SDS100/SDS200: SD Card File Error

[gmclam]

I have two SDS-100s. I've custom programmed a 4G SD card in each. I was able to successfully update Sentinel, update the DB, and fully overwrite one scanner w/o issue as I've done many times before.

I Powered down that scanner and plugged the other into the same cable. Sentinel acted as I expected but I am now not 100% certain that it updated the ESN of the connected scanner (still thinking earlier scanner is connected?). After a couple of minutes the update failed. Now NO ESN is displaying. I powered off, killed Sentinel and started over. Now clearly NO ESN is found although the radio does show up in Device Manager.

The message on the display is "SD Card File Error Use Sentinel 'Clear User Data' ...." But I can't use that because Sentinel does not recognize the scanner. I swapped the SD card between scanners, tried programming with an entirely different PC (and different OS) and narrowed it down with the common denominator being this one 4G SD card.

Interestingly, when I power the radio, it shows all my Favorites lists loading (takes about 1 minute as expected). So, for it to go through all that and THEN say there's an SD error, it's why I am writing this post. This card has been powered and running just fine 24/7 for several years. Please advise. Thanks!

 

[Ubbe]

Can you format that faulty SD card? If using the special SD card formatter program you can select to overwrite the data and it will then check if each memory cell are working as it should and if any errors are found it will flag that cell to not be used. But best are to buy a new 32GB card at the first sign of any data errors as a $10 investment are worth all the issues it could otherwise create and you spend hours trying to figure out strange problems that will happen.

/Ubbe

 

[gmclam]

I agree with getting a new card, as I've definitely used this one. LOL. The PC I originally used to build these cards has reached its end-of-life. This new one does not have a slot for SD cards and I'll need to obtain an adapter to move forward w/o using the scanner.

I guess what is bothering me is that Sentinel does not recognize the scanner when this card is installed. The scanner populates Device Manager as expected. The scanner loads files and runs as long as not connected to a PC. The 'tool' Sentinel provides to correct the issue can't work since it can't find the scanner/card. Is this expected? Thanks.

 

[RichardKramer]

I had this same issue with one of my BCD436HP scanners. Computer said SD card error and couldn't find the ESN #. I had to put the card in a reader, then was able to use the SD CARD FIRMATTER program. Loaded all my Favorite lists with the updated database and put it back in the 436 and all is well.

 

[buddrousa]

I have several x36's and SDS100/200 plus the SDS150 all use the same Sentinel Software you can program multiple SDS100's 200's with the same programming file BUT YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE ESN IN THE SCANNERS that is something Sentinel does not write to.

 

[RandyKuff]

The ESN of the scanner does get written to the SD card...
You can prove that by pulling the SD card from the scanner... Then using an external card reader...
Then open Sentinel and select Clear user Data... I'm not going to clear my card though...
This is what you will see...
From my SDS100...



I can use Sentinel to change the scanner profile to my SDS200 and change Fav lists etc...
Then put that card in my SDS200 and it will write the SDS200's ESN to that card then...

 

[gmclam]

I have several x36's and SDS100/200 plus the SDS150 all use the same Sentinel Software you can program multiple SDS100's 200's with the same programming file BUT YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE ESN IN THE SCANNERS that is something Sentinel does not write to.

The issue is that Sentinel can't find the scanner (ESN). It shows up in Device Manager, but not in Sentinel. Sentinel fails and the user must resort to other means to "restore" the SD Card.

 

[RandyKuff]

The issue is that Sentinel can't find the scanner (ESN). It shows up in Device Manager, but not in Sentinel. Sentinel fails and the user must resort to other means to "restore" the SD Card.

In my post #6 above in the picture... Did you check the box "Display all drives" and see if it shows up...

 

[kruser]

The issue is that Sentinel can't find the scanner (ESN). It shows up in Device Manager, but not in Sentinel. Sentinel fails and the user must resort to other means to "restore" the SD Card.

If it shows up in device manager, you should be able to use the SD card format program @Ubbe mentioned SDS100/SDS200: - SD Card File Error
After format, open Sentinel and check the box pictured in the post from @RandyKuff SDS100/SDS200: - SD Card File Error that says to Display all drives. That should allow Sentinel to prepare the card for use.

 

[RandyKuff]

Also... The card will not show like in my picture in post #6 (With the ESN) until you run the "Clear user Data" command...
That will initialize the card so Sentinel can see it and utilize it...

 

[dave3825]

The scanner populates Device Manager as expected.

The issue is that Sentinel can't find the scanner (ESN). It shows up in Device Manager, but not in Sentinel.

Where exactly is it showing in device manager and what does it come up as?

When I plug 436 in, and hit Y to mass storage, an entry appears called "Mass Storage Device" under Universal Serial Bus Controllers. And an entry shows under Drives "Uniden BCD436HP Usb Device"

When I hit N to mass, it shows as "Uniden serial port" under Universal Serial Bus Devices

 

[buddrousa]

I use what is built into Sentinel under SCANNER then CLEAR USER DATA works like it should and I see as I should.
I just bought and made 12 new SD Cards for my locals that have x36's by using the above directions.
By the way this was free things I do for locals.

 

[gmclam]

In my post #6 above in the picture... Did you check the box "Display all drives" and see if it shows up...

Yes. And click refresh/etc.

 

[gmclam]

Also... The card will not show like in my picture in post #6 (With the ESN) until you run the "Clear user Data" command...
That will initialize the card so Sentinel can see it and utilize it...

Which you cannot do until the card is recognized.

Latest round. I bought a card reader and new SD cards. I formatted a new SD card, placed into scanner, powered. The scanner displays the error. The drive list in Sentinel is empty. Next. I fully programmed the card in the USB adapter (don't involve radio). All these steps are successful. If I then put that card into the scanner, with it connected to a PC when I power it; I still get the card error.

I realize the issue was the scanner being connected to the PC. Simply power on the scanner (with either the new or old card) and it comes up scanning. AFTER doing that, and power cycling the scanner (in order to update the SD card by the scanner), THEN I could power the SDS-100 and connect the USB to the PC (or plug in the USB to the PC after powered) and it would work as expected.

I apparently got into some weird condition where as long as I powered the scanner connected to the PC, it was going to fail. I've done this overall procedure dozens of times before where I update each of two scanners successively. This time something went awry when writing to the second scanner. And it was the original SD card that took the error. The error from that card followed when I tried it in the other scanner. The new card didn't resolve the issue either.

In recap; the solution was to power the scanner w/o a PC being connected. Let it come up in scan mode. Then plug in the PC and let it prompt for . or E. Thanks all.

 

[gmclam]

Where exactly is it showing in device manager and what does it come up as?

It shows up under PORTS as COM6 (whether working or in fail condition).

 

[dave3825]

It shows up under PORTS as COM6 (whether working or in fail condition).

If it’s showing there, as a comm port, it’s being seen as a serial device.

 

[ofd8001]

Have you checked for clean or not bent contacts on the scanner? Kinda sounds to me like the SD card isn't always making a good connection.

When in Mass Storage, the computer is looking at the SD card. In Serial mode the computer is looking at the scanner and not SD card, I believe.

As I understand it, when you power the scanner down, it will write its ESN to the SD card. It is not necessary for the SD card to have an ESN to function - as in you can use an external card reader to format/clear user data/write data to an SD card, then put the card in the scanner.

 

[RandyKuff]

In recap; the solution was to power the scanner w/o a PC being connected. Let it come up in scan mode. Then plug in the PC and let it prompt for . or E. Thanks all.

Something strange going on... But if it works

My SDS100 will get to the prompt either way...
Most of the time it's powered on when I connect it to the PC...

 

[gmclam]

Have you checked for clean or not bent contacts on the scanner? Kinda sounds to me like the SD card isn't always making a good connection.

Moving the SD card to an entirely different scanner showed the SAME issue. The problem followed the card.
I have two SDS-100s. Each with its own 8G SD Card. One updated correctly. The second one didn't. Early on I swapped cards/scanners to see where the problem would go. Each scanner worked with the 'good card'. Each scanner acted the same with the 'bad card'. Not (SD) contacts.

When in Mass Storage, the computer is looking at the SD card. In Serial mode the computer is looking at the scanner and not SD card, I believe.

I think that is correct. When I get this error, I do not get the prompt on the scanner to select which I want. I do see a port under ports, but I do not believe the device driver is loaded so it can't connect to Sentinel. At that point, it is not a "drive" so the formatter doesn't work either. Move the card to an SD reader, and now you have a drive and can format it.

As I understand it, when you power the scanner down, it will write its ESN to the SD card. It is not necessary for the SD card to have an ESN to function - as in you can use an external card reader to format/clear user data/write data to an SD card, then put the card in the scanner.

I wonder where the ESN gets read from. I noticed that Sentinel found the ESN to be XXXX... on a new card. Going around in circles on all this is when I decided to power the scanner w/o the PC connection. It came up scanning! (no SD Card error). And I powered the SDS-100 off so it would write to the SD Card. NOW, I could connect to a PC w/o getting the dreaded SD Card File Error message.

 

[gmclam]

Something strange going on... But if it works

My SDS100 will get to the prompt either way...
Most of the time it's powered on when I connect it to the PC...

Because one the my SDS-100s is always connected to power and runs 24/7; I do not have a battery in it (the one I removed swelled quite significantly). So to program it, I'll plug it in to a PC first (to get power too) before powering. This lead me to the error. I did notice there is some difference in how it behaves if I have the SDS-100 powered before I plug in the USB cable (requires battery in the scanner).

Try:
- remove the battery
- plug the cable in to the PC
- power on
Does it ALWAYS give you that prompt? Yeah it has for me for years until this incident.