How to fix problems with your camera

No matter how far progress has come these days, no matter how perfect the technology has become, sometimes everything fails. So digital cameras sooner or later refuse to see the memory card. If a similar problem occurs with one of these devices, this will mean that it will no longer be possible to take a picture. Often this is completely inappropriate, especially if this happens at an important moment with a professional photographer.

@Fire 2020

Problems with the memory card

Conventionally, all faults can be divided into 5 groups:

Brain teaser. The camera says “the disk is not formatted” or it says “the card is protected”, the information is displayed in RAW format. File system failures can be eliminated using special equipment. If the card is blocked or information is accidentally deleted or formatted, you can fix this yourself.
Mechanical. The drive may get wet, crack, or break. What to do if water gets into the storage tank? Under no circumstances should you insert it into the camera until it is completely dry.
Thermal and electrical. Voltage surges, simplification of electrical circuits to reduce the cost of the final product, poor build quality - these are possible reasons why the camera does not see the drive. It is believed that the drive can withstand overheating up to 125 degrees, in practice, problems arise already at 70.
Controller malfunction. The card says: blocked, or an “insert disk” error is displayed, or the disk is protected, or the zero size is displayed. You can unlock the flash drive using proprietary utilities.
Flash memory wear or failure. The drive has a limited number of cycles. For cheap options it does not exceed 10 thousand, for expensive ones it can reach 100 thousand. As soon as the number of cycles comes to an end, failures begin.

Memory card error in most cases occurs due to several reasons.

The main reasons why a Samsung phone stopped seeing the memory card

There may be several reasons. Before looking for it and fixing the performance problem, you can take several steps that can bring the punishment into working condition:

restart Samsung. Restarting the operating system can correct the situation, the flash drive will become visible again. This means that there was a system failure;
If the Samsung model has a removable battery, remove the battery for a few seconds, then reinsert it. It is worth remembering that extraction is carried out only with the smartphone turned off;
checking contacts – both on the card itself and on the smartphone. They must not be deformed or oxidized. The contacts on the carrier should be wiped with a soft, lint-free cloth.

AllShare Samsung - what is it and how to use it

If the above steps did not help correct the situation and Samsung still does not see the memory card, look for another reason. It can be in both the carrier and the smartphone. If the flash drive is damaged, it will have to be replaced. They cannot be repaired. You can solve problems with your phone yourself or at a service center.

Incorrect flash drive format

The most common reason for a card to be “invisible” is an incorrect format. Usually they are not read by devices, ask for formatting and give other error codes. This is due to:

the markup or file system cannot be read by Android;
Memory markup is wrong;
formatting was carried out with incorrect settings.

This happens because flash drives come from the factory configured to work with the exFAT file system. It is not accepted by all phones, tablets or computers. The fix is formatting. Methods:

Carry out the process under FAT32 using Recovery mode. Note that this method is effective, but labor-intensive and is not suitable for inexperienced users.
Using the SD Formatter application on a personal computer. The procedure is simple. You will need to download the free utility to your computer and insert the mobile device into it using a special slot or card reader. In the system menu, select SD and start formatting by selecting the required file system.
Using standard Windows tools. The difference from the previous method is that you do not need to download the utility. Just select SD drives in the list, right-click the menu and start the process.
Use standard Android tools. In this case, microSD does not have to be removed from the mobile device. There is a special item in the mobile memory settings. The method is only suitable if the smartphone or tablet sees the SD, but cannot read it.

Often the problem is resolved immediately after changing the format.

Samsung doesn't receive notifications - what should I do?

Problems with the memory card itself

In this case, the card will not be detected by either a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Failure may occur due to:

removal and reinstallation of media without a special mode to ensure safe removal;
overheating;
oxidation;
mechanical damage.

If Samsung does not see the memory card because it is broken, the gadget should be replaced.

Incompatibility between device and memory card

When purchasing a new microSD for a gadget, you must strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Often the phone or tablet does not see the media precisely because the wrong size or speed is selected.

Software glitch in the phone itself

The “invisibility” of a flash drive can also be explained by a software malfunction. For check:

reset the gadget settings to standard;
in the “Storage” section, set the removable option as such.

In addition, you may need to update the firmware to the latest one, which will help “cure” all failures. Updated versions of the software are freed by developers from critical errors and bugs.

Incorrectly installed flash drive

The card must be installed in the manner indicated on the device itself. Since the SD is very small in size, there are situations where the user inserts it incorrectly. This may damage its housing or contacts. You will need to carefully remove it from the slot, inspect it and, if necessary, replace it. If the damage is not critical, insert as recommended by the manufacturer.

The camera says “memory card is blocked”

Almost all types of drives have a forced locking function. In this case, the drive is visible, you can view its contents, but nothing else can be done. What to do if this happens?

You need to remove the card from the camera. On the left side there should be a small switch with the word “lock” above it. The lower position indicates that the drive is locked, that is, the switch must be moved up.

If the MicroCD memory card is blocked, then you need to look for the toggle switch on the adapter.

Memory card error: what to do? The problem may arise if the card is new or has been used with other equipment. The easiest way is to format the drive, as the Nikon camera itself suggests.

Formatting can be done on a computer using the following algorithm:

Place the drive in the laptop;
Find storage media;
Select “format” on the drive with the right button;
Select the appropriate system: “fat32” or “ntfs”;
Perform formatting.

The procedure did not help, and the camera still writes - there is a memory card error or it is blocked, most likely that it is completely incompatible with the device. The test is carried out on another device.

Caring for your camera

In order for the camera to serve for a long time and delight you with high-quality pictures, it requires some care. Digital models are less demanding in this regard, but caring for an SLR camera should be more serious. The worst things for a DSLR camera are dust and moisture. To extend the service life and maintain photo quality, you need to know the following rules.

If the camera is not used for a long time, it is necessary to remove the battery from it and periodically fully charge it. This will extend the battery life.
The lens should be stored separately, and the camera shaft and lens should be closed with special covers supplied in the kit. In general, you should make it a rule to always put caps on when the lens is detached.
Moisture is the killer of an SLR camera and lens. They should be stored in a dry, warm place. The inside of the camera can oxidize, and bacteria can grow on the glass and release chemicals. All this leads to damage to the lens coating. As a result, cloudy photographs are obtained.
The camera is always transported with the lens detached.
The device must be cleaned. It involves cleaning the camera shaft, its surface, and the lens. For this you need to use only special sets, brushes and brushes. Plain cloth can damage the camera lens, resulting in poor-quality photos.

Repairing a digital or SLR camera is a complex procedure and quite expensive. For this reason, in case of any malfunctions, you do not need to try to fix the device yourself by looking inside it. All faults that can be repaired at home are listed above. If the advice does not help, or the breakdown is of a different nature, then you should entrust the equipment to specialists. Any outside interference may damage the device even more.

The device does not see the memory card

Why doesn't the camera see the memory card? It's no secret that the drive body is not durable. Any abrasion or crack can cause a failure. Data can be recovered in 99% of cases, except if the memory chip is damaged. The problem can be fixed in a workshop by replacing the housing.

Why doesn't the camera see the memory card? The second common problem is controller malfunction.

This manifests itself with the following errors:

The map size is defined as 0 KB;
Error code 43 or 10;
The message “Insert disc into device” appears on the camera.

If the card cannot be removed, then you should not do it yourself, it is better to contact a service workshop.

Why doesn't the camera read the memory card? There may be degradation of memory cells that have a limited read and write cycle. In this case, it will not be possible to repair the card, but you can extract information using special utilities.

IMPORTANT! If the drive is inserted correctly, but the memory card is not visible on the camera, but it is detected on other devices, then most likely the problem is in the camera.

Memory card error: what to do? You can purchase a special device - an unlocker.

It is very easy to use:

The device is connected to a PC;
A card is placed in the unlocker;
Unlocking is in progress and the LED will light up when the process is complete.

How else can I unlock the memory card? There are many special utilities, for example, PC Inspector Smart Recovery, with an intuitive interface.

Is the memory card in a Canon camera only sometimes readable? The problem is in the card, it has a low “class”, and the camera itself takes pictures in very high quality.

This information is printed on the map itself; it is better to choose class 6 and higher. If the camera says that the drive is blocked, then check its speed class and replace it if necessary.

When using MicroSD, it says “the card is protected”, the problem may occur when writing files exceeding 4 GB in size. You can fix the error by changing the FAT32 file system to NTFS.

If the memory card writes - a reading error, it is most likely that the frames existing on it were made by other equipment.

Independent methods of solving the problem

If a memory card malfunctions, it is recommended that you first format it on your computer. It is best if this process takes place using standard formatting settings. If this procedure does not produce any results, you should seek help from special software.

The next step after formatting the card will be flashing its controllers. There are many programs and applications for this procedure. If after flashing there is still no result, and valuable files are saved on the memory card, you should contact a special organization that can recover data from damaged media.

Problems connecting to PC

If, when connected to a computer, it displays a memory card error, this does not mean at all that the problem lies with it. There is a possibility that the port itself is faulty. Try connecting the drive through the front connector, then through the rear. Connect the camera's memory card using a different cable.

When the computer does not see the camera, the reason may be blocking programs that regard the new connection as a potential threat.

If Nikon does not see the card, you need to take the following steps:

In the “Start” tab, select “Control Panel” - “Security System”;
Go to “Windows Firewall” and disable it, then enable it;
To save the changes, click the “OK” button.

After rebooting, the computer should not show an error.

An antivirus program can act in a similar way; to check this, you need to disable it and try to connect the camera again.

The memory card is blocked for recording, the camera works fine with the flash drive, but the computer does not see it. Check the card with antivirus. It still says - the card is protected, go to the registry. In the branch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies. Correct the WriteProtect key value to "0".

Doesn't see the flash drive from the PC camera. If one of the computer disks and the drive has the same name. For example, “E”, then the PC will never display the map until you rename it.

The memory card says that it is not defined. Wipe the drive contacts with a dry cloth. If the message does not disappear, format it.

How to check if the Micro SD card is detected on the computer?

In order to understand whether your computer has detected your Micro SD card, you can use 2 methods.

First way. Open my computer and check the connection of the new partition. If you have a new disk, then the flash drive has been identified.

Second way. If nothing appears in Explorer, then it’s worth checking whether the computer has even detected that an SD card is connected to it. To do this, go to my computer, right-click on the computer and select “Manage” from the drop-down menu.

After which the Computer Management window will open, there is a menu on the left side. We need to select the “Disk Management” section.

In the displayed statistics, we can see all connected drives to the computer, determine their volume, or set the partition letter.

If you did not see your SD card in this list, then read the following reasons and their solutions.

The computer does not see the flash drive in the camera

You can view the memory card in the camera through the cord that connects the camera and the PC, or insert the media into the card reader.

If the PC does not see the flash drive from the camera, the MTP connection type, which is used in all modern camera models, may not be enabled on the computer.

When the camera is not turned on, the drive installed in it will not be readable. The problem may occur due to incorrectly installed drivers.

You can check this in the “Device Manager”; if a yellow exclamation mark appears next to the new storage device, it means you need to reinstall the drivers.

The memory card in a Canon camera does not allow you to do anything with it via a PC; perhaps the corresponding functions are disabled in the camera itself. The easiest way is to remove it and view it through a card reader.

The storage device in the camera says that it is impossible to view the information or is not displayed. Surely, during the process of connecting the equipment, the wrong mode was selected, so the Canon camera does not see the drive. Most cameras, when connected to a PC via a USB cable, immediately begin charging. You need to disconnect the connection and start over.

To avoid problems with the laptop not reading the memory card, it is better to insert the drive directly into the PC. In this case, the camera settings will not affect the storage medium itself.

The main reasons why a Samsung phone stopped seeing the memory card

There may be several reasons. Before looking for it and fixing the performance problem, you can take several steps that can bring the punishment into working condition:

restart Samsung. Restarting the operating system can correct the situation, the flash drive will become visible again. This means that there was a system failure;
If the Samsung model has a removable battery, remove the battery for a few seconds, then reinsert it. It is worth remembering that extraction is carried out only with the smartphone turned off;
checking contacts – both on the card itself and on the smartphone. They must not be deformed or oxidized. The contacts on the carrier should be wiped with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Incorrect flash drive format

The most common reason for a card to be “invisible” is an incorrect format. Usually they are not read by devices, ask for formatting and give other error codes. This is due to:

the markup or file system cannot be read by Android;
Memory markup is wrong;
formatting was carried out with incorrect settings.

This happens because flash drives come from the factory configured to work with the exFAT file system. It is not accepted by all phones, tablets or computers. The fix is formatting. Methods:

Carry out the process under FAT32 using Recovery mode. Note that this method is effective, but labor-intensive and is not suitable for inexperienced users.
Using the SD Formatter application on a personal computer. The procedure is simple. You will need to download the free utility to your computer and insert the mobile device into it using a special slot or card reader. In the system menu, select SD and start formatting by selecting the required file system.
Using standard Windows tools. The difference from the previous method is that you do not need to download the utility. Just select SD drives in the list, right-click the menu and start the process.
Use standard Android tools. In this case, microSD does not have to be removed from the mobile device. There is a special item in the mobile memory settings. The method is only suitable if the smartphone or tablet sees the SD, but cannot read it.

Often the problem is resolved immediately after changing the format.

Problems with the memory card itself

In this case, the card will not be detected by either a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Failure may occur due to:

removal and reinstallation of media without a special mode to ensure safe removal;
overheating;
oxidation;
mechanical damage.

If Samsung does not see the memory card because it is broken, the gadget should be replaced.

Incompatibility between device and memory card

Software glitch in the phone itself

The “invisibility” of a flash drive can also be explained by a software malfunction. For check:

reset the gadget settings to standard;
in the “Storage” section, set the removable option as such.

In addition, you may need to update the firmware to the latest one, which will help “cure” all failures. Updated versions of the software are freed by developers from critical errors and bugs.

Incorrectly installed flash drive

The camera does not turn on or discharges quickly

When the camera does not turn on, there can be two reasons: the battery is completely discharged or the camera itself is broken. The second option will require contacting specialists.

If the charger has not been used for a long time, the charging progress indication will not appear immediately.

Other reasons why the camera does not turn on:

Battery wear, average service life - 2 years;
Excessively powerful charging that charges quickly, but not completely;
Defective battery.

Why do my camera batteries drain quickly? Most likely, their capacity is too small. Any instructions indicate the recommended amount of mAh.

Your camcorder and camera may run out of battery quickly if:

Autofocus is constantly used;
Using automatic ZOOM zoom too often, give preference to manual adjustment to save battery;
When using the camera, the flash constantly turns on;
Using an LCD screen with a viewfinder, on sunny days it is better to use an optical viewfinder.

IMPORTANT! If the camera does not see the battery, check the charging connector.

File system conflict

There are often cases when a flash drive is detected, but it cannot be opened. The reason for this may be a file system conflict or a damaged file system of the Micro SD card itself. If the data on the flash drive does not play any role for you, then you can try to format it into the NTFS file system.

To do this, right-click on the flash drive and select “Format” from the drop-down menu.

In the format window that opens, in the “File system” section, select NTFS, set the Volume Label and click the “Start” button.

In this way we have formatted the Micro SD card into NTFS format, after which you can open it.

The flash drive is infected with a computer virus

If a memory card error occurs in your camera, this may be due to a computer virus. This problem occurs quite often. Currently, there are viruses that hide all files located on microSD. One of them is the autorun virus. What is the best way to get out of this situation?

try using a file manager, for example Total Commander.
By clicking the cursor on the “Settings” window of Windows Explorer, enable “Show hidden files”.

If the Windows 7 operating system is installed, then you need to activate the “Start” window - Control Panel - Appearance and Personalization - Folder Options - View - Advanced Settings - Show hidden files, folders, drives - OK icon.

If the operating system is Windows 8 or 8.1, then you need to press Win + C, then the Search panel - enter “folder” - Folder Options - View - Advanced Options - Show hidden files, folders, drives - OK.

If the Windows 10 operating system is installed, then you need to activate the Explorer window - View (top menu) - put the icon on “Hidden elements”.

Scan the flash drive with an antivirus or a free scanner. In this case, there is no need to worry about the photos, since the files themselves are not damaged, but only hidden. Sometimes it is necessary to scan the entire system, although it is enough to do this only with micro

Operating system errors

In some cases, a computer or laptop does not see the SD card due to errors in the operating system; we will provide a list of common failures:

Incorrect BIOS settings . The USB device support module may be deactivated;
Driver problem. If the memory card was detected by the system until a certain point, you can use the “System Restore” function - open the “Control Panel” and enter the query “Recovery” in the search bar. In the window that opens, select “Run system recovery.” In the list, select the recovery point that indicates the date when the flash drive was detected by the OS;
In some cases it is required install drivers for specific SD model. To do this, look at what model the card has, go to the manufacturer’s website and download the necessary files.

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