SD card is now Read Only

I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that "Disk
is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock position. I
have tried using the properties window to change it but their is no option
to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If I click on a folder
on the SD card and try to change it via the Properties Windows the window
says that it is "Read Only" but when I uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't
because the disk is Read Only. And again I can't find any option to change
ownership or permissions.


Thanks in advance,
Danno

--

--------
Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
--------

You could try formatting the card but most likely it has failed and is no
longer useable.

"Danno" <> wrote in message
news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-...
> I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
> months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
> "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
> position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but their
> is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If I
> click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the Properties
> Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I uncheck "Read
> Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And again I can't
> find any option to change ownership or permissions.
>
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Danno
>
> --
>
> --------
> Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
> --------
>

Thanks Richard. However, it does pass chkdsk, and it can be read from.

Any more ideas,
Danno


"Richard G. Harper" <> wrote in message
news:eq$...
> You could try formatting the card but most likely it has failed and is no
> longer useable.
>
> "Danno" <> wrote in message
> news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-...
>> I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
>> months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
>> "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
>> position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but
>> their is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If
>> I click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the
>> Properties Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I
>> uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And
>> again I can't find any option to change ownership or permissions.
>>
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Danno
>>
>> --
>>
>> --------
>> Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
>> --------
>>

--

--------
Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
--------

Some SD cards have a tiny switch on the side that make them read-only
- if yours has then maybe you bumped the switch?

On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:05:43 -0500, "Danno" <>
wrote:

>I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
>months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that "Disk
>is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock position. I
>have tried using the properties window to change it but their is no option
>to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If I click on a folder
>on the SD card and try to change it via the Properties Windows the window
>says that it is "Read Only" but when I uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't
>because the disk is Read Only. And again I can't find any option to change
>ownership or permissions.
>
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Danno

On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:30:33 +1000, John A <> wrote:

>Some SD cards have a tiny switch on the side that make them read-only
>- if yours has then maybe you bumped the switch?

The OP typed: " The tab on the SD card is in the unlock position."

>
>On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:05:43 -0500, "Danno" <>
>wrote:
>
>>I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
>>months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that "Disk
>>is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock position. I
>>have tried using the properties window to change it but their is no option
>>to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If I click on a folder
>>on the SD card and try to change it via the Properties Windows the window
>>says that it is "Read Only" but when I uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't
>>because the disk is Read Only. And again I can't find any option to change
>>ownership or permissions.
>>
>>
>>Thanks in advance,
>>Danno

On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:58:32 -0500, Danno wrote:

> Thanks Richard. However, it does pass chkdsk, and it can be read from.
>
> Any more ideas,
> Danno

That doesn't necessarily prove it can be written to. Perhaps you could try
it in different machine or use a different card reader.

In fact, I had a card reader that started reporting to my computer that all
the SD cards I put in it were read-only. I tried another reader (same brand
and model) and the problem disappeared. I no longer use the first card
reader :-)

> "Richard G. Harper" <> wrote in message
> news:eq$...
>> You could try formatting the card but most likely it has failed and is no
>> longer useable.
>>
>> "Danno" <> wrote in message
>> news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-...
>>> I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
>>> months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
>>> "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
>>> position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but
>>> their is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If
>>> I click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the
>>> Properties Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I
>>> uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And
>>> again I can't find any option to change ownership or permissions.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance,
>>> Danno
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> --------
>>> Cats know what we feel. They don't care, but they know.
>>> --------
>>>


--
Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom

Hi, Danno.

Last week, after copying my latest batch of photos to the computer, I put
the SD card back into the camera, which promptly announced, "This card
cannot be used" or similar language. After several tries, I was convinced.
So I put the card back into the card reader and told Disk Management to
format it. In a few minutes, I put it back into the camera and have been
using it ever since.

I'm told that SD cards are good for only a finite number of write cycles.
It's a big number, but maybe we've hit the limit. I'll keep using my card,
but cautiously, keeping a spare handy in case it fails while I'm away from
home. So long as a new photo can be written to the card, my computer should
be able to read and copy it - I think - I hope.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100

"Danno" <> wrote in message
news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-...
> I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
> months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
> "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
> position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but their
> is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If I
> click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the Properties
> Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I uncheck "Read
> Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And again I can't
> find any option to change ownership or permissions.
>
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Danno

Thank you to Gene, John A, and you for replying.

The switch is indeed in the unlocked position. Since the card reader is
built into my laptop, changing it is not an option. Reformatting is a last
choice of mine, but I may have to go that route. I haven't tried using the
card back in a camera, that might tell us something.

Does anyone know how to reset the read only attribute to the card? Would
taking ownership/permissions help? And how would I do it?

Thanks for the help!
Danno



"R. C. White" <> wrote in message
news:uaLy$...
> Hi, Danno.
>
> Last week, after copying my latest batch of photos to the computer, I put
> the SD card back into the camera, which promptly announced, "This card
> cannot be used" or similar language. After several tries, I was
> convinced. So I put the card back into the card reader and told Disk
> Management to format it. In a few minutes, I put it back into the camera
> and have been using it ever since.
>
> I'm told that SD cards are good for only a finite number of write cycles.
> It's a big number, but maybe we've hit the limit. I'll keep using my
> card, but cautiously, keeping a spare handy in case it fails while I'm
> away from home. So long as a new photo can be written to the card, my
> computer should be able to read and copy it - I think - I hope.
>
> RC
> --
> R. C. White, CPA
> San Marcos, TX
>
> Microsoft Windows MVP
> Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
>
> "Danno" <> wrote in message
> news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-...
>> I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
>> months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
>> "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
>> position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but
>> their is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions. If
>> I click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the
>> Properties Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I
>> uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And
>> again I can't find any option to change ownership or permissions.
>>
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Danno
>

--

----------
Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.
----------

On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:16:27 -0500, "Danno" <>
wrote:

>The switch is indeed in the unlocked position. Since the card reader is
>built into my laptop, changing it is not an option. Reformatting is a last
>choice of mine, but I may have to go that route. I haven't tried using the
>card back in a camera, that might tell us something.
>
>Does anyone know how to reset the read only attribute to the card? Would
>taking ownership/permissions help? And how would I do it?

I can only guess. If you have ownership of the drive, give users read
and write? Remove attributes for hidden, system files. Actually make
the drive attributes with only "archive".

Hi, Danno.

> Does anyone know how to reset the read only attribute to the card?

But you said, "The switch is indeed in the unlocked position." And you had
already said that in your OP. Which switch are you talking about? Does
your laptop have a software switch to override the tab on the card.

When I slide the tab to lock, the camera or card reader can read from the
card, but not write to it. I can't take more pictures, but I can see and
download the ones already there. "Write protected", "read only" and
"locked" are just different phrases that mean the same thing in this case.

When the card is physically unlocked, it can be formatted, either by the
camera or by Disk Management. Just be sure that you've safely stored all
the pictures from the card onto your hard disk before formatting the card.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100

"Danno" <> wrote in message
news:B0A8C8D9-361A-4363-9AF8-...
> Thank you to Gene, John A, and you for replying.
>
> The switch is indeed in the unlocked position. Since the card reader is
> built into my laptop, changing it is not an option. Reformatting is a
> last choice of mine, but I may have to go that route. I haven't tried
> using the card back in a camera, that might tell us something.
>
> Does anyone know how to reset the read only attribute to the card? Would
> taking ownership/permissions help? And how would I do it?
>
> Thanks for the help!
> Danno
>
>
>
> "R. C. White" <> wrote in message
> news:uaLy$...
>> Hi, Danno.
>>
>> Last week, after copying my latest batch of photos to the computer, I put
>> the SD card back into the camera, which promptly announced, "This card
>> cannot be used" or similar language. After several tries, I was
>> convinced. So I put the card back into the card reader and told Disk
>> Management to format it. In a few minutes, I put it back into the camera
>> and have been using it ever since.
>>
>> I'm told that SD cards are good for only a finite number of write cycles.
>> It's a big number, but maybe we've hit the limit. I'll keep using my
>> card, but cautiously, keeping a spare handy in case it fails while I'm
>> away from home. So long as a new photo can be written to the card, my
>> computer should be able to read and copy it - I think - I hope.
>>
>> RC
>>
>> "Danno" <> wrote in message
>> news:7A81784E-5CD1-4EDB-B197-...
>>> I have been using an SD card in my laptop for portable storage for ~6
>>> months. Suddenly, I have started getting an error message saying that
>>> "Disk is write protected." The tab on the SD card is in the unlock
>>> position. I have tried using the properties window to change it but
>>> their is no option to change it from Read Only or Change Permissions.
>>> If I click on a folder on the SD card and try to change it via the
>>> Properties Windows the window says that it is "Read Only" but when I
>>> uncheck "Read Only," it says I can't because the disk is Read Only. And
>>> again I can't find any option to change ownership or permissions.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance,
>>> Danno