What does the lock switch do on an SD card? (Page 2): Somebody is grumpy 😡 this morning. I get that your post was about the mechanics of the lock function. However some will read the...

JD750 Loc: SoCal

nadelewitz wrote:

Thank you for concurring in what I originally said. I hope rjaywallace gets it now.

Somebody is grumpy 😡 this morning.

I get that your post was about the mechanics of the lock function.

However some will read the title and interpret it as being about the function.

And some people don’t care how it works.

Myself I never thought about it and I do find it interesting. Particularly interesting that the function does not work in every case. So thank you for posting this information about it.

My problem is some of the sliders are loose and I inadvertently bump the damn thing when inserting it then it is locked 😡😡

I don’t use the switch so I would prefer not to have a lock switch, then I don’t have that problem.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Another interesting question might be “do you use the function and if so how do you use it?”

Bill_de Loc: US

rjaywallace wrote:

FIRST, THERE IS NO “SWITCH” ANYWHERE. THERE IS A SLIDING TAB THAT INTERACTS WITH SOMETHING, PERHAPS A ROBIN FLYING OVER HEAD, THAT PREVENTS DATA FROM OVERWRITING THE MEMORY CARD. AS I SUGGESTED, PERHAPS MEMORY CARD MANUFACTURERS CAN EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.

Shouting doesn't make you right!

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"... In fact, the lock switch has no bearing on the internals of the SD card at all. If you rip an old SD card apart you will see that it is nothing more than a little plastic slider that rides in a groove, and does not affect the electronics of the card itself.
Its position is sensed by a small switch -- often just a spring-loaded little bit of metal -- inside the card slot on the card reader. When the switch is in the "lock" position it engages the switch in the reader and it tells your computer (or whatever device), "Hey, this thing is locked, don't write to it."
It is 100% up to the manufacturer of the reader to ensure that the lock functionality works and is supported. Many cheap Chinese knockoff card readers, especially those that do not fully encapsulate the card and leave it sticking part or most of the way out of the slot, don't support the lock switch at all. You can leave the switch in whatever position you want and it will have no effect."

https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/30lqmq/eli5_how_does_the_lock_switch_on_an_sd_card_work/

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Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

Bill_de wrote:

Shouting doesn't make you right! img src="https:/... (show quote)

If you would have taken the time to look, you would have seen that I posted this exact piece of info already.

Bill_de Loc: US

Soul Dr. wrote:

If you would have taken the time to look, you would have seen that I posted this exact piece of info already.

I did, but I prefer supplying a source when posting information in a thread with differences of opinion.

Sometimes folks are more apt to read something if you show a source. Also, I was always taught to give credit where credit is due. C T used to do that until he was accused of plagiarism. Go figure.

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rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

nadelewitz wrote:

Did you ever wonder what the Lock switch on an SD ... (show quote)

That is correct.
Although I have yet to come across a card reader incapable of recognizing the lock on SD cards. But I'll take your word on the fact that they do exist.

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

Bill_de wrote:

I did, but I prefer supplying a source when posting information in a thread with differences of opinion.

Sometimes folks are more apt to read something if you show a source. Also, I was always taught to give credit where credit is due. C T used to do that until he was accused of plagiarism. Go figure.

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OK

TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland

Similar to the old PC days with the floppy disks, cover the hole with tape and the disc could not be deleted.

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

nadelewitz wrote:

Thank you for concurring in what I originally said. I hope rjaywallace gets it now.

You need to lighten up, and not be so disrespectful to others! How would you feel if he were your family member? It is only a discussion..........So maybe you need meds.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

nadelewitz wrote:

It is just a sliding tab. The actual electrical switch is inside the card slot of the camera, card reader, computer, wherever. The position of the card's switch just presses the REAL switch in the card slot, or not, depending on its position.

Interesting. I never took a card apart.

CaliforniaDreamer

For those of us old enough to remember floppy discs of various kinds there were methods of indicating that the information on them is locked. Obviously that slot or slide could not effect the contents without the external reader/writer detecting it. Same idea with an sd card. It is rather surprising the things we will argue about on this site.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

CaliforniaDreamer wrote:

For those of us old enough to remember floppy discs of various kinds there were methods of indicating that the information on them is locked. Obviously that slot or slide could not effect the contents without the external reader/writer detecting it. Same idea with an sd card. It is rather surprising the things we will argue about on this site.

Yes, seems anything and everything.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Geez, this thread is like an episode of Seinfeld — not funny and much ado about nothing.

It write-protects the card... in compatible devices.

Jagnut07 Loc: South Carolina

Interesting. I generally don’t use the write protect switch but have been on a 30 day trip where I have filled several 64GB cards. As I fill the Card I flip the switch so I don’t accidentally format a filled card until I get home. Additionally I have started to us the new Sony “Tough” cards. These do not have any switch at all and are very well sealed hence the tough rating. Just for interest to fellow photographers. Haters, please do not reply.

macrose

Thank you for this. I have a card that mysteriously got locked and I could not use. Now I know how to unlock it. I was unaware of the little switch on the side.