"Write protected" micro SD card: cannot unprotect / reformat

[jingars]

I have sought to download a map update for my in-car satnav (VW) to a new Transcend 32GB micro SD card.

The unzipping process to the card has completed, but the card now states that it is write protected.

I cannot do anything to alter this; the card refuses to reformat.

In addition to my Windows PC I have stuck the card in a Linux mint device, as well as a camera. Nothing will successfully format the card.

I have tried it in two full SD card converters and a USB reader - same result.

A Google search suggests that there are plenty of people out there who have encountered the same issue and have had to give up, binning the errant card and purchase a new one.

Surely there must be a way of showing this card who's in charge here?

[SS2.]

Daft suggestion but, if you are using an adapter for the micro SD, has the write protect tab been inadvertently slipped to the 'lock' position ?

[jingars]

Fair question, given my technical ability ;-)

Not write protected via SD adapter lock switch.

Same result when used via USB card reader that accommodates micro SD cards directly.

[twister]

Have you tried the SD Card Formatting utility available from the SD Association?

https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/

[jingars]

No joy:



Same result regardless as to where the lock switch is set on the full size SD adapter - and also if I put the micro SD card directly into a USB card reader that takes micro SD cards without a full size adapter.

[anonymous-user]

I had the same problem with a Samsung Class 10 card under a year old. This message can either mean the card is actually write protected or it just doesn't work anymore - and mine ended up in the bin. I couldn't find any root causes for this issue, just seems to be down to bad luck.

[jingars]

I too am coming to the conclusion that it is heading for the bin.

I put it in my Lenovo tablet to see whether something Androidy would show it who's boss; the device won't boot with the card in. Suspect that the card has become infected by Satan...

[ging84]

i suspect rather than write protected it's just faulty and what the software reports as write protected is just a more friendly but less accurate way of telling you it's read only.

[colin79666]

Try running a disk manager clean command on it. This worked for me with a usb pen drive that insisted it was write protected.

http://www.howtogeek.com/235824/how-to-clean-a-fla...

[jingars]

Thanks for the link above, but no joy for me:



Googled "diskpart" and found a link suggesting the below:



Think I found the event viewer entries concerned:




The card is going in the bin

[jingars]

Thanks for the above. I have binned the errant card, but if I have the same problem again will try your suggestion.