T400 Card Reader: All SD Cards Write-Protected

Message

hunterman223 · #1 Post by **hunterman223** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:30 pm

Having a strange issue with my T400. I am unable to delete or format any of my known-good SD cards. The switches are set to unlocked and I am able to write, delete files, and format on other machines. I have tried reinstalling the drivers which was a no-go, so I booted up a Kubuntu Live CD which also refused to delete files or format.

Any suggestions as to what is causing this? I have never had issues with the reader before.

#2 Post by **rkawakami** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:37 pm

I'm guessing that there's a switch inside the SD slot which is stuck or broken. You may have to take the system apart to inspect the area of the slot where the locking slide switch on the SD card rests. Alternately, you may be lucky and can simply peer inside the slot and see if there's something that's obviously wrong.

rumbero · #3 Post by **rumbero** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 7:02 pm

hunterman223 wrote:Any suggestions as to what is causing this? I have never had issues with the reader before.

Is it enabled in the BIOS?

hunterman223 · #4 Post by **hunterman223** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 5:13 am

rkawakami wrote:I'm guessing that there's a switch inside the SD slot which is stuck or broken. You may have to take the system apart to inspect the area of the slot where the locking slide switch on the SD card rests. Alternately, you may be lucky and can simply peer inside the slot and see if there's something that's obviously wrong.

Thanks, I'll take a look at it.

rumbero wrote: Is it enabled in the BIOS?

Definitely enabled in the BIOS, one of the first things I checked.

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ozzymud · #5 Post by **ozzymud** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:19 am

I've seen this before, the little finger in the slot gets damaged...

It sometimes helps to move the slider on the SD card towards the lock position slightly or place a piece of tape over the area on the card (akin to cassette tape or 5¼ floppy days

). This would confirm a misaligned switch in the reader.

The switch inside the reader could be completely faulty and neither solution above would make a difference.

hunterman223 · #6 Post by **hunterman223** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 6:01 am

Well, I'm not sure what fixed it but it's working now. I tried ozzymud's suggestion and moved the SD Card lock-switch about half way down, put the card in and it worked. Than I tried the other card, but left the switch set to unlocked. That worked too. So I unlocked the switch on the original card, and it also allowed me to write, delete, and format.

Maybe adjusting the switch on that card moved the reader's locking mechanism back into place? Oh well, for the moment it works and if it stops again I have an idea of how to fix it. Thanks all.

ozzymud · #7 Post by **ozzymud** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:45 am

Yea, looks like that nub mighta been bent. I totally bypassed one on a desktop 3.5 inch reader by gluing the nub in place

I use it on a bench top setup and know it is NEVER write protected regardless of the switch on the SD... works for me