SD Reader Write Protect Error ?

[aslan]

The SD reader on my Dell laptop is indicating that all SD cards are write protected - regardless of how write protect tab is set. I had this problem with a USB SD reader about a year ago as well. A search of a number of forums indicates that there is apparently a fairly widespread problem of this. Instead of an optical switch the readers (by spec?) use a mechanical switch that often breaks or gets bent to the side (so that even putting tape over the notch doesn't work. From forum searches this appears to be very widespread.

Is anyone familiar with this? Widespread? Spec problem or just poor design of a lot of SD drives?

Does anyone know of a way to toggle this in software so that it will ignore the write-protection so I can use the drive again?

Thanks,

[Deer Slayer]

You can try reacing in and setting the switch permanently by hand. I dunno which was the switch is supposed to go, but obviously it needs to go the opposite way from the way it is. Obviously once you get it positioned, the write protect won't work any more, but it's better than not having the ability to write at all. Just an idea, I dunno if you'll be able to do it or not.