SD card "format" alert

Karl Brandt

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Joined
Aug 31, 2018
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Gear owned
DP-24
I transferred a couple songs from my SD card to my computer. A couple days later after I had put the SD card back in the DP-24, I got a "format card" message. I did NOT do that as I know that would erase all the data (35 songs worth).

I tried another SD card and it functioned properly, so it's not the machine.

Is there any way around not re-formatting? Putting the SD card back in my computer, I got the same "Format" message.

I have already transferred the final songs, but certainly don't want to lose the data and possibilities of re-mixing, mastering, etc.
 
Hi Karl. Sorry you're having problems. Are you saying that the card will not work in the machine at all? And when you try to read the card on the computer, you can't read it there either?
 
Last September you had posted that you were getting "File Error" messages but had not indicated at the time whether the advice provided had been helpful in eliminating the problem.

File errors and the format issue you're having now are most commonly associated with out of date firmware, using non-approved SD cards, or both. "Format SD card" can be the ultimate result of initial and repeated SD card "file error" messages.

1. Are you running the most current firmware?
If not, first update the firmware.
Try the problem SD card after updating the firmware.
If the DP-24 won't read the SD card with your 35 songs after updating to the latest firmware then write-protect and put aside the problem SD card.

2. Try restarting your computer.
Turn your computer off completely, wait 30 seconds, turn the computer back on, and try to read your SD card. If the computer reads the card, copy the entire card to your computer, and discontinue using the SD card in your DP-24. If it failed once, it will fail again.

3. Is the problem card a TASCAM tested and approved SD card?
Look in the Equipment Tips Sticky for details on using tested/approved SD cards.

The owner manual is quite clear that untested SD cards should not be used.

There's also information in the Equipment Tips sticky to be used at your own risk/discretion that may be helpful in recovering SD card data.
 
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when i put the card in the machine, the screen says: "Format error; format card. In my computer i get a "format disk" reply. that prevents me from transferring any files to my computer.

Mark: since i did the company update, I have not had any "file error" problems with the SD card. It's hard to decipher the company list of "approved" SD cards, but the one I am using (San Disk Extreme Plus SDHC UHS 32GB) appeared to be approved.
 
Karl, I suggest that you download and create a Linux recovery disk and boot your computer with it. No matter what the condition of the drive was, I have always been able to recover the data that way.
 
Are the contacts on the SD card worn or dirty?
 

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