SD card: I am getting a message “card write protected” when I try to reformat my SD card. The card has some images on it and both my Canon 5Dmkiv and my computer can see them. The...

whitehall Loc: Canada

I am getting a message “card write protected” when I try to reformat my SD card. The card has some images on it and both my Canon 5Dmkiv and my computer can see them. The slide on the side is missing it seems, likely broken. Can-the card be rescued or just throw it away after downloading the images? Thanks.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Throw it away.

FrumCA

whitehall wrote:

I am getting a message “card write protected” when I try to reformat my SD card. The card has some images on it and both my Canon 5Dmkiv and my computer can see them. The slide on the side is missing it seems, likely broken. Can-the card be rescued or just throw it away after downloading the images? Thanks.

Since you can see all the images my approach would be just save them all and toss the card. Cards are so expensive these days there's no reason to keep it.

jeweler53

If it is missing the slide I would toss it. I want my cards to be 100%, all the time. My camera has only one slot, so I only get one chance.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

My question would be is the missing slide in your camera’s card slot? Might be worth a look with a flashlight and perhaps a little shaking with the card door open and pointed down just in case. You don’t want at wedged in the slot.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Keep in mind, too, there's no lock issues on the CF cards for your EOS 5DIV CF slot.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

TriX wrote:

My question would be is the missing slide in your camera’s card slot? Might be worth a look with a flashlight and perhaps a little shaking with the card door open and pointed down just in case. You don’t want at wedged in the slot.

My thought exactly! I just listened to a Lensrental podcast that discussed that very thing. If the little slide switch is inside the camera, there is a “risk” that it could find a place where Murphy’s Law could prevail and few camera repairs are inexpensive.

tcthome Loc: NJ

TriX wrote:

My question would be is the missing slide in your camera’s card slot? Might be worth a look with a flashlight and perhaps a little shaking with the card door open and pointed down just in case. You don’t want at wedged in the slot.

whitehall Loc: Canada

Thank you all

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

I find little reason to record in jpg. Using my 5Div I record both CF & SD cards in raw for backup purposes. I only transfer the CD card images to computer & external SSD drives. If ever the CD card fails (never, so far), the SD card is available.
In bridge cameras, there are rarely any options - use the only slot available.

AikenMooney Loc: SouthCarolina

You have gotten some good info so far.
I will add I went to Sony Tough cards & on my remaining cards I use one small drop of Gorilla Super Glue to secure the slide. Works well for me.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

CHG_CANON wrote:

Keep in mind, too, there's no lock issues on the CF cards for your EOS 5DIV CF slot.

On the other hand SD cards do not require pin contacts in the card slot which can get bent and render the camera inoperable until an expensive repair is completed.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

PhotogHobbyist wrote:

On the other hand SD cards do not require pin contacts in the card slot which can get bent and render the camera inoperable until an expensive repair is completed.

I've made it 15+ years with CF cards and never bent a pin once. Knock on wood.

User ID

CHG_CANON wrote:

I've made it 15+ years with CF cards and never bent a pin once. Knock on wood.

“Who’s there ?”

JBRIII

47greyfox wrote:

My thought exactly! I just listened to a Lensrental podcast that discussed that very thing. If the little slide switch is inside the camera, there is a “risk” that it could find a place where Murphy’s Law could prevail and few camera repairs are inexpensive.

Definitely check, I had to have the power port on a pad replaced, luckily is was a small easily replaced card, because a thread got caught in the cable insert from the protective case. This destroyed the contact pins. Cost me $50, you maybe 10X that from what I see on this site about camera repairs.