Vista does not recognize SD cards greater than 1 gb

**Quimby** · 03-02-2009

hello, i have windows Vista Ultimate and windows Home Premium with SP1 the problem is my pc does NOT recognize SD cards greater than 1 gb in size. It recognizes 1 gb SD and card which are less than i gb in size but anything higher, it requires that I format it down to 1 gb. This is 100% repeatable by me and apparently a few thousand other people, according to a Google search on "vista sd problem". Applying "hot fixes" fixes nothing.i am think of degrading to windows xp

thanks for you suggestion

**Cunning** · 03-02-2009

I am running Vista Business edition on my Laptop. I have both a SD card reader in-built into the laptop as well as using an external card reader. All my SD (Normal SD and Mini) cards are about 2GB and above. I don’t have such problems on any of my card readers. I have another 2 machines that are running the same config with no problems. It could be an OEM driver issue rather than a Vista issue.

**Philip21** · 03-02-2009

SD Memory Card Formatting Software
This software formats SD Memory Card and SDHC Memory Card(SD/SDHC Memory Card) using a formatting program that complies with the SD Memory Card specification SD formatting provides quick and easy access to the SD Memory Card.

Generally, SD/SDHC Memory Card file systems formatted with generic operating system formatting software do not comply with the SD Memory Card specification.

Procedure to Install

Install the software on the Windows after finishing the download.
Close all program applications.
Execute the installer file. Install the SD Memory Card Formatting Software following the instructions of the installation window.

Do not format recordable media other than SD/SDHC Memory Cards using this software. If you have mistakenly formatted a recordable media other than the SD/SDHC Memory Card, reformat the media using the appropriate formatting software that came with the media.
Do not remove the SD/SDHC Memory Card while formatting.
Once formatting has started, all previously recorded data will be erased.
Do not format the SD/SDHC Memory Card while the write protection switch is on.
If the SD formatting software does not recognize the SD/SDHC Memory Card, re-insert the card and click on "Refresh".
SD formatting is not possible on unrecognizable "removable drives".
Cannot be used on a Macintosh system.
This software does not cope with the copyright protection. If you use a card for some equipment with copyright protection such as SD Audio Player, the formatting must be done by the specific formatting software prepared by the equipment provider.
In some cases SD/SDHC Memory Cards may not be recognized by the SD formatting software immediately after installation of SD/SDHC Memory Card compatible reader/writer driver software. If this occurs, re-start your computer and try again.
If you are using a USB drive and the SD formatting software does not recognize the SD/SDHC Memory Card even after re-inserting it, remove the USB cable while the SD/SDHC Memory Card is still inserted in the drive and after about 10 seconds reconnect the USB cable and click on the "Refresh" button.
Some reader/writers cannot use "erase operation".
In case of formatting of SDHC Memory Card, the reader/writer supporting SDHC Memory Card is needed.

Download from here

Dr. V · 03-02-2009

there was this updates if vista KB 936825 . This is a Vista SD Rollup package See if that will fix it. download from here

Update for Windows Vista (KB936825)

Download the KB936825 package now.
Update for Windows Vista for 64-bit systems (KB936825)

Download the KB936825 package now.

The following new features are enabled in this package:

Support for SD High Capacity (SDHC) cards that are 8 gigabytes (GB) or larger in Windows Vista.
Support for dual voltage (1.8-volt and 3.3-volt) Secure Digital/MultiMediaCards (SD/MMC) cards in Windows Vista.
Support for Secure Digital Input Output (SDIO) cards in Windows Vista.

SDIO cards use an interface that adds functionality for a range of devices, such as GPS devices, Ethernet adapters, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth adapters, modems, scanners, fingerprint readers, bar-code readers, IrDA adapters, FM radio tuners, TV tuners, digital cameras, hard drives, and so on.

**Humberto** · 03-02-2009

run msconfig command and go to boot->advanced options to ensure the "Max memory" is unchecked. Besides, contact manufacturer to see if any update of SD drive for Windows Vista at their side.