Erase ALL data on smart card--Possible?

I'd like to know how to completely erase all information on a smart card from a resmed s8 autoset ii, assuming it can be done.

Why? When you reinsert it, the machine will write it back. (unless you reset the machine)
Then the total run hours will remain.
If you wipe a card and remove the directory or software, you can render the card unusable.

Well, I'd definitely like to keep the card functional, but I want to remove all information on it.

Maybe I should also ask, is there any identifying or personal information on the card? Usage hours/time and that sort of thing is not a concern.

Note: The cards and reader for the S8 is PROPRIETARY.
I have no idea where else it could be used.

Note: the reader I have is not proprietary to resmed. And while the card may be, it's mine and I want to clear off any and all information that may be stored on it at this time. I'm actually not asking about use locations.

Is there any identifying or personal information on the cards that are used to download usage data? If so, I'd like to learn how to completely remove it. Feel free to back-channel an answer if a public response concerns.

I kinda think there isn't such data on the cards, but only in the software. But apparently it's a HIPAA violation for covered entities to take the cards, so I wondered if my thought was correct after all.

My experience is slightly different from some of the above.

When I received my ResMed S9 it had a modem attached, but did not have a data card. The slot was empty. After joining this forum I found out about ResScan and Sleepyhead, so I went to Staples and purchased an SDHC 16GB Card, for about $12 (a less capacity card costs less, but I may want to use this card for other purposes at another time). I put it into the machine and the next morning I was downloading data to those two programs. As far as my DME goes, they don't even know I have a Smart Data Card.

Just now I put the card in my computer's SD Card reader and using Windows Explorer I found the card contains 2 folders, each with many files, and 5 additional files in the root directory. So, to get back to the original question, it would seem to be a simple matter to use the card just like you would use a thumb drive and simply use Windows Explorer to display the files and then erase them as you would erase a file on any removable drive or your harddrive. There are no hidden files on the card, so erasing those folders and files will remove all personal data.

Then you can use the card like any other removable device. You could back up letters or spreadsheets on it, for example.

Does this answer the question?

Do you need to erase all the data on the CPAP machine as well, or just the card?

I think there's a reset data function in the machine that will erase all the data in the machine. If that's what you want, you might try that with the card in and then read the card with your card reader to see if it's empty.

Even if you "erase" it, the data is probably still there, just marked "invisible" unless you have a program that writes over it. It makes it hard for the average Joe to read it, but it's probably possible for a determined person to read it.

I'd expect all your usage information, dates, usage, AHI, and machine serial number to be on there. The machine shouldn't know your name or anything like that. I doubt ResScan writes any the personal information like name, phone number, etc., but it's technically possible. The DME does tend to put that information into ResScan, so it COULD write it there, but it doesn't seem likely. I'm not sure how to check that.

I think I heard somewhere about a low level formatter for smart cards, but it was probably for Respironics cards. Maybe someone else remembers.

Mind telling us what you're trying to do, if it's not too secret?

I thought OP had an S8; those cards are cockeyed, so they need a special reader.

wardmiller wrote:My experience is slightly different from some of the above.

When I received my ResMed S9 it had a modem attached, but did not have a data card. The slot was empty. After joining this forum I found out about ResScan and Sleepyhead, so I went to Staples and purchased an SDHC 16GB Card, for about $12 (a less capacity card costs less, but I may want to use this card for other purposes at another time). I put it into the machine and the next morning I was downloading data to those two programs. As far as my DME goes, they don't even know I have a Smart Data Card.

Just now I put the card in my computer's SD Card reader and using Windows Explorer I found the card contains 2 folders, each with many files, and 5 additional files in the root directory. So, to get back to the original question, it would seem to be a simple matter to use the card just like you would use a thumb drive and simply use Windows Explorer to display the files and then erase them as you would erase a file on any removable drive or your harddrive. There are no hidden files on the card, so erasing those folders and files will remove all personal data.

Then you can use the card like any other removable device. You could back up letters or spreadsheets on it, for example.

Does this answer the question?

The PC can access the files on the SD card used in S9 machines. I believe the PC can't access the files stored on the S8 smart card other than through ResScan or a few other programs. I don't know what data is stored on the S8 cards.

BTW, don't ever let the PC write data to the S9 cards. If you write another file to the card, the S9 will probably refuse to use it. The S9 stores some data on the S9 cards in a non-standard format or uses some older standard and normal PC files will mess it up.

Wonder if someone could confuse the machine and cause it to erase the smart card?
Remember the problems people had with DST change when people tried to reset the clock and ended up erasing everything? People have done it accidentally....usually because they tried to set the clock back before Noon and there is already data there and the machine squawks.

I found this in ResScan Help section...I couldn't find anything that directly addresses how to erase Smart card data...nothing like Encore's option to "erase after download" or anything

Problem: Can't set date backwards.

Possible Cause: There is data stored on the therapy device or data card. Erase all data from the therapy device or data card.

Solution:: Erase all data from the therapy device or data card.
Note: Erased data cannot be restored. If required, download the data into a patient file prior to erasing it from the therapy device or data card.

I've been wondering about erasing data, too. It just seems to make sense that once you download it and get your report, you would want to erase it so that the next time you download you only have new data. Also, at some point the card will fill up.

""Note: Erased data cannot be restored.""

In my view, this data on the SD Card is like any other data on any other removable device. If you want to erase the data on the card, but are afraid you might want it at a later date, just COPY the data from the card to your harddisk, or to a thumb drive. Then delete the data on the SD Card, knowing you can always restore the data later. My experience is the machine always writes to the card, not vise versa, so you will always get the latest data from the machine when you put a card in it.

Or you can have multiple SD Cards -- they are relatively inexpensive, especially the ones with 1 or 5 GB, just a few bucks.

In my case, I began with a blank SD Card and found it dumped all data from the machine to the card the first time I used it.

But, to emphasize my response to the original question, yes, you can erase ALL personal data on the SD Card. Just use Windows Explorer as you would on any disk, removable or not, mark the files, click on Erase and click on Yes.

archangle wrote:Mind telling us what you're trying to do, if it's not too secret?

The machine it goes with hasn't been used for some time now. Thinking of selling the whole shebang so someone can get good use from it. It's a lovely little device, just didn't seem to help for some unknown reason.

Yes, it's an S8. And I, too, believe that the card is an odd type and can be read only by the rescan software, not windows explorer or anything else I'm likely to have on my machine.

A reseller who buys these said the card can't be included due to HIPAA regs. HIPAA is supposed to protect identifiable protected health info. I'm just trying to determine if there's any info on card or machine which actually identifies me, or if it's excessive vigilance. In case I go with a private sale, it would be nice to be able to include the card.

just goto my computer right click the drive that pops up, and choose format drive (make sure you select the correct drive) also make sure you reset the machine first becuase otherwise it will rewrite everything to the card

Jade wrote:I'd like to know how to completely erase all information on a smart card from a resmed s8 autoset ii, assuming it can be done.

Since the S8 does use a propriertary reader, I have no idea what may be screwy about an S8 SD Card - so proceed at your own risk.

But there is a FREE SD card formatter at https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_3/ that works great with SD cards for the S9

It does a great job of "externally" formatting SD cards & it was meant "specifically" for SD Cards.

Worst that could happen is that you screw up the SD card.
But, you could always buy a new SD card for very little.

If you are selling the S8, I would also 1st reset all of the information on the S8 & then externally format the SD card using the SD Formatter software.
Otherwise, it will just rewrite it to the SD card the next time you put the card back in.