OT - SD Cards are Fragile

There have been a few post about SD card problems and I thought to jot down some thoughts.

SD cards are really fragile even though they seem to be bullet-proof. The electrical contacts can get dirty, the data areas can fail, any number of things can happen and make them either unreadable or only partially readable.

For example, they don't usually survive a wash, rinse, and dry cycle in your home laundry. No questions please on how I happen to know this arcane fact. They really don't like to be bent either. Neither, by the way do cell phones, thumb drives, GPS handheld units, and other, nice to have, electronic devices. Don't ask about them either

So, in general, handle them with care. Never touch the little contacts on the end. Do keep a spare one around just in case 'cause just when all the stores are closed, that's when you'll need to replace one of the little devils.

OK, rant is over.

JDS74 wrote:For example, they don't usually survive a wash, rinse, and dry cycle in your home laundry. No questions please on how I happen to know this arcane fact.

You need to install IOS version 7 on your SD card and that will make it waterproof.

I washed an external hard drive last year. Fortunately, most of the data was saved elsewhere too. I did lose most of my photos from 2012.

Never ever protect your external hard drive in luggage by wrapping it in clothing. I have a special bag for my new external drive.

zoocrewphoto wrote:
Never ever protect your external hard drive in luggage by wrapping it in clothing. I have a special bag for my new external drive.

alternately, don't dump your lugggage directly into the washing machine when tired after a trip

palerider wrote:

zoocrewphoto wrote:
Never ever protect your external hard drive in luggage by wrapping it in clothing. I have a special bag for my new external drive.

alternately, don't dump your luggage directly into the washing machine when tired after a trip

True. I think it was the next day, but clearly I didn't notice a decent size external drive going into the washing machine. Should be a lot more obvious than an SD card. It actually worked the first time i used it after that. I should have copied it immediately. It quit within a few days.