Can't format Disney preloaded SD card

[SharkD]

I bought one of those Disney preloaded SD cards cheap, thinking I
could just blank it and use it for storage. However, I can't get the
damned thing formatted. There's a single file called HSM.smv. If I try
deleting the file and replacing it with new files, Explorer seems to
think everything's OK. However, when I remove the drive and put it
back in the drive, the HSM.smv file has mysteriously returned and the
new files are gone.

There is no sliding tab on the side to "lock" or "unlock" the disk.
Even without the tab the gap is in the same position and of the same
size as my other SD cards that are "unlocked".

Anyone know how to get these disks working?

-Mike

 

[Grinder]

I bought one of those Disney preloaded SD cards cheap, thinking I
could just blank it and use it for storage. However, I can't get the
damned thing formatted. There's a single file called HSM.smv. If I try
deleting the file and replacing it with new files, Explorer seems to
think everything's OK. However, when I remove the drive and put it
back in the drive, the HSM.smv file has mysteriously returned and the
new files are gone.

What happens if you try to format it? Deleting all the files =/= Format.

There is no sliding tab on the side to "lock" or "unlock" the disk.
Even without the tab the gap is in the same position and of the same
size as my other SD cards that are "unlocked".

I pretty sure that the lock on an SD card is just a signal for the
device that loads the card -- like the write protect holes on floppy disks.

Anyone know how to get these disks working?

No, but it's an interesting puzzle. Try the inbuilt system format on
the card. If that doesn't work you can try some other utilities:

http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter/

 

[Grinder]

I bought one of those Disney preloaded SD cards cheap, thinking I
could just blank it and use it for storage. However, I can't get the
damned thing formatted. There's a single file called HSM.smv. If I try
deleting the file and replacing it with new files, Explorer seems to
think everything's OK. However, when I remove the drive and put it
back in the drive, the HSM.smv file has mysteriously returned and the
new files are gone.

What happens if you try to format it? Deleting all the files =/= Format.

There is no sliding tab on the side to "lock" or "unlock" the disk.
Even without the tab the gap is in the same position and of the same
size as my other SD cards that are "unlocked".

I pretty sure that the lock on an SD card is just a signal for the
device that loads the card -- like the write protect holes on floppy disks.

Anyone know how to get these disks working?

No, but it's an interesting puzzle. Try the inbuilt system format on
the card. If that doesn't work you can try some other utilities:

http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter/

 

[SharkD]

What happens if you try to format it?  Deleting all the files =/= Format.


I pretty sure that the lock on an SD card is just a signal for the
device that loads the card -- like the write protect holes on floppy disks.


No, but it's an interesting puzzle.  Try the inbuilt system format on
the card.  If that doesn't work you can try some other utilities:

http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter/

Windows says, "Windows was unable to complete the format."

The tool you linked to says the disk is write-protected. Again,
Windows doesn't mention it being write-protected.

-Mike

 

[Grinder]

Windows says, "Windows was unable to complete the format."

The tool you linked to says the disk is write-protected. Again,
Windows doesn't mention it being write-protected.

There are a couple of digital rights management (DRM) features that put
the "S" in Secure Digital (SD) cards. I don't know much about either of
them: CPRM or SDMI.

I would probably poke around with a disk editor and see if I could
manually fill strategic sectors with zeroes. Attempting to open an SD
card I have here with Hex Workshop produces a warning that there are
more sectors in the partition than the volume--a sort of hidden set of data.

Of course, I would probably just end up wrecking your copy of High
School Musical (ha!) and the card as well.

You might also try formatting from a Linux LiveCD or the always abrasive
DBAN. If you use the latter I suggest disconnecting all of your hard
drives first, as you can easily blow yourself up.

 

[SharkD]

I tried formatting/partitioning it using GParted in Ubuntu. Oddly, it
behaved exactly the same as Windows. I could delete the file and it
would later reappear. I could also delete the partition and it would
reset to its initial state. No errors anywhere. I ended up just
throwing the disk away. It's not worth the trouble.

-Mike

 

[Grinder]

I tried formatting/partitioning it using GParted in Ubuntu. Oddly, it
behaved exactly the same as Windows. I could delete the file and it
would later reappear. I could also delete the partition and it would
reset to its initial state. No errors anywhere. I ended up just
throwing the disk away. It's not worth the trouble.

How do you feel about mailing it to me? I'd love to figure it out.

 

[SharkD]

How do you feel about mailing it to me?  I'd love to figure it out.

Sorry, the trash already went out to the curb.

-Mike