Unable to Format SD Card

Question

Hello everyone, 

After scrounging the internet for the past two days and trying what I feel is almost everything I wanted to come here to ask for help. My micro SD card was acting up in my cell phone, so I decided to put it into my computer with its adapter, backup all my data and try to reformat it. I am able to back up my data *whew* but for some reason, the sd card won't format. So I delete everything on it and try to put it into my phone, and my phone detects it but it's not able to store anything on it, which is weird because when I put it back in my computer I'm able to move files onto it with no problem. I try to format it in the phone and it says it is successful but the issue with being able to use it still remains so I'm not sure if I trust it, especially considering the following steps I took.

I try to format it on Windows but it says, "Windows was unable to complete the format"

I try to format it with disk management and it says "The format did not complete successfully"

I run the chkdsk, which returns with this result:

The volume has been successfully checked, but Windows was unable

to mark the volume as clean.

Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems.

No further action is required.

Next, I try the fsutil with a dirty query, which returns: 

Volume - e: is Dirty

I try to run a DMDE scan but it stops at 0% (around 300K) and states that there is a cyclic redundancy check.

I have deleted everything on there and tried restarting my computer but as of yet, I am unable to reformat the SD card. I know that the issue is not with the phone because I put in a smaller SD card and it seems to be working as usual. I know I could just buy another one, but I would really rather get this one working after putting all this time and effort into it. Would love to hear any possible suggestions to this issue.

Thank you very much,

Wayne

Answer 1

Hi Wayne

My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I'm here to help you with your problem.

Can you try formatting it through Disk Part?

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/format-local-d...

The SD card doesn't happen to have a lock on it?

Answer 2

Hi Shwayne. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP here to help you.

Try right clicking Start button to open Device Manager, find the SD card drive under Disk Drives, uninstall it and restart PC to reinstall driver.

If it still acts up then try wiping it with Diskpart Clean All which is a lower level format: https://www.howtogeek.com/235824/how-to-clean-a...

Then try formatting the SD card here:

https://www.lifewire.com/format-sd-card-using-w...

There are some other solutions here that often work:

https://www.stellarinfo.com/article/sd-card-rec...

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/sd-card-readed-n...

If those all fail then replace the card.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you'll wait to rate whether my post helped you, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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Answer 3

Thank you for your fast response. I forgot to mention, I tried to clean it with disk part and it said that it was successful but when I looked at the folder there was still data inside. 

My adapter has that switch on it, but I checked it both ways and I am currently in the unlocked mode.

Also when I first plug it into the computer, I get this error.

However, when I try to scan and fix

I get this result

Which leads to this

But then, once I click close, another window opens (see photo before last) that says repair this drive, and every time I go through it, it just continues the pattern, so I'm not sure what this means.

Answer 4

If you have access to another computer running; especially if its Mac or computer running Linux, you could try formatting it there.

If it's not formatting on any of those devices, it is likely corrupt or damaged.