MicroSD Card Problems - Lenovo Phab 2 Pro Questions & Answers

I've seen other threads allude to this, but I've been wondering if anyone else has had any of these problems with microSD cars in the Phab2 Pro and know of any solutions?
Things I've encountered:
No exFAT support, so you need to format larger cards as FAT32 (not really a problem per se, but annoying).
All the Samsung EVO/EVO+ SD cards I've tried in this thing do fine as portable SD cards until it exceeds around 10GB, then a re-boot or re-mount claims the card is corrupted. Mounting the card on my PC/Mac shows no problems.
Adoptable storage works for my large 128GB EVO+ card (which made me not return the phone), but I notice that my 64GB EVO card can't be adopted and the error is a weird toast message:
"java.util.concurrent.TimeoutException: Thread Binder gave up waiting after 180000ms" (something to this effect from my recollection).
I should point out that these SD cards have never had problems on other Android devices I've owned, so it seems very specific to this device. Basically, the only workaround I have right now that works for me is to use adoptable storage and that is adequate for my needs.

The Lenovo Phab2 Pro, by default, reformats newly installed microSD cards to a better file system than FAT32. See post below:

Not FAT32
Got my new Samsung 64GB microSD card & installed it in my Phab2 Pro last weekend. First thing, the Phab2 Pro reported that the card was not formatted properly and did I want it reformatted? I did and it did.
Looking now at the newly formatted microSD card with ES File Explorer and with Lenovo's bundled File Manager, I couldn't tell which standard the card was formatted to.
To the point, I plugged the phone into my laptop, navigated to the microSD card in Windows File Explorer and copied a 6GB file to it, no problem. I verified that the copy was successful by disconnecting the phone from the laptop and opening the file in Android.
I don't know which file system the Phab2 Pro uses by default to format microSD cards but I know it ISN'T FAT32. FAT32 supports a maximum file size of 4GB and, since the microSD card supports larger files (after allowing the phone to reformat the card to its default file system), it isn't FAT32.

roebling said:
Got my new Samsung 64GB microSD card & installed it in my Phab2 Pro last weekend. First thing, the Phab2 Pro reported that the card was not formatted properly and did I want it reformatted? I did and it did.
Looking now at the newly formatted microSD card with ES File Explorer and with Lenovo's bundled File Manager, I couldn't tell which standard the card was formatted to.
To the point, I plugged the phone into my laptop, navigated to the microSD card in Windows File Explorer and copied a 6GB file to it, no problem. I verified that the copy was successful by disconnecting the phone from the laptop and opening the file in Android.
I don't know which file system the Phab2 Pro uses by default to format microSD cards but I know it ISN'T FAT32. FAT32 supports a maximum file size of 4GB and, since the microSD card supports larger files (after allowing the phone to reformat the card to its default file system), it isn't FAT32.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any idea what file system Windows thinks it is? I didn't think it was exFAT since a fresh format of exFAT from Windows gets the "not formatted properly" message.
I've since given up on this phone--too many problems for me to tolerate. I really wanted to like it, but alas, when my three year old Z Ultra behaves better, I just can't justify paying this much for it. Maybe I got a lemon.

kumodog said:
Any idea what file system Windows thinks it is? I didn't think it was exFAT since a fresh format of exFAT from Windows gets the "not formatted properly" message.
I've since given up on this phone--too many problems for me to tolerate. I really wanted to like it, but alas, when my three year old Z Ultra behaves better, I just can't justify paying this much for it. Maybe I got a lemon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have two formatting choices for microSD cards with the Phab2 Pro. You can choose to format the card as "portable storage" or "internal storage".

I just put in a 64GB microSD card and had the phone format it as portable storage, I then ejected it and mounted it in Windows and the Disk Manager tool reports the card as formatted as FAT32 (see attachment).

Installed a SanDisk 256GB card model (SDSQUNI-256G-GN6MA)
Let the phone format the card, choose internal storage, then it asked to move files, pics and apps to the new card, I clicked accept.
It worked! Phone reads the card, so far no issues, see attached pic.

128GB or 256 ?
Hi,
you said in the last message you have a 256GB card, but i have seen the phab 2 pro take 128 and no more. I have the 690M model.
256 or 128 GB ?
Thanks,
Philippe

I have the 690Y and took a chance to see if the 256GB card would work and it does. That's why I listed the model number of the SD card. Even though Lenovo states on their website up to 128GB, it looks like it's​ a hit or miss on which card you use as others have posted.

Hi,
Thanks for your answer. The 256G is to expansive so i took a 128G (SDSQUNC-128G-GN6MA). It works fine.
Philippe

Hi please help me!,any brand of sd card it shows corrupted,but if i tried to other phone it worked. What will i do?

Related

Formatting Memory Card

I just got a 16gb class 2 memory card but it only shows that I only have 200mb. I've tried format the card but it isn't showing anything different. I've tried FAT and FAT32. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
It's probably a fake. Where did you get it?
I got it from ebay but when I first used it it was fine. Now I can't even see it show up on my computer.
Have you tried rebooting pc? If I do the safe to remove hardware , and then put my card back in it doesn't read....until I reboot.
Ok, I've tried rebooting pc and putting it back in it still doesn't recognize it. Weird thing is is I can put it in my Mac and it reads it fine.
That is weird. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Is it possible that I may have deleted the partition on the SD Card that needs to be there in order for it to work? when I go into recovery and try to flash zip from it it tells me that it cannot mount the sd card.
corybucher said:
I just got a 16gb class 2 memory card but it only shows that I only have 200mb. I've tried format the card but it isn't showing anything different. I've tried FAT and FAT32. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You said you tried formatting. Did you try formatting on your pc or mac?
I've tried on both and nothing is working
I will get the error message from when in recovery.
corybucher said:
I've tried on both and nothing is working
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem when I partition my card using recovery 1.5.2. I had a 8gb card but it only show 3gb when put it on my pc. I used http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter_3/ to fix it. Maybe it will help you.
E: Can't Mount /dev/block/mmcblk0p1
(or /dev/block/mmcblk0)
(invalid argument)
E: Can't mount SD Card
I have had similar failures with generic memory cards (mine came from Hong Kong and were real looking fakes).
You may be able to repartition the card using a program called Paragon Manager in Windows (note sure if you can get this legitimately free).
Here is a great article from overclockers.com about spotting fakes and what to expect from them (click here):
Fake Memory Cards
From OCAU Wiki
Purpose
As fake memory cards have now proliferated throughout the marketplace, it is important to be able to spot a fake. This page includes methods to spot fakes, and examples of fake cards.
Why should you care?
Inferior quality card - you're not getting what you paid for
No warranty - when the card fails, you're out of luck
Fake cards sometimes have invalid partition sizes, making it likely to fail
It will drive costs of genuine cards up
Spotting a fake
A program called H2testw 1.4 has been written (thanks to German writer Herald Bögeholz and c’t Magazin für Computertechnik) which correctly analyzes and reports a flash drive's true size capacity; letting you know it is a fake.
If you don't believe that, read this article at http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/2...standard-in-detecting-usb-counterfeit-drives/
This make life a bit easier!
Presentation quality and differences
First thing to look for is poorly printed labels and material; most fake cards have slight differences from the real deal. Most manufacturers have a page where you can download high resolution pictures of their cards. Below is a list of manufacturer image page links:
Sandisk
Sony
Olympus
Example of fake 1GB Sandisk SD Card
(Click here for high resolution image)
This particular card was also missing a notch, making it quite easy to spot:
Put it in phone, boot into recovery , select partition, then change allocations to 0 for first two options, the it will format remainder to fat 32.

Unable to recognize SDHC (Sandisk SDHC 8GB)

Hello everybody, I've just bought my new Galaxy s, so I've put my old sd card into the phone but, surprise, the sd results unreadable and it's impossible to format. On the contrary, if i try to plug the sd card into an usb port of my PC: no problem.
The card was working very well till now on my samsung omnia.
Anybody encountered problem on sd card?
Is there a way to make the card readable again to the galaxy s?
thanks in advance...
my SD card is:
SanDisk Mobile Ultra® microSDHC™
the 16 GB sandisk micro sdhc card i just got in yesterday (and returned) came with a small 66k "media manager" program (full name "sandisk media manager") that one of the steps was for the user to select the actuall make/model of phone you wanted the media to format the card to or for
you might try sandisk's web and see if that program is available for download -
it installed on my computer, so i saved it for the next card, but, in case that helps
SOLVED!
Thank's for the tip.
I wasn't able to find the Sandisk tool, anyway I installed a software from HP to format the SD Card in FAT 32 filesystem, and .. it worked!
The sofwater is HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool (SP27608.exe), maybe it can be useful to others...
cheers

[Q] 16 Giga Micro SD card problem

Hello Guys I would like your help on a problem I am facing with a new 16 Giga Class 4 micro SD card I bought for my DSS.
As you know the DSS has an 8G card coming out of the box.
After about 10 months with my DSS I decided to buy a 16G card to replace the 8G card.
As usual I tried to copy my old card to the new one using my lap top.
So I used the card reader of my pc and copied on a folder all the files and envelops of the old card; in other words I created a full copy of what was on the card.
After doing that I inserted in the card reader the new card and pasted all the data(files folders etc) of the old card that I had copied on my pc.
When I inserted the new card on the DSS everything was fine except one thing concerning the music player of the DSS.
Some videos that I had downloaded using youtube mate on my DSS and saving as mp3 and listening to them on the music player along with the rest of the mp3 had dissapeared.I tried pasting them manualy in the new card but it didnt work they were still not visible I tried bluetooth trasfer but they ended up in the video folder and not the musuc player.Any idea how can I solve this?Is there another way to copy the old card to the new and avoid the problem?
I just recently transferred all my data from stock 8gb card to a 16gb Sandisk class 6. I removed the 8gb from phone, put both 8gb & 16gb in my laptop and dragged all files from 8gb to the new card. No issues what so ever for me. Try the old card, if it works and no files lost then format new card and do as I did.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App
what do you mean you put both cards on the PC?
I guess you mean one at a time trasferring data on the PC and then copying the data in the new card.
If so this is what I did my self.
Small detail the 16G card is Kingston....
I have copied my files few weeks ago from 8GB card to 16GB without any problem. I was using robocopy (try to Google it). I also have found this, thought you may want to try.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2009.04.utilityspotlight.aspx
Both cards in PC, drag all files from old card to new card, couldn't be any easier. Put new card in phone once transfer is complete, power up then allow 30 seconds or so for phone to locate files/apps stored on sd card.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App
Maybe is your card broken or doesn't work like it should be?
I did the same like all the others.
Placed my 8Gb SD-card in my pc, copied everything in a folder and then i've removed it and placed my new 16Gb SD-card in it and transfered everything and it worked.
dabado said:
I just recently transferred all my data from stock 8gb card to a 16gb Sandisk class 6. I removed the 8gb from phone, put both 8gb & 16gb in my laptop and dragged all files from 8gb to the new card. No issues what so ever for me. Try the old card, if it works and no files lost then format new card and do as I did.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are apps saved on your SD card still working fine on your new card with the drag/drop method?
or do they not appear anymore?
did you format before you transfered to your 16gb?
cheers
Yeah all my apps & data that were stored on sd card worked fine, they didn't show up at first in the app drawer until the phone and card fully synced. I just left all data on old card as a back up and my new card came formatted.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App

[Q] microSD help

Hello kind people. Seens i had my Transformer ICS i never bothered to use microSD card but no i travel a lot and watch movies on it. So recently i bought 16gb class 2 microSD card tried to use it in the microSD slot. Yes i formatted it in to Fat32 and it works perfectly well with card reader in any PC, but when i put it in the tablet it recognises that there is a microSD card in but it takes some long time and it does not see anything on the card, i can create folders and copy small files, not cut and past. After i do that i put the card in the PC and there is no any files or folders that i created on the tablet. But if i put it in the dock via SD to microSD adaptor it sees everything that on the card. Can some one suggest any answer to my troubles. Thank you all
Romashka87 said:
Hello kind people. Seens i had my Transformer ICS i never bothered to use microSD card but no i travel a lot and watch movies on it. So recently i bought 16gb class 2 microSD card tried to use it in the microSD slot. Yes i formatted it in to Fat32 and it works perfectly well with card reader in any PC, but when i put it in the tablet it recognises that there is a microSD card in but it takes some long time and it does not see anything on the card, i can create folders and copy small files, not cut and past. After i do that i put the card in the PC and there is no any files or folders that i created on the tablet. But if i put it in the dock via SD to microSD adaptor it sees everything that on the card. Can some one suggest any answer to my troubles. Thank you all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
** What brand?
** 16 GB with Class 2 can be very slow very often.
** In some cases, windows can do funny things to cards formatted on windows, when used with android. A very good time-tested software for formatting sd cards is from Panasonic here: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/sd/download/index.html
Try formatting with this.
Good luck!
Romashka87 said:
Hello kind people. Seens i had my Transformer ICS i never bothered to use microSD card but no i travel a lot and watch movies on it. So recently i bought 16gb class 2 microSD card tried to use it in the microSD slot. Yes i formatted it in to Fat32 and it works perfectly well with card reader in any PC, but when i put it in the tablet it recognises that there is a microSD card in but it takes some long time and it does not see anything on the card, i can create folders and copy small files, not cut and past. After i do that i put the card in the PC and there is no any files or folders that i created on the tablet. But if i put it in the dock via SD to microSD adaptor it sees everything that on the card. Can some one suggest any answer to my troubles. Thank you all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also try to have the Transformer format the card instead of using Windows to format the card. There are probably several little differences in formatting with Windows versus the Android device. For instance a movie that is over 4GB in size or something similar to that may or may not appear.

amazon has pny 90MB/sec micro sdcards on sale

can the amazon 7" 5thgen tablet fully utilize the speed of these cards in their microsd slot? sale ends tonight
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...d3-4535-b6e3-dee70709284c&pf_rd_i=13431004011
rp201 said:
can the amazon 7" 5thgen tablet fully utilize the speed of these cards in their microsd slot? sale ends tonight
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...d3-4535-b6e3-dee70709284c&pf_rd_i=13431004011
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe the Amazon Fire 7 can take a 64gb card, but if you mod it...you have to jump through a hoop or two to get apps over to it.
KYJoe said:
I believe the Amazon Fire 7 can take a 64gb card, but if you mod it...you have to jump through a hoop or two to get apps over to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not at all. Link2SD if rooted works perfectly. Is that what you meant by "mod it"?
Hmmm when I tried link2sd it looked like you had to move the apps individually to the sd card....maybe I just don't know how to use it
KYJoe said:
Hmmm when I tried link2sd it looked like you had to move the apps individually to the sd card....maybe I just don't know how to use it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are many apps (Google, anything with a widget,etc) that shouldn't be moved to external. But if you really need to bulk move, there's an option in the three-dot menu for "multi-select" which should work.
Also, quote next time!
ldeveraux said:
There are many apps (Google, anything with a widget,etc) that shouldn't be moved to external. But if you really need to bulk move, there's an option in the three-dot menu for "multi-select" which should work.
Also, quote next time!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand how the apps work and no I was not saying there should be a bulk tool.
I was merely informing the person asking the question that there are hoops you have to jump through to get the apps onto the SD card.
You can't change a setting that says "install apps on sd card".
By saying "jumping through a hoop" I didn't mean to make it sound like it was a devastating or hard task (Sorry for this).
I apologize if I said something wrong or mislead anyone.
Currently the Nexus is the easiest rom to load on a Fire 7 with firmware ver 5.1.2. I loaded the Nexus rom on my Fire 7 and installed Link2sd in order to more fully use the 32gb, class 10 micro sd card that I have installed..
Boot times with the Nova rom are about 45 seconds to a minute without the sd card installed and linked to Link2sd. After installing Link2sd, the first boot after linking about 100 apps took 3 minutes. Later boots took about 90 seconds. So linking apps to the sd card does increase boot time on the tablet. Those times are for a cold start, from pushing the power button to being able to open the lock screen.
ADDENDUM: Well, after a couple of days of use, boot times are back to 60 seconds from a cold boot. Link2sd must have sorted things out. Wow.
According to the kindle fire wiki page, the fire 7 can support up to 128gb sdxc but there's no source of reference so take it with a grain of salt. As for sd-cards: if you live near Frys get on their mailing/promo code list because they're always on sale. Right now is a 32gb samsung for $10, a 16gb pny for $4, and a 64gb kingston for $16 (All with promo codes), and that's just since today. With 8gb of internal storage, moving apps to the sd-card is kinda redundant.
HOW TO CONFIGURE SD CARD TO USE LINK2SD APP ON ROOTED FIRE 7
The Nexus is a great rom for the Fire 7 with 5.1.2 firmware. I have rooted 3 in the last week with RootJunky's Supertool.
Then using FlashFire v0.31, I put the latest Nexus rom on them. After the learning curve on the first one, the next two had the Nexus rom installed with no problem whatsoever.
With the Nexus rom installed, I then added Link2sd to recover 3.5gb of internal storage, linking apps to the sd card. I have about 120 apps loaded. Before using Link2sd there was about 500mb of free internal space on my Fire 7 with a Nexus rom. (with no apps loaded free space was about 5gb with the Nexus rom). After loading Link2sd and linking the apps to the sd card, there is 3.5gb of free internal space on my Fire 7. About 4gb of space on the sd card ext4 partition is being used by apps, currently.
I am using Linux Mint, so I used the linux program Gparted to partition a 32gb micro sd card for Link2sd to use.
Link2sd uses a linux ext4 partition on the sd card to place and link apps to. The other half of the sd card is partitioned as a Fat32 format, for MP3, video, ebook, pictures storage.
Here is how to partition a 32gb micro sd card using the linux program Gparted. Use some type of micro sd adapter to connect the micro sd card to your linux pc. My Dell laptop has a built in sd slot, so it only needed and sd to micro sd adapter.
First delete the existing partition on the micro sd card. Then create a Fat32,. Primary partition, that takes 1/2 of the space on the micro sd card. Format the Fat32 partition as Fat32.
Next create a linux ext4, Primary partition, using the other 1/2 of the space on the micro sd card. Format the ext4 partition as ext4. The micro sd card is now ready for use by the Link2sd app.
This can all be done in Gparted on a linux PC with a micro SD card adapter. There are also free Windows programs that will allow you to do the same functions described above on your Windows 7 or 10 pc..
Insert the micro SD card into the Fire 7 with a Nexus rom and Link2sd installed.
Start Link2sd and point it at the ext4 partition on the sd card when it asks and you are set to link apps to the sd card.
You can probably partition 64gb and 128gb sd cards in the same way, although I haven't tried. The Fire 7 is suppose to be able to accept up to a 128gb micro SD card.

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