topic Re: RAW formatted SD Card in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

RAW formatted SD Card

Baldrick1 — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 15:25:28 GMT

In downloading RaspOS I have somehow corrupted an SD card. To all extents it appears to still be working but there is no way I seem to be able to re-format it. Having exhausted the included Windows tools, I have tried the free version of Disk Genius without success.

Has any-one got any ideas? The cost of buying disk management tools appears to be an order more expensive than replacing the SD card. I have Linux Mint on my spare PC if there's a better free linux tool.

I suspect that the problem was caused by my SD card adapter as this caused a very peculiar problem with my PC in that it prevents the PC from shutting down. After crashing out by pulling the plug, I found that the computer would not boot due to it locking up during the BIOS boot task, locking on the initial Asus splash screen. Removing the empty card reader immediately allows the boot sequence to continue! I now have a new SD card adapter. but the SD card is borked.

Re: RAW formatted SD Card

Dan_the_Van — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 15:45:51 GMT

@Baldrick1

Have you tried the format sd card option offered in the Raspberry Pi imager tool?

Mint has 'Disks' pre installed or you can try 'gparted' which is an add-on via the Software Manager which might work.

edit: I'd format to FAT32

Re: RAW formatted SD Card

MJN — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 16:11:18 GMT

Yeah, I'd second the gparted suggestion. If there's any chance of life it will find it and bring it back.

Re: RAW formatted SD Card

outcast — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 16:48:30 GMT

On a linux machine -

I'd first attempt to remove all formatting by writing zeroes to the entire SD card, using command line -

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdx bs=100M conv=sync status=progress

(where you substitute the sd? name of your SD card, instead of sdx)

Once zeroed then use the format option within 'Disks'.

You might also want to validate that the SD card is what it appears to be using ValiDrive

Re: RAW formatted SD Card

billnotben — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 22:25:06 GMT

On the odd occasion when a micro SD card wouldn’t format on my windows PC, I just stuck it in my android phone which for some reason worked fine.

Re: RAW formatted SD Card

Baldrick1 — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 13:51:01 GMT

Thank you all for your suggestions. I have tried them all without success. With a heavy heart I have taken the hit and consigned the card to the bin.

To be honest, it was only and old 32MB one that was previously working and resurrecting it was more out of interest than financial necessity.

Re: RAW formatted SD Card

RPMozley — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 18:00:42 GMT

Generally, write failures is a sign of the card going and is time to backup any important data while it’s still accessible.