Sansa Clip + and 8GB MicroSD Not Working

SanDisk MP3 players Sansa® Clip | Sansa® Clip+
21

@tracyohus wrote:

Now thats four brand new players, multiple brand new geniune Sandisk cards and multiple host PC’s… The evidence is heavily stacked against what you are saying.

Let’s see… Marvin has 4 sansas and at least 2 cards, I have 2 sansas and 3 cards, and Tapeworm has at least one sansa and one card…that’s a minimum of  7 sansas and 5 cards…so the weight of the evidence is not on your side.  :wink:

I’m not saying that the card will not be recognized when inserted with the player on, but many have recommended against it since “hot-swapping” may eventually cause damage or errors.

22

@mags1230 wrote:

@tracyohus wrote:

Now thats four brand new players, multiple brand new geniune Sandisk cards and multiple host PC’s… The evidence is heavily stacked against what you are saying.

Let’s see… Marvin has 4 sansas and at least 2 cards, I have 2 sansas and 3 cards, and Tapeworm has at least one sansa and one card…that’s a minimum of  7 sansas and 5 cards…so the weight of the evidence is not on your side.

You are not helping.  You should be ashamed of yourself.  As a “Sandisk Professor”, you should at least try to do much better to actually help…

To the jerk who said I am the only one having this problem, check through other threads in this forum about the problems others are having with cards.  They are basically complaining about a very similar thing, though the descriptions vary slightly.  So I am not the only one.  I am certainly not the first.  I have no doubt that I will not be the last.

At this time a rep from Sadisk should chime in and explain how the player is supposed to work, and offer a reasonable explanation as to why four brand new players do not work the same way as other players.  Nothing from anyone who is not a Sandisk employee is acceptable or appropriate.

23

All right guys, let’s play nice!!!

 

How is everyone this morning?  I am more interested in a device that is having difficulties reading the microSD than whether the device is on or off during the card swap.

 

So, who is right?  The card can indeed be inserted with the device powered up.  In a different platform, a laptop computer, the card is routinely swapped with the computer powered up in use.  A laptop will query the card as soon as it is found on the bus.  The Sansa does exactly the same thing.  I only add one caveat: if the card is being read when disconnected, I can see how the Sansa could freeze while playing a file from the card, necessitating a soft reset.

If the Sansa is off, the card will be read as soon as the device is powered up.  The player will refresh the music database whenever the card is inserted, even if it is the same card.  This is because the Sansa hibernates when off, and does notice the change of card status.

The biggest problem with hot swapping a memory card is simple: file corruption caused by a card being removed before a write cycle is complete.  If there is a card mounted in your Sansa, and you are plugged in to the USB port, this is the one occasion where there is going to potentially be a write cycle.  Just be sure that the writing operation is done. 

Overall, there are less opportunities for problems if the Sansa is powered off when swapping a card.  If you have a device that is having difficulty recognizing a card, by all means, see if it recognizes the card after first powering up the Sansa.  Just don’t try changing the card while the Sansa is reading the music database, wait until that is done.  Mount the card after the display shows that your Sansa is ready, and it should begin refreshing the database again as the card is clicked into position.  On the new Fuze+ , the display will state “loading card”.

The microSD card reader slot is a tiny, intricate little guy.  It’s tricky the first time you install a card.  The first time you install one, gently slide the card into the port, with the logo facing up (connector surface on the bottom). The raised edge is outward, of course.  Gently press inward, and as the card is fully inserted, you will hear a soft click, then another click as the pressure is released.  If mounted correctly, the raised outer edge should be about flush with the outside cover of the Sansa.  To remove, gently press inward, and you’ll hear a click as the card is unlocked for removal.

If you have a Clip+ that will not recognize a card, especially a brand new one that is empty, try checking for the card with the Sansa plugged into the USB port.  In MSC mode, you should see the card listed in Windows Explorer as a separate memory device.  Most often, it will be listed right after the Sansa, but I have seen a computer with plenty of drives listed, an the expansion card is out of sequence.  In MTP mode, it’s easier: you will see Internal Memory and External Memory, and you can then check the card.

If you have a card reader, either a handy USB multi reader, or an adaptor, you can try addressing the card directly using the PC.  SanDisk cards are formatted, right out of the box, with the 2GB or less devices formatted as FAT, and the SD HC cards formatted as FAT32.  If you run into a new card that’s supposed to be HC, and it’s not FAT32, beware- it may be a 1 or 2GB card counterfeit.

SanDisk stands behind the Sansa and the memory devices with a full warranty.  If your Clip+ is having difficulties, please feel free to contact Support at 1-866-SanDisk, and they’ll be glad to help you.  The forums are here too, where we can share information and advice.

Bob  :smileyvery-happy:

24

@neutron_bob wrote:

All right guys, let’s play nice!!!

 

How is everyone this morning?  I am more interested in a device that is having difficulties reading the microSD than whether the device is on or off during the card swap.

Thank you Mr. Bob, that was written really well.  Between myself, my neice and my nephew we have four brand new Sansa Clip+ players that will not start properly when a genuine Sandisk microSD card is inserted into the player while the player is OFF. All four players work perfectly fine when the cards are inserted while the players are on.

You have provided a clue though - much more than any other documentation I have found from Sandisk…  Sandisk needs to work on that…  Anyways, I have been buying 2GB genuine Sandisk cards to test with.  I do not know if they are microSD HC or not.  I have been using them straight out of the package.  So however Sandisk formats them, that is the format that is on them.  I will check to see what file system they are when I get home.  If they are not already FAT32 I will format a few of them to FAT32 and retest all four of these players.

25

@tapeworm wrote:

@tracyohus wrote:

 

Stuff… .

Stuff…

You are doing more harm than good.

26

Yes, Bob is neither acceptable or appropriate. 

Hehehe.

Definitely, if the device is on, you should see whether the Sansa recognizes the card- the refreshing database mask will pop up as it queries the card for files.  Additionally, you can go to Settings > System Settings > select Info.  Scroll all the way down to the SD Card and Free listings, these will confirm that the card is recognized, and lets you see of it has any data on it.

Bob  :smileyvery-happy:

27

@neutron_bob wrote:

SanDisk cards are formatted, right out of the box, with the 2GB or less devices formatted as FAT, and the SD HC cards formatted as FAT32.

 

This is the clue that provided most of the solution to the puzzle.  You have been most helpful and it is greatly appreciated.

I checked the cards I have here at home and they all say microSD, not microSD HC.  I checked the factory format and they were FAT.  I backed up the lessons I put on the first card then re-formatted it to FAT32.  I copied the lessons back onto the card and tried it…  The player started normally - but would not recognise the content I had just put back on the card.  I powered off the player, took the card back out and formatted it to FAT32 again…  This time before putting any more content on the card, I tried it in the player to make sure the player can see the card - it did…  I took the card back out to put content back on it and noticed that the player itself had created folders on the freshly formatted card.  One of the folders is called MUSIC.  I copied the lessons back onto the card and put them in that folder then tried the card in the player again.  This time the player starts up normally and it can read the content I just put on the card (in the MUSIC folder)…  This card now works in both my 8GB and 4GB Clip+ players.

I repeated the process for my remaining cards following these exact steps:

Backup current content.

Format the card to FAT32.

Put card in the player and turn the player ON.

After the player completes refreshing media, turn player OFF and remove the card.

Put content back on the card in the MUSIC folder created by the player.

This worked with all of my cards.  I have sent an e-mail to my sister so she can check the other two players with the cards she has.

There is nothing from Sandisk that documents this in any way.  There is nothing from Sandisk that states the cards need to be FAT32.  The only thing stated in the manual is that the player can read microSD cards - it does not specify microSD HC cards or the requirement for a FAT32 format or the requirement to allow the player to “update media” on the card before you can use it properly…  Better documentation from Sandisk would have prevented a great deal of frustration with this matter.

28

Great to hear that you’re up and running now (especially after this thread, if that’s what it can be called, at this point   ;)   ).  And you’re right, better documentation would be great, for many aspects of the player. 

Hopefully, your posting here will help others out–make sure your card is formatted under FAT32. 

29

@tracyohus wrote:

 

You are doing more harm than good.

Thank you very much. It’s attitudes like yours that make trying to help people around here so personally rewarding and emotionally fulfilling. I live for verbal abuse and personal attacks from n00bs who are here today and gone tomorrow.

30

@tapeworm wrote:

 

@tracyohus wrote:

 

You are doing more harm than good.

Thank you very much. It’s attitudes like yours that make trying to help people around here so personally rewarding and emotionally fulfilling. I live for verbal abuse and personal attacks from n00bs who are here today and gone tomorrow.

 

You continue to do more harm than good.  You didn’t offer any help at all.  You were just being a jerk - and you still are.

31

@miikerman wrote:

Great to hear that you’re up and running now (especially after this thread, if that’s what it can be called, at this point   ;)   ).  And you’re right, better documentation would be great, for many aspects of the player. 

 

Hopefully, your posting here will help others out–make sure your card is formatted under FAT32. 

I just heard back from my sister and she got the other two players working with cards correctly…  This process should have been explained in the manual.  There is simply no way a new Sansa user would ever have known that.

32

@tracyohus wrote:

@miikerman wrote:

Great to hear that you’re up and running now (especially after this thread, if that’s what it can be called, at this point   ;)   ).  And you’re right, better documentation would be great, for many aspects of the player. 

 

Hopefully, your posting here will help others out–make sure your card is formatted under FAT32. 

I just heard back from my sister and she got the other two players working with cards correctly…  This process should have been explained in the manual.   There is simply no way a new Sansa user would ever have known that.

Unfortunately,  the manuals have been somewhat lacking  for the entire two-plus years I’ve been a Sansa owner, throughout the different models I’ve owned.  I haven’t looked at the manual for the new Fuze+, as I don’t own one, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it, too is also a “fail”. :wink:

33

@tracyohus wrote:

@tapeworm wrote:

 

Thank you very much. It’s attitudes like yours that make trying to help people around here so personally rewarding and emotionally fulfilling. I live for verbal abuse and personal attacks from n00bs who are here today and gone tomorrow.

 

You continue to do more harm than good.  You didn’t offer any help at all.  You were just being a jerk - and you still are.

Excuse me, but I just had to register to voice my opinion here. I’ve been lurking on this forum for some time now and have learned a lot from the Gurus here, as they try to help people of all different experience & competence levels and I must commend them on their patience and willingness to type over and over again the same answers to the same problems day after day because people are too lazy or stupid to look up the answers themselves or use the Search utility.

In my opinion you, Tracyohus are completely out of line here and owe a big apology to Tapeworm! He did or said absolutely nothing to entice your venomous attitude toward him. He politely stated that he had never experienced what you were describing, nor had anyone else claimed this same problem to date. Beings he’s been around here as long as he has and I see posts from him almost every day, I would tend to acknowledge he probably knows what he’s talking about.

Marvin_Martian also agreed with Tapeworm in what he was saying, as well as mags1230. Both of these people are long-time regulars here too. I don’t believe there was anything vicious in what these people were saying, yet you insisted they were ‘mocking’ (?) you and virtually spat in their face too.

Shame on you! Tapeworm tried to help and you called him a jerk (more than once), and claim he’s doing more harm than good! You drew a 'tude and claimed Marvin_Martian was getting nasty with you. And you suggest mags1230 should be ashamed of him (or her) self?

You owe all 3 of these ‘veterans’ a huge apology! YOU are the one with the problem, not them. I don’t know how old you are, but you were acting like a spoiled brat and in need of a good behind-blistering. Your manners are atrocious!

Personally, I do hope your problems are solved now so I and everyone else won’t be subjected to your selfish little whinings. There are plenty of people who genuinely need and want help here, and thank goodness for Tapeworm, Marvin_Martian, mags1230, neutron-bob, drlucky, gwk1967, Miikerman and all the other Sansa Gurus and soon-to-be Gurus around here that share their wisdom and experince with those who ask (and even those who lurk and don’t ask). This forum would be worthless without them.

34

To Littlefeet,

Tapeworm did not offer any help at all.  There was nothing he/she said that was helpful in anyway shape or form.  It was obvious that no help was even intended.

I have no reason to feel ashamed - and I don’t.

35

36

@jamieson wrote:

LOL put the popcorn away…

37

OK guys while it has been fun, I think this little spat has gone on long enough. :slight_smile:

I am sure Tapeworm intended no harm in his comments and I am glad to see Tracyohus has found a resolution to their issue. This thread however is getting off topic and is not really going anywhere so I am going to lock it. Thank you all for your participation it has been fun but it is time to move along.

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