Windows 8.1 and INVALID SD CARD Message

[empezza]

I have recently upgraded my Windows 8 PC to 8.1
I use this PC to download the data from my S9 SD Card each day, using ResScan. The S9 is turned off at the wall socket each morning. Each evening before getting into bed I turn on the S9, and it says for a brief time "Reading SD Card".
Since upgrading to Windows 8.1 every night when the S9 is turned on I get the "Invalid SD Card" error message. I choose ERASE CARD option at that point.

Today I viewed the SD card on my Windows 8 (not 8.1) laptop - with "Hide protected OS files" option in Explorer turned off, and noted the contents of the card.
I then put the card into the Windows 8.1 PC and checked the contents. Sure enough, there is a new folder - "System Volume Information".
I then put the card back into the S9 and let it erase the card. Then I put the card into the 8.1 PC with the card LOCKED with the little tab on the side. As Windows couldn't write anything to the card, the "System Volume Information" folder was not present. Returned the card to the S9 - after unlocking it - turned the S9 on, and it read the card without any error message.

So I will have to get into the habit of locking the card after removing it from the S9, and unlocking it before returning it to the S9. A simple solution to an annoying problem

[STL Mark]

Those of us using Mac computers have a similar problem and use the lock features on the SD card to avoid errors the way you are doing now.

[JDS74]

This is a difference between Respironics machines and ResMed ones.
The Respironics seem to use the standard file structure on the SD card. ResMed writes to specific locations in a format that can be recognized as a standard file stucture. But if some other system monkeys with that structure, ResMed seems to choke. The Respironics systems seem to be very tolerant of other files being written to their cards.

[idamtnboy]

This is a difference between Respironics machines and ResMed ones.
The Respironics seem to use the standard file structure on the SD card. ResMed writes to specific locations in a format that can be recognized as a standard file stucture. But if some other system monkeys with that structure, ResMed seems to choke. The Respironics systems seem to be very tolerant of other files being written to their cards.

I think it's part of Resmed's data security scheme. I don't know that there is any way to muck with the data on the card and not have it rejected by Resscan. There's no way an ordinary user is going to be able to muck with the data on the card to fake out compliance, or make their data look better than what is recorded by the S9. I think it's severe overkill they way they do it, but rest assured, the data Resscan shows you or your sleep doctor is the data the S9 recorded.

[chunkyfrog]

Other than the data problem, is the windows 8.1 a big improvement over the original?
I had DH reload Win7 on my laptop after Win8 put me within inches of pitching my laptop in the dumpster.
Now the message says "This copy of Windows is not genuine", and any background image changes to all black after a few minutes.
I need a new computer, but there is NO WAY I'll throw away 2 cents on another Microsoft abomination.
(Edit: this frog rant has been brought to you by some very strong coffee)

[JDS74]

So now you have an illegal copy of Windows and its Microsoft's fault that you don't like the way it behaves.

Windows 8 is pretty much designed around the idea of a touch screen. If you don't have one, don't load it in, you'll really hate it.

[archangle]

I think it's part of Resmed's data security scheme. I don't know that there is any way to muck with the data on the card and not have it rejected by Resscan. There's no way an ordinary user is going to be able to muck with the data on the card to fake out compliance, or make their data look better than what is recorded by the S9. I think it's severe overkill they way they do it, but rest assured, the data Resscan shows you or your sleep doctor is the data the S9 recorded.

I think you give ResMed too much credit. It's more of an amateurish software design than security. There's a similar problem that's the reason it only keeps 7 days of full data, even though there's plenty of room on the SD card.

Windows 8 is pretty much designed around the idea of a touch screen. If you don't have one, don't load it in, you'll really hate it.

Microshaft pretty much forced the PC manufacturers to only sell windows 8 on new machines. They even manipulated things to make new hardware incompatible with anything other than Win8.

[chunkyfrog]

After using windows at home, android on my phone and Sun Unix for 18 years at work, would I love or hate an IPad?
I accept change, and embrace it if it's good.

[gemeeks]

I like Windows 8.1 just fine as long as use the "desktop" interface on my computers that do not have Touch screens. Yes, he writes a folder "System Volume Information" on the SD card if you forget to slide the lock button down before using the card. However, you do not really have to reformat the card in the S9 to recover. You can delete the "System Volume Information" folder using the DOS type Command Window. A search on the Web will list the commands. Just be sure and set the SD card as your current drive and don't mess with any of your other disks. I tried it and it works.

[joesetx]

The operating system in a Mac does not canabalize itself after a year or two making your laptop obsolete before it's time.
It does not slow down more and more until it freezes or will not boot up.
You do not need to buy a new copy of win doze for a couple of hundred dollars and when a new version of Mac OS comes out it is either free or costs 29 bucks.

My mid 2010 MacBook works just as fast as the day I bought it.

[darco]

Another great alternative is Linux. I am currently dual booting meaning when i power up the PC i can either choose Win7 or Linux Mint Debian. 90% of time i choose Linux. Its free and virus free. The cool thing is you can download the OS, burn on a CD pop it into your CD player, boot your PC and you can choose to run it but not install. This way you can see it in action before deciding to install it.
I did have some issues running Sleepy Head but its working now.
And Linux doesn't charge for an update....
d

[SleepyBobR]

Windows 8.1 is a big improvement on Windows 8 offering greatly improved performance, a reworked search function which is now more like Spotlight on the Mac and a lot of other improvements. The move to Windows 8 is unavoidable for PC users. Just a matter of time. After using Windows 8 for a year now I find Windows 7 and previous versions feel just a little old-fashioned. Microsoft has taken a big gamble with a unified Windows OS across PC and mobile platforms and although it is designed around a touch interface it still works very well with a mouse once you learn where things are. I do like the new full screen apps and the clean and modern look of Metro. A new OS is always a bit rough in the early going so I try not to be too critical. This applies to Apple as well. Mavericks is a big improvement but it's not without its problems. Performance, on my Mac at least, is worse since I upgraded and the networking is a bit flakey; Safari is almost unusable so I've switched to Chrome for the time being. All will be fixed as the problems are discovered and patched up.

Chunkyfrog, there's not a lot to not like about an iPad which, I guess, explains why there's so many of them out there. The thing is versatile and powerful with a zillion apps to choose from. Integration with the Mac is superb and it plays pretty much the same way with iTunes on your PC. Try it. You'll like it.