What can corrupt a database?

[ka3jjz]

I know that this is a pretty broad question but it's a good one for the Sentinel FAQ- what can cause a database to be flagged as corrupt, and if there's a different procedure from rebuilding it in Sentinel, that too needs to be mentioned. Let the listing begin!

Mike

 

[fxdscon]

I know that this is a pretty broad question but it's a good one for the Sentinel FAQ- what can cause a database to be flagged as corrupt, and if there's a different procedure from rebuilding it in Sentinel, that too needs to be mentioned. Let the listing begin!

Mike

This has worked for some with a corrupted database in Sentinel if Sentinel won't download a new copy of the database because it's the same date as the corrupted one...

Sentinel: - ALL Trunked Systems Are Missing!

Ok, the title pretty much says it all. For some reason, ALL trunked systems are missing from Sentinel. I don't how or why, but this is the first time that this happened to me. I tried updating the DB to no avail as it's already the latest version. I also uninstalled and re-installed Sentinel...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[donc13]

I know that this is a pretty broad question but it's a good one for the Sentinel FAQ- what can cause a database to be flagged as corrupt, and if there's a different procedure from rebuilding it in Sentinel, that too needs to be mentioned. Let the listing begin!

Mike

Not knowing which specific scanner you are talking about... If your scanner has a SD card in it, you should not turn it off by pulling power. Turn it off with the power switch, wait 10 Seconds and then unplug it.

In Windows, (Sentinel) same thing applies to Windows filesystems. You can easily corrupt a file (thus a database) by simply shutting power off rather than closing windows then, when it's shut down, shut off power.

 

[RandyKuff]

This has worked for some with a corrupted database in Sentinel if Sentinel won't download a new copy of the database because it's the same date as the corrupted one...

Sentinel: - ALL Trunked Systems Are Missing!

Ok, the title pretty much says it all. For some reason, ALL trunked systems are missing from Sentinel. I don't how or why, but this is the first time that this happened to me. I tried updating the DB to no avail as it's already the latest version. I also uninstalled and re-installed Sentinel...

forums.radioreference.com

Just a note... To see the "ProgramData" folder you have to make sure in Explorer under "View" that "Hidden Items" is checked...
Or you will not see it... It's a hidden system folder...
As can be seen by the color of it...

 

[ka3jjz]

Which scanners do I mean? Fair question - the X36 and SDS scanners, both use SD cards...a good start here, keep it going

Mike

 

[RandyKuff]

Which scanners do I mean? Fair question - the X36 and SDS scanners, both use SD cards...a good start here, keep it going

Mike

That also holds true for the HP-1 and HP-2...

In the Uniden folder there will be a "Homepatrol" folder shown...

 

[N9JIG]

As far as corruption goes, the SD Card is MUCH more likely to be corrupted if the Replay/Recording Feature is turned on. If turned off that drastically reduces the possibility of card corruption.

Most SD Card corruption itself is going to be based on power loss; the battery dies or power is pulled before the radio has the chance to finish an in-progress read-write sequence. That corruption could be in the Database (common as it is generally the largest file on the SD card), a Favorites List or in one of the supporting files.

Reduce the read-write cycles and you reduce the possibility of corruption. With over a dozen Uniden SD-card based scanners the only time I had a corrupted SD card was on a 536 in a vehicle connected to the ignition, the card would be corrupted every month or so. Once I turned off Replay I have not had any corrupted SD Cards since, probably 8 years or so. This might also be due to the fact that I keep a spare in the car and update it when I update the live card, as soon as I leave the house on a long trip with no spare card I just KNOW it will get corrupted!

One can also reduce the chances of corruption in the field by proactively reformatting the SD card from time to time. I do mine annually, even with a couple dozen cards (live and spares) it only takes a half hour or so.

 

[belvdr]

As far as corruption goes, the SD Card is MUCH more likely to be corrupted if the Replay/Recording Feature is turned on. If turned off that drastically reduces the possibility of card corruption.

Most SD Card corruption itself is going to be based on power loss; the battery dies or power is pulled before the radio has the chance to finish an in-progress read-write sequence. That corruption could be in the Database (common as it is generally the largest file on the SD card), a Favorites List or in one of the supporting files.

Reduce the read-write cycles and you reduce the possibility of corruption. With over a dozen Uniden SD-card based scanners the only time I had a corrupted SD card was on a 536 in a vehicle connected to the ignition, the card would be corrupted every month or so. Once I turned off Replay I have not had any corrupted SD Cards since, probably 8 years or so. This might also be due to the fact that I keep a spare in the car and update it when I update the live card, as soon as I leave the house on a long trip with no spare card I just KNOW it will get corrupted!

One can also reduce the chances of corruption in the field by proactively reformatting the SD card from time to time. I do mine annually, even with a couple dozen cards (live and spares) it only takes a half hour or so.

File size would not be the reason a particular file would be more commonly corrupted. If a file is open, the chances for file corruption then increase.

 

[N9JIG]

File size would not be the reason a particular file would be more commonly corrupted. If a file is open, the chances for file corruption then increase.

Well, duh! I knew that, that is what I get for posting before breakfast!

I meant to say that (common as it is generally the most likely to be read/written during an impolite power loss.

 

[darkness975]

The frequent power fluctuations where I live are just fabulous. I'm looking forward to the day I can get an APC unit so the scanners won't be forced off evey time the stupid overpriced power company decides to blip the grid or a tree branch knocks out a line.