How to fix an SD card with a broken read-only lock
I bought this SD card from a Chinese eBayer for half the retail price. It took about a week for the plastic read-only lock to break off. Damn thing just fell out. Last time I EVER buy a media card with a read-only lock (its optional per SD card specifications). This, as you may know, renders the card unwriteable since a media card reader thinks that the card is write-protected if the notch isn’t filled. Now, how do I convince the card reader the notch is filled? I give it a little band-aid.
The supplies:
- SD card with a broken read-only lock
- Cutting plier or wire cutter
- Medium size paper clip
- Krazyglue
All the medium size paper clips around the office that day were the same exact height as the plastic lock that broke off, lucky me. I cut it to length using a cutting plier for a clean edge and put a dab (a DAB!!) of superglue on there. I let it dry and gave it a test run. Yay, it works. Permanently set to read/write and works flawlessly.
You didn’t need to go through all of that trouble. A layer or two of scotch tape could have fixed the problem right away.
Nice! I needed this a while back - I tried scotch tape, by the way, but it would just come off and was unreliable - this is perfect.
Scotch tape totally worked, saved my a$%. Thanks for this article, it led me down the right path.
me too for the tape. I saw your page and then thought, hold on, we used fix write protect tabs on cassette tapes with scotch tape..tried it on the memcard and presto! however, we’ll see how long it lasts..
For me was it a combination of paper clip and scoth tape.Many Tnx for the article, you saved the day!
Tapes works great on my Computer card reader but when I put the card in my HP 927 Digiatl camera ( which is what the card was for) it still says its write protected. Any suggestions?
The best way to do this is using electrical tape, its thick but not too thick, scotch tape would only risk your self for it being stuck inside the reader
This is the first time I comment here and I should say you share us genuine, and quality information for bloggers! Great job.
p.s. You have an awesome template . Where have you got it from?
I went the paper clip-krazy glue route and it works perfectly. Thanks!
I didn’t have any glue or paper clip or wire cutters to cut the paper clip.
I took a length of 0.7 mm diameter pencil lead and used clear adhesive tape wrapped around really tight - this works really great!
Nice post. Thanks for sharing these tips.
You write awsome article, bookmarked