How to Fix Bad Sectors on an SD Card: A Step-by-Step Guide

When your SD card gets bad sectors, the precious photos, videos, or music on it might be lost. That's why SD card users need to know how to fix bad sectors on an SD card. This article offers 6 methods to help you out. Let's dive in.

How do I check if my SD card has bad sectors?

Before learning how to fix bad sectors on an SD card, we should be aware of the various symptoms of bad sectors on an SD card. Also, we should try to understand the possible causes of this issue on your SD card so that you can prevent it.

Symptoms:

• SD card shows as empty or 0 bytes
• SD card displays bad sector errors
• Windows is unable to format the SD card
• Unable to read or write to the SD card
• Camera, phone, or computer fails to recognize the SD card
• Computer requires formatting the SD memory card to access it

Now that we know the symptoms of bad sectors, let's see how they occur.

Cause:

• Poor-quality SD card
• Virus infection on the media or computer
• SD card has reached its read-write cycles
• Multiple devices using the same SD card simultaneously
• Physical damage, dust, or moisture affecting the SD card
• Improper insertion or ejection of the SD card from a device
• Sudden system shutdown or power loss while transferring files or accessing SD card data

Now that you're familiar with the symptoms and causes of bad sectors, it's time to learn how to fix bad sectors on your SD card.

How to Fix Bad Sectors on an SD Card - 6 Effective Ways

This part will teach us how to fix bad sectors on an SD card using different methods. Since there can be several reasons for bad sectors on an SD card, try out some of the following fixes to resolve the issue. Here are six methods:

• Solution 1: Use Partition Master Tool
• Solution 2: Utilize the Windows Error Checking Feature
• Solution 3: Run the Windows Troubleshooter
• Solution 4: Assign a New Drive Letter to the SD Card
• Solution 5: Run the CHKDSK Command
• Solution 6: Reinstall the Driver

Firstly, you can get a professional third-party tool in this part.

Solution 1: Use the Tool - Partition Master

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a trustworthy tool that can perform surface test on your SD card, locate and fix bad sectors. It supports all Windows versions. With its clear interface and instructions, the operation will be easy. Download it and give it a try.

Step 1: Launch Partition Master. Right-click the drive you want to check and select “Surface Test.”

< strong > Step 2: < /strong > The process will happen immediately, and any bad sectors will be highlighted in red.

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After going through this process, you'll have performed a surface test on your SD card. Additionally, the Partition Master tool can assist in fixing bad sectors on an external hard drive or help you check for bad sectors on the hard drive.

Fix 2: Use the Windows Check Disk utility

Windows has a built-in error-checking feature that can scan your SD card and fix various issues. To repair bad sectors on your SD card, you just need to go through a simple process of clicks. Here's how:

Step 1: Connect the SD card to your computer before launching Explorer.

Step 2. Right-click on the icon for your SD card and choose Properties > Tools tab.

Step 3. Click the “Check” button under the “Error Checking” section to begin repairing your SD card.

If your SD card is slow, click the link below for more information.

Why Is My SD Card Slow? [A Comprehensive 2023 Guide to the Reasons]

In this article, we will delve into the detailed reasons behind a slow SD card so you know how to fix and prevent this issue.

Fix 3: Run the Windows Troubleshooter

This might be due to some hardware-related issues with your SD card. The best way to resolve this is by running the built-in Hardware and Devices troubleshooter provided by Windows. Here's how: 1. **Press the Windows key + I** on your keyboard to open the Settings app. 2. In the Settings window, click on **Update & Security**. 3. On the left pane, select **Troubleshoot**. 4. Scroll down on the right side and click on **Hardware and Devices** under the "Get up and running" section. 5. Click on **Run the troubleshooter**. It will now scan for any potential hardware issues, including problems with your SD card reader. 6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process. 7. If the troubleshooter finds any issues, it will attempt to fix them automatically. If not, you may need to check for driver updates or contact the manufacturer for further assistance. Additionally, ensure that your SD card is inserted correctly and try another slot if available. You can also try using the SD card on another device to confirm if the issue is with the card itself or the computer's SD card reader.

Step 1. Connect your SD card to your computer.

Step 2. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security.

Step 3. Click on “Run the troubleshooter” under the “Hardware and Devices” section.

Step 4: Wait for the update to finish, and then restart your computer.

Step 5: Check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 4: Assign a new drive letter to the SD card

If the SD card's drive letter has been assigned to any other partition or disk, it can cause issues with the SD card. You can resolve these issues by going into “Disk Management” and manually changing its drive letter.

Step 1: Open Disk Management and connect your SD card to the computer.

Step 2: Right-click on the SD card.

Step 3: Choose the "Change drive letter and paths" option.

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Step 4: In the next window, click on "Change".

Step 5: Assign a new drive letter to the target SD card and click “OK.”

You might also like the following links:

Solution 5: Run the CHKDSK Command

The CHKDSK command checks for logical and physical errors in the file system. If used with the /f or /r parameters, it will fix errors on the storage device. Try using it to repair bad sectors on your SD card.

Step 1. Connect the target SD card to your Windows computer and make a note of its drive letter.

Step 2: Click on the 'Start' icon, then type 'cmd' in the search box.

Step 3. Right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator".

Step 4: A Command Prompt window will appear. Type in chkdsk e: /f /r /x (replace e with the letter assigned to your SD card).

Step 5: Press the "Enter" key and wait for it to finish.

Here are some links for you to learn more about the CHKDSK command:

Fix 6: Reinstall the Driver

If you encounter this issue, you can also try reinstalling the driver. Follow these steps to reinstall the driver on your computer:

Step 1. Right-click the "This PC" icon and select "Manage".

Step 2: Click on “Device Manager” on the left side.

Step 3: Double-click “Disk Drives.” Right-click on your SD card.

Step 4: Click “Uninstall” and then “OK.”

Step 5. Eject the SD card, and then restart your computer.

Conclusions

Bad sectors can affect the normal use of a storage device, so it's crucial to know how to fix them. This page offers a comprehensive guide on how to fix bad sectors on an SD card. With these repair methods, you can effectively fix bad sectors on your SD card. Among them, if you're not familiar with computer operations, Partition Master is a better choice as it's user-friendly.

Please do not hesitate to download Partition Master tool to help you solve the disk partition problem.

Frequently Asked Questions on Fixing Bad Sectors on an SD Card

Some of you may also have questions on how to diagnose bad sectors on an SD card, so read on for more information.

1. What can cause bad sectors on an SD card?

There are many reasons why, such as frequent use, malware attacks, misuse, power failures, or physical damage.

2. How can we avoid bad debts?

Here are a few suggestions for you:

Use your device properly. Run antivirus software to remove malware and viruses. Regularly run the CHKDSK command on your drives to get rid of bad sectors.

3. What is a bad sector?

Storage clusters on a hard drive with physical damage are referred to as bad sectors. They can be caused by mechanical damage, manufacturing defects, wear and tear, physical stress, sudden power loss, or ingress of dust.