Sandisk memory stick problem

[spygrad2003]

I have had a SanDisk 256MB memory stick for a while, it's one of the ones that has two 128mb sides. I've been using side A with my TJ37 for most of my stuff, from applications to backups, and side B for mp3s. However, out of nowhere, side A says it's locked and read-only. I checked, and the lock switch is off. I've tried everything, and I can't write to it. I tried side B, and it was fine, so I've copied all my important stuff to side B, but now can't use side A for anything.

I have contacted Sandisk, and they said they could replace it for me, but I was just wondering if anyone had a solution to this so I didn't have to send it back in and go without all of my data for several weeks. Also wondering if anyone else has had this problem.

[joanne_m2004]

Hi, I was just wondering around trying to find some problems associated with Sandisk mem stick, and I found yours.
I'm using Sony MS and also experienced the same problem when I left the MS on my Mem Card reader while booting the system. I panicked when I saw Windows trying to reformat my MS, so I immediately pulled it out. After that, the handheld refuses/ignores the MS, and says MS is locked for writing when I try to transfer files from handheld to MS using MS Gate app.

What I did is run MS Import from my handheld and it somehow initializes the MS, maybe in preparation to the proccess. After that all went fine, as it was before.

I think what happened is we mess up the format of MS stick, in a way that it cannot be properly read/recognized by our handhelds, so what needs to be done is to re-initialize it, MS Import did it for me.

[spygrad2003]

well, I thank you for you suggestions. I tried connecting with Data-Import, which I guess is almost the same as MS gate. I'm also using a Mac, don't know if that would make a difference... Anyhow, It connected to my computer, but i couldn't delete anything or write to the card from my desktop, and it still says read only on my clie :(

[rw0ng]

Hi,
I think i'm having the same problem with my sony memory stick also for a clie. (t665c). My clie keeps saying that the stick is on lock, when it isn't. I can't delete or transfer anything onto the stick now since it says it's locked. So joanne, how did u resolve your problem specifically? I don't quite understand what you did. Ori'd appreciate anyone else's help too.

thanks

[TJ37]

Did you try copying the files off the MS, reformat the MS and see if it works after? If it doesn't you'll be without your data (on your MS) but it's still worth a shot unless it's really important data.

[spygrad2003]

well, my ms has two slots, so I just coppied my data to my mac and then onto the other slot which still works. So my data is accessable still. I tried reformatting the slot that doesn't work, but I can't figure out how as it says it's read only and won't let me reformat it. Do you know of any mac applications that will force a reformat or anything like that?

[TJ37]

No I don't unfortunately. Perhaps you should preform a Disk Check? I don't know what it's called on Macs, it's the program that checks for "disk" errors.

[spygrad2003]

Ok, i used Disk Utility, which is the mac tool to format, erase, verify/check disks, etc. This is the result that I got:

Verifying volume “X1”
** /dev/disk1s1
** Phase 1 - Read FAT
** Phase 2 - Check Cluster Chains
** Phase 3 - Checking Directories
** Phase 4 - Checking for Lost Files
Lost cluster chain at cluster 412
1 Cluster(s) lost
Reconnect? no
Clear? no
429 files, 58496 free (3656 clusters)
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit (-9972)

1 volume checked
0 HFS volumes verified
1 volume failed verification


I don't know what it means, but it doesn't look good lol

[rw0ng]

Hey spygrad,

I'm having the same problem, except i use windows xp. My stick is the one sided kind by sony, but i also can't reformat the stick. It says that the stick is read only when i look at the card-info on the clie.

However, i can see the stick when it's in a usb reader. I can see it and put files onto it. When i put files onto the stick and then put the stick into the clie, the files show up in msgate. However, the files are corrupt and can't be run. I even tried creating the corresponding folders that you would find in a clie memory stick [palm--->Launch, Programs ---> MSAUDIO ] I was wondering, are there maybe some files that are necessary for the stick to run on clie? I might be missing some files. If that's the case, would it be possible to just put the required files onto the stick (through the usb reader) and then try running the stick on the clie??

Oh yes, i also thought, maybe there's some way that one of you guys from this board can send us a restore spot (in MSbackup) and somehow we transfer the spot onto the stick (or maybe onto the internal memory if that's possible) and then try to restore the stick to that location. Would that be possible??


thanks for any help in advance!! i really appreciate it =)

[MarkVI]

I had problems with my 1gb MS Pro. I contacted SanDisk and I am receiving a replacement tomorrow.
The card could only be filled up to 150mb free, then errors would occur. Some sector must have been bad. That may be what is wrong with yours.