Time to replace memory card?

Matt-P

Matt-P

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Do memory cards wear out? I've got a Sandisk 16gb that has given great service for the last couple of years, but the last few times I've used it says ERR when inserted back into the camera after downloading pics. A reformat and it works again, but is this the sign it's on the way out and needs replacing?
 
Memory cards do have a finite life, based on the number of read/write cycles per sector. If mine was starting to play up I'd just junk it and get a new one as they're so cheap.

That said, I've never actually managed to wear a card out...
 
Are you formatting in camera?
 
When you feel a card is getting untrustworthy, I would retire it just in case. Maybe use it for transferring files between machines (like a memory key) where it won't be the only place the files are stored.
 
Have you tried a different card (to see if problem still happens), had a similar issue and it turned out to be my cheap card reader corrupting the card, bought a Lexar and its been fine since :)
 
Do they wear out? What's the mechanism, and is it based on use, or just time?

I always format my cards after I have downlaoded teh images ( and confirmed they have been downloaded). Is this still good advice, or could teh act of formatting accelerate the wear/failure process.
 
For peace of mind, as has been suggested, I'd be tempted to retire the card, but I would try to find out why when you've downloaded the files, it then throws an error

Is it your card reader that is causing the problem - can you try another card reader ? Can you try downloading the files from your camera directly ?

But, for peace of mind....
 
Don't throw away a sandisk card until you've checked the warranty- they tend to be 10 years plus.
 
Thegreatroberto said:
Do they wear out?
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Yes.

Thegreatroberto said:
What's the mechanism, and is it based on use, or just time?
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Use. As others have said further up the thread. Read/Write cycles.

Thegreatroberto said:
I always format my cards after I have downlaoded teh images ( and confirmed they have been downloaded). Is this still good advice, or could teh act of formatting accelerate the wear/failure process.
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If you format in camera, it's not actually formatting all the card's sectors, so no, it will not wear the card out. If you did a full format via your computer, then yes it would reduce it's life cycles. This also stands true for SSD drives in computers. You should not unnecessarily format them. You should also turn off things like indexing that are constantly reading the drive.. it's not needed with a SSD anyway as they're fast enough to bring up a full directory without caching anything. Using a SSD as a scratch disc will also lessen it's life. However.. that's worth it. SSDs are cheap these days, as are SD and CF cards. The card should still outlast your camera even if you do a full on format every time you download, so don't worry about it.

If a card fails, it will probably be due to fault rather than natural wear. Failing sectors will not necessarily make the card fail. Most OSes (including those in cameras) will reallocate cells as they fail, so you'll start to get unreliable behaviour quite some time before a card dies of natural causes. Outright catastrophic failure will be the result of a fault, not part of the card's natural demise through use.

Either way... any odd behaviour, I'd first try another card in the camera to establish where the fault lies - the camera's card reader, or the card itself. If it's the card, remove it, place it in the nearest bin, and buy another one. They're cheap.

If your card has 2 slots... use one as back up of the other. Cards do fail. I've had a few card failures over the years, and when they happen in single card cameras or when you have the second slot set to overflow, you've lost everything on that card. You have a D800 though.... so set slot B to back up slot A.
 
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Thanks all for the tips. Card reader integral to the computer so will try a external one. Not getting the behaviour on other cards.

Will definitely set the second slot up as a backup, thanks for the suggestion.
 
Matt-P said:
Not getting the behaviour on other cards.
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Suspect card then. Don't rely on it. In fact... bin it. It's like when you don't throw dodgy pens away... that will be the one you pick up to take to that important meeting one day :)
 
Coyon said:
Don't throw away a sandisk card until you've checked the warranty- they tend to be 10 years plus.
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This is true, the only card I have had go corrupt on me is Sandisk, bought from Amazon. I just emailed them and a couple of days later a new one arrived, they didn't even ask for the old one back.
 
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Matt-P said:
I've got a Sandisk 16gb that has given great service for the last couple of years, but the last few times I've used it says ERR when inserted back into the camera after downloading pics.
Click to expand...

If I had the slightest doubt about any memory card it would be straight in the bin.
 
Northstar100 said:
This is true, the only card I have had go corrupt on me is Sandisk, bought from Amazon. I just emailed them and a couple of days later a new one arrived, they didn't even ask for the old one back.
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Had forgotten about this, definitely e-mail them and see what they say, if it is faulty, then it may well br covered under their guarantee...

Hope you get it sorted. :)
 
Jackwow said:
If I had the slightest doubt about any memory card it would be straight in the bin.
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Yeah, we're in agreement on this.... but as Dan said further up... Sandisk cards can have very long warranties... so instead of the bin... chuck it in an envelope and RMA it.
 
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