wish I did have a magic touch when it comes to getting folks photographs back.

I'll see what I can find, as will the other guys I'm sure, and get back to you. And the first thing I would do, which you've probably already done, is to toggle that write protect switch back and forth a few times. You never know.

Also try every elimination process you can think of ..

Try the card in another computer.

Try another card in your computer.

If you're using a card reader, try connecting your camera to USB with the card inside.

If there's nothing on the card you need to keep, format it in the camera, and try the above again.

And anything else you can think of before we look at stuff like registry type fixes.

EDIT:

I've just looked at your other topic Leon, and you're using XP. It's likely your card reader doesn't handle High Capacity SD cards. I think 4gb is OK size wise, but I don't have one to check.

Microsoft provided a fix for this, but if you have SP3, you'll be told when trying to install it, that it's already included in that service pack. In other words, as far as I'm aware, it's never worked.

I had to buy a USB camera card adapter to use SD High Capacity cards ...

http://www.amazon.co...r/dp/B000VY80AM

This is the one I bought, but you can get multi card adapters if you look around.

If you could try that card in a computer running OS later than XP, that would help.

Thanks Dennis for all your recent info. I am using my canon mp 480 all in one memory slot and according to my manual it is compatible with  SDHC. Also I have fomatted card in camera to no avail and I downloaded software which is supposed to fomat write protected cards but when I tried it came up with same message "Cannot format. Card is write protected". I think we need a miracle. I look forward to any further help. Thanks again.

[DennisD]

I thought the high capacity thing would be too easy.

After looking around for a while, it's clear that Flash Drives ( and cards) can actually carry a "Write Protected" flag although the switch (if available) is set to off, and in all instances of this problem I've found, it's set by XP for some reason.

Quote

Also I have fomatted card in camera to no avail

If the camera can format the card, have you tried the suggestions above, specifically having the card in the camera, and connecting via USB. I'm guessing your camera was supplied with a USB cable for transfer purposes.

And have you tried the card in something other than your "canon mp 480 all in one memory slot", or have you tried another SDHC card in that slot?

As I mentioned above, It's important to eliminate everything we can as being the culprit, and you haven't confirmed whether or not you've tried a different card or a different computer.

Let me know for sure that you've done something to eliminate both the card reader and your computer as being possible culprits, otherwise we could be chasing our tails when the cause is right there.

[DennisD]

Not a solution Leon, but it appears to be quite a common problem, and the workaround by some folk is the USB adapter.

This guy has the same problem, but confirms that the "Write Protection" is gone if the card is connected via USB. One of the reasons I suggested you try connecting your camera via USB with the card in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxBdUofGI6U

If we can't find the cause and therefore a solution, this is a very cheap workaround, and in my case the transfer speeds via USB far surpassed the speed via card reader.

[Leon01]

DennisD, on 16 July 2012 - 04:21 PM, said:

Not a solution Leon, but it appears to be quite a common problem, and the workaround by some folk is the USB adapter.

This guy has the same problem, but confirms that the "Write Protection" is gone if the card is connected via USB. One of the reasons I suggested you try connecting your camera via USB with the card in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxBdUofGI6U

If we can't find the cause and therefore a solution, this is a very cheap workaround, and in my case the transfer speeds via USB far surpassed the speed via card reader.

Thanks Dennis, I have a usb reader that I have tried but I now think it may not be compatible with SDHC cards. As they are so cheap I will purchase another and see if that solves problem. Will keep you updated around this week end.

[Leon01]

Leon01, on 17 July 2012 - 10:38 AM, said:

Thanks Dennis, I have a usb reader that I have tried but I now think it may not be compatible with SDHC cards. As they are so cheap I will purchase another and see if that solves problem. Will keep you updated around this week end.

Hi Dennis, I purchased another usb reader as suggested and I thought it had solved the problem, however after a few moments transferring photos to card a message comes up " Cannot copy, cannot find the specified file. Make sure you specify the correct path and file name" I am a bit bewildered by this as all the recovered photos are from same camera and card. Any thoughts?

[DennisD]

It's an odd one to be sure.

Have you tried some of my earlier elimination suggestions ...

Quote

Try the card in another computer.

Try another card in your computer.

If you're using a card reader, try connecting your camera to USB with the card inside.

I'd be interested to learn if it will work inside your camera via USB cable, as it formats OK in the camera.

There's also the simple trick of toggling the write protect switch back and forth a few times. It may just need pushed to the "write" position a little bit more forcefully, and also the tape across the switch is one which has worked for some people.

These are the obvious things to try before messing about with registry entries, and it's also important to try the elimination procedures mentioned above. You need to find out if that card will work in another computer, or if another card would work in your computer.

That's assuming that you have access to another card or another computer.

[Leon01]

DennisD, on 23 July 2012 - 03:25 PM, said:

It's an odd one to be sure.

Have you tried some of my earlier elimination suggestions ...



I'd be interested to learn if it will work inside your camera via USB cable, as it formats OK in the camera.

There's also the simple trick of toggling the write protect switch back and forth a few times. It may just need pushed to the "write" position a little bit more forcefully, and also the tape across the switch is one which has worked for some people.

These are the obvious things to try before messing about with registry entries, and it's also important to try the elimination procedures mentioned above. You need to find out if that card will work in another computer, or if another card would work in your computer.

That's assuming that you have access to another card or another computer.

Hi Dennis, I think I must have tried every possibility with no success and I am doubtful about messing with registry entries.I was trying to get recovered photos back onto memory card  to be able use in a Canon Selphy printer. I have now discovered it is possible to use a usb memory stick and have transferred photos to that device so I am now pulling the plug on SDHC although I don't like the idea of admitting defeat as I am sure you agree. Thanks a lot Dennis for time spent with me it is very much appreciated and maybe our paths will cross again in the future. Regards from a very silver surfer.

[DennisD]

Quote

I don't like the idea of admitting defeat as I am sure you agree

I'm with you on that one, and at least you can get your photographs.

I wish you lived around the corner as I would love to get my hands on one of these mysterious cards, much easier than trying to find a back and forth "virtual" fix.

And you're more than welcome by the way, and if we see you on here again, lets hope it's a social call and not a problem to try and fix.  

[Mew919]

I have the same problem.  After using Recuva and got all my pics back.  I cannot put the pics back onto the card.  I am using vista, not xp.
I haven't tried different computer yet.  Hmm, let me try my antique iMac and see if it works.

[DennisD]

Looking forward to your findings on that Mew.

Welcome to the forum.

[hazelnut]

ScanDiisk info on this is pretty basic

http://kb.sandisk.co...ected-or-locked

The only other thing I could think of are this (downloads on left of page)

https://www.sdcard.o...ds/formatter_3/