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Help Samsung Galaxy S3 KILLS SD CARDS!!!!!!

I bought my wife an S3 last October. Recently noticed the battery life down to about 6-10 hours even with just on standby and no usage. Replaced with new double size battery but still had same problem.

Then I noticed the S3 was not seeing the 32gig Adata micro SD card.

I removed the card and tried it in my PC but it was dead. However the battery consumption returned to normal straight away. To my mind this is a straightforward hardware fault with the phone and not the SD card.

I heard about the general S3 problems through the memory supplier who agreed to replace the SD card under warranty this time but won't do it again for same device. Fair enough.
 
I had enough so I contacted Samsung and gave them a piece of my mind for the peace of my mind :) They said the fix is in place and will be released "soon". I told them soon is not soon enough, and if it isn't soon, I am going back to HTC and never coming to Samsung again. How they handle S3 problems will tell me everything I need to know about them, and if I would ever consider getting S4.
 
Endraweat said:
I had enough so I contacted Samsung and gave them a piece of my mind for the peace of my mind :) They said the fix is in place and will be released "soon". I told them soon is not soon enough, and if it isn't soon, I am going back to HTC and never coming to Samsung again. How they handle S3 problems will tell me everything I need to know about them, and if I would ever consider getting S4.
Click to expand...

It's nice to know that they have something in the works and that I'm not just losing my mind. When my S3 ate a 1GB card from my old dumb-phone, I wasn't too bothered. Tiny card, never really used it, no great loss and I figured it had nothing to do with the S3. Now it's having all sorts of issues with the 32GB card. beginning to think I should take the SD card out and keep it out till they actually come up with this long awaited fix. Such a shame since I absolutely love my Galaxy S3. Wife's I-Phone 4S has given here WAY more grief than my phone has up to this point. Quite the unpleasant kick in the butt kind of issue. After going 9 months without any problems the S3 starts doing this crap.

When they have an official fix for this, please post it ASAP! I'd like to get a round to using the SD card I paid for. :banghead:
 
Has anyone tested if having the camera storage settings set to memory card makes it more likely for the card to die? I've had a 64gb sandisk since february and the first thing i did was change the camera storage to memory card. But immediately i noticed the camera app crashing and slowing down so i changed it back to phone and now manually move the files to the card. Not sure if this was due to the card or just a bug with the camera but generally both the gallery and camera apps dont seem to handle memory cards very well. I wonder if this could be the reason for all the sd cards getting fried.
 
asot77 said:
Has anyone tested if having the camera storage settings set to memory card makes it more likely for the card to die? I've had a 64gb sandisk since february and the first thing i did was change the camera storage to memory card. But immediately i noticed the camera app crashing and slowing down so i changed it back to phone and now manually move the files to the card. Not sure if this was due to the card or just a bug with the camera but generally both the gallery and camera apps dont seem to handle memory cards very well. I wonder if this could be the reason for all the sd cards getting fried.
Click to expand...

No issues with my Samsung 8GB Ultra High Speed SD Card the which is currently being used in the Samsung Galaxy S3. I switched on the camera pictures and videos to external SD option approximately 2 weeks ago
 
I have had my replacement 32GB class 4 SD card for just over a month now and it seems to be working fine so far. Then my original card lasted just over 4 months before it went squirrely...
 
The samsung manual for the S3 says to format the SD card to FAT or FAT32 only.

xyz007 said:
Had the same problem. Did full format to exfat, and so far no problems for 2 days. I don't get it how that could actually fix sd card hw problem if there was any, but for now everything works perfectly. Try formatting (not quick, as that didn't solve my problem) to exfat or fat32. If your sd card dies completely, you won't be able to access it in any way, so it will be too late. I did the format only few hours after problems started so I haven't lost any data and was able to get sd card recognized on computer...
Click to expand...
 
I've had my 64gb samsung card that I formatted to exFAT for 5 months now.

FYI, when I formatted it to exFAT on my computer and put it in my phone it didn't recognize the card. It recognized it after I formatted it again in my previous phone.
 
I have recently ran into this issue with 2 32GB cards and neither of them were SanDisk cards. After quite a bit of research, this issue seems to be less of the card manufacturers fault. My fiance and I both have S3's (sprint variant) and about a month ago her S3 killed her 32GB gskill card. Last night, my S3 killed my 32GB gskill card. Infuriated, I hit up Samsung's support...this proved to be rather useless. After reading threads after threads of people with this issue and trying multiple things myself (different phones i.e. blackberry, htc, other samsungs...the built in card reader on my laptop...etc) none of them worked.

Until....

Using an old alienware (aurora m9700 if it matters, but i doubt it) that was on windows xp (this i believe is key as to why this has worked for me..long live xp) heres what i did

1) tried the built in sd reader and an sd adapter...no luck

2) used an external reader inserting the micro sd into the micro sdcard slot (no adapter)...also no luck

3) used the same external reader, put the micro sd card into an sd adapter inserted that into the external sdcard reader and then plugged that into usb...like magic! back in business, i am currently running a backup of the sdcard.

I am unaware if this will carry over to anyone elses problems...but this card was dead to the world and was unreadable. I am also unsure if this will allow me to continue to use the 32gb in anything...at this moment I'm more concerned about backing up the data it contains.

Hopefully this can help some of you having this problem. Losing all that data really sucks!

-devx

p.s. I guess this is my first post here...I tend to lurk here a lot, but am much more active on xda, great community here btw as I've been frequenting this site for the past 2 years or so...oh btw

Hi nice to meet you all


UPDATE

Finished the backup of my sd card and am now attempting to backup my fiance's (hers died a month ago) The card did not want to read initially...in fact i started changing the sd card adapter i was using and cycling through the stack that I have and jackpot! Just got hers to read using the same method! I think the solution is to use a pc on windows xp, an external card reader ( i used a targus ) and then just keep playing with it. Try different sd adapters, try different usb ports...but if anything....be vigilant! Don't give up...or you know...give up...go calm down..then try again.

FINAL UPDATE

I was able to create a backup of both sd cards. I then reformatted...but to no avail, they seem to remain dead to other devices. I guess I'm just happy I was able to save the data from the cards. I may look into running some sd utilities to see if I can bring them back, but I'm not going to hold my breath
 
devastatorx said:
FINAL UPDATE

I was able to create a backup of both sd cards. I then reformatted...but to no avail, they seem to remain dead to other devices. I guess I'm just happy I was able to save the data from the cards. I may look into running some sd utilities to see if I can bring them back, but I'm not going to hold my breath
Click to expand...

Hi devastatorx and welcome to the forum! :)

Great to hear you and your gf didn't lose your data!

Did you try reformatting in the card reader with XP? and if so, what file system did you attempt? FAT32? exFAT?

As it seems your cards aren't totally dead, maybe you should try to find a Nokia phone running symbian 9 (I think, off the top of my head) and try formatting in that phone. Apparently this has been known to bring back dead cards, and as you managed to retrieve your data, you might stand a good chance of success.
 
devastatorx said:
I was able to create a backup of both sd cards. I then reformatted...but to no avail, they seem to remain dead to other devices. I guess I'm just happy I was able to save the data from the cards. I may look into running some sd utilities to see if I can bring them back, but I'm not going to hold my breath
Click to expand...

I was not able to get any of my data from my dead card, but I never tried using XP. It has since been replaced by SanDisk so no other attempts are possible. Fortunately nothing important was lost that wasn't backed up, but I would have liked to get it back.
 
davoid said:
Hi devastatorx and welcome to the forum! :)

Great to hear you and your gf didn't lose your data!

Did you try reformatting in the card reader with XP? and if so, what file system did you attempt? FAT32? exFAT?

As it seems your cards aren't totally dead, maybe you should try to find a Nokia phone running symbian 9 (I think, off the top of my head) and try formatting in that phone. Apparently this has been known to bring back dead cards, and as you managed to retrieve your data, you might stand a good chance of success.
Click to expand...

Attempted to format as fat32, but will try again some time today with the SD Formatter utility. Even if I do get it to recognize, I'm not sure I would trust it enough to actually use it.

As for the Nokia, I think I might have an easier time getting a new Sd than tracking down a friend with one of these. Not very common around here (Indiana, USA)

Thanks for the tips
 
Think I solved my particular issue and if your galaxy s3 can't read your sd card but other devices can, this MAY help you. Initial question, how many of you having these problems use roms? Recently loaded wicked v10 onto my phone, initially on stock kernel. Decided I didn't like the red theme and reinstalled in, this time in AROMA installer, I chose the deviant kernel, all of a sudden, the sd card will not mount. I also have a samsung galaxy tab plus and suddenly it too was unable to read the sd card (sand 64 gb ultra class 10) However, my OG asus transformer and my pc could read the card no problemo. Formatted the card on the pc but the s3 still couldn;t read. At one point received blank sd card do you want to format? I said yes and after the s3 still could not pick up the card. Repeated format on the pc then I inserted into tab plus, formatted the card again on the tab plus, which was then able to read it. I inserted the card into the s3 and it's reading the card again. I think it's a samsung issue, not a sandisk issue. I don't even actually know what the issue is, but formatting the sd card on another samsung device and then inserting into the s3 may help some of you.
 
Samsung Galaxy Note II; Stock ROM; Not Rooted; Kingston 64 GB Class 10. OTG cable. MHL cable.
Worked fine for about six weeks...
Over the course of the last two weeks however...started noticing that after deleting photos the date order of the photos was starting to go glitchie (out of sequence). Then certain videos started pixelating and phone started throwing the dreaded "cannot play video" error with both camera created videos and downloaded movies. Would need to reboot phone at this point. Sometimes, while trying to play a video the phone would just hard reboot. As of yesterday the card is totally corrupt. Luckily, I put most of the good stuff onto Dropbox before the card totally when down the drain.
Put in a 16GB card from my old phone. No problems (so far).
My gut is telling me it's the phone, possibly with certain cards, affecting power users more than casual users (who seldom use the phone to it's full potential). Perhaps it's a timing issue writing or reading. A power management issue? Android as an OS is still rapidly evolving and the hardware manufacturers are cranking out the product as fast as they can -- perhaps we're just seeing the "bleeding edge" of this new technology.
~m
Update: I tried using my PC to recover data from this card using ZAR software. The first run reported bad sector, bad sector...bad sector to the Nth. Seemed hopeless. But once and a while the MBR would suddenly show up (for two days windows just offered to format this card because it read it as "unformatted". Then, I took the card in and out of my SD card reader a couple of times, and took removed and replaced it from the SD to SD Micro card shell, on the last attempt BANG! All files showed up! CTRL + A, CTRL + C them all to my RAID array. I had missed a few files and there were some non critical ones which it was nice to have back. The card appears to be fine
THE VERDICT: Dirty contacts caused what looked like a card failure. When I think about it the SD card isn't soldered and the phone is often carried close to or on the body, humidity could be oxidizing the metal. Might make sense to spray them with contact cleaner once and a while or buy a card with gold contacts.
 
It's been around a month and a half since I first purchased this SD card and an update on the data integrity and any speed loss so far is nonexistent. It has been a great performer.

I also wanted to test the zooming functionality on some 70 Megapixel and below pictures as somebody did have an issue with their pictures not zooming at one point, but like many problems, many are one offs which the huge majority just don't encounter at all.

 
Tec_guy_2100 said:
SAMSUNG S3 external memory card error FIXED!!
(previously access was unavailable in S3 or PC).

Steps used to Fix the SD card:
1. S3 set Developer options (ON)
2. Set Protect SD card (checked)
3. Remove battery
4. Install 32g card
5. Install battery
6. Turn on S3

Download SanDisk Android app. - external 32g shows up - YES!!
Scandisk app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sandisk.mz
Click to expand...

This was suggested by someone a while back in this thread. It might be worth a try, but it did not work for me, so it's not a guaranteed fix.
 
I just sent my second 32g lexar sd card back for another. First card lasted a couple months, contacted lexar sent it back to them put new card in formatted it this one lasted for 2 weeks. Contacted samsung they say they do not have any known issues concerning the s3 killing cards and so on. Also quizzed lexar and they have not had this problem till now told them to check the internet.
Anyhow someone needs to take the blame. My wife has the S3 also but she has a 2g samsung sd card that came in her admire she has had it in her phone since we bought the phones. And until my third new card comes I am using my old 2g sd card from my admire works fine. So if this one does not hold up will have to ask for a refund. And try the samsng sd card think they have the 32g for 49 bucks
 
mkochsch said:
Samsung Galaxy Note II; Stock ROM; Not Rooted; Kingston 64 GB Class 10. OTG cable. MHL cable.
Worked fine for about six weeks...
Over the course of the last two weeks however...started noticing that after deleting photos the date order of the photos was starting to go glitchie (out of sequence). Then certain videos started pixelating and phone started throwing the dreaded "cannot play video" error with both camera created videos and downloaded movies. Would need to reboot phone at this point. Sometimes, while trying to play a video the phone would just hard reboot. As of yesterday the card is totally corrupt. Luckily, I put most of the good stuff onto Dropbox before the card totally when down the drain.
Put in a 16GB card from my old phone. No problems (so far).
My gut is telling me it's the phone, possibly with certain cards, affecting power users more than casual users (who seldom use the phone to it's full potential). Perhaps it's a timing issue writing or reading. A power management issue? Android as an OS is still rapidly evolving and the hardware manufacturers are cranking out the product as fast as they can -- perhaps we're just seeing the "bleeding edge" of this new technology.
~m
Update: I tried using my PC to recover data from this card using ZAR software. The first run reported bad sector, bad sector...bad sector to the Nth. Seemed hopeless. But once and a while the MBR would suddenly show up (for two days windows just offered to format this card because it read it as "unformatted". Then, I took the card in and out of my SD card reader a couple of times, and took removed and replaced it from the SD to SD Micro card shell, on the last attempt BANG! All files showed up! CTRL + A, CTRL + C them all to my RAID array. I had missed a few files and there were some non critical ones which it was nice to have back. The card appears to be fine
THE VERDICT: Dirty contacts caused what looked like a card failure. When I think about it the SD card isn't soldered and the phone is often carried close to or on the body, humidity could be oxidizing the metal. Might make sense to spray them with contact cleaner once and a while or buy a card with gold contacts.
Click to expand...

Weird. I was just about to recommend Kingston c10 as it solved the issue for me. It's working on my Note 2 fine for almost 6 months now without so much as a glitch.

Before I had 32gb class4 Sandisk and after about 1.5 months it failed completely... Nothing could bring it back.

I am going to blame sdcard manufacturer and their QC. Even if one is made by Kingston and other by Sandisk, they might have actually been made by same manufacturer that had a bad quarter or something. Anyway Kingston 32gb class 10 works for me.
 
I have been using SanDisk Sd cards for very long and I have no problem with it other than the slow transferring rate at times. Usually, I buy a new sd card because I want a faster and an up to date card.
 
Hey there... found this thread while trying to figure out why my Galaxy SIII is telling me the SD card is blank or has unsupported...".

Just thought I'd add a data point...

My SIII is 8 months old with a Kingston Class 4 MicroSD card, which now is not readable by the phone or PC. I tried Image Rescue 4 to no avail.

I haven't tried the repair sequence mentioned earlier, but I will and report the results....
 
EricRFMA said:
Hey there... found this thread while trying to figure out why my Galaxy SIII is telling me the SD card is blank or has unsupported...".

Just thought I'd add a data point...

My SIII is 8 months old with a Kingston Class 4 MicroSD card, which now is not readable by the phone or PC. I tried Image Rescue 4 to no avail.

I haven't tried the repair sequence mentioned earlier, but I will and report the results....
Click to expand...

Nope... still no good...
 
This just happened to me recently with a Polaroid 32 GB HC. Been working fine for almost a year until I power my phone off for a movie and powered it back on a couple hours later.
 
quest7 said:
I read on another site, that since Google/android is doing away with SD card slot, that the new update I think its 4.2 will not be design for an SD card. Samsung will have to do a work around(update) for your card to work.

Now, I may be wrong.
Click to expand...

Now that Google is planing to release a Samsung Galaxy S4 with Stock Nexus Android experience, I doubt it.:D
 
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