SDS100/SDS200: Using sentinel the first time. Have a question and a SD card that’s locked up.

[banjo5stringleon]

When programming your sds100 with Sentinel. How do you know which MARCS-IP you are to use. On some counties it gives you three to choose from.

I’m a newbie and trying to learn the programming.

I had something happened to my SD card. I believe I loaded to much info when I was loading MARCS-IP. When I noticed that sentinel was taking a long time to load the scanner. It was to late. I canceled the loading and my sds100 now just gives me a readout SD card file error. Use sentinel “Clear User Data” operation to initialize SD card.

Whenever I hook back up to sentinel it will not go back into the data base on the scanner as it should. It’s locked in and gives that read out every time.

I don’t know how to fix the problem. I did back up everything I had before I messed up programing MARC-IP on the scanner. And now hooking back up to sentinel or just turning on the scanner I get that read out every time. It is locked on that. Plus when I go to shut off the scanner it takes longer than usual to shut down.

I did buy a new sd card reader and an extra card just in case. I’d hate to loose the data on the card if I have to reformat. But I do have all of the programming that came on the scanner that was done from the pro’s, knowing I needed there help. Any suggestions from anyone on how to unlock the screen? Would be appreciated. Thanks. And still a Newbie.

 

[W1KNE]

I think your SD card has gone corrupt. You should never cancel in the middle of a read write, you risk that happening.

As far as which sites within a county, with the SDS, you're good to have all the sites within a county in. It'll scan them all, and pretty fast too.

 

[StoliRaz]

If you have everything backed up and have another microSD card, why not program the 2nd card with your backup and as long as that looks good try to format your original card, if it works you have it back plus a spare backup card already programmed.

 

[banjo5stringleon]

Thanks WIKNE,
I thought my canceling the write to the card, and after words now that you say you should never cancel during a write, I realize now that probably is the issue. Thanks.

 

[banjo5stringleon]

If you have everything backed up and have another microSD card, why not program the 2nd card with your backup and as long as that looks good try to format your original card, if it works you have it back plus a spare backup card already programmed.

That's a good idea to download to the new card, and then work with the card that is not working. Thanks for your input

 

[ofd8001]

Just for the heck of it, I'd try reformatting the "bad" card, do a clear user data, then write to scanner. Might not work, but just might.

 

[banjo5stringleon]

ofd8001
I looked into using Clear User Data. But my knowledge of using that, at this time I don't understand how to use it. I'm thinking like what someone else suggested. Is to download to the new card and see how that works. If everything is good, then work with the bad card. Which I will reformat the card and taking your advice. I'm still learning sentinel and the scanner. You know, a newbie. Thanks for your input.

 

[hiegtx]

ofd8001
I looked into using Clear User Data. But my knowledge of using that, at this time I don't understand how to use it. I'm thinking like what someone else suggested. Is to download to the new card and see how that works. If everything is good, then work with the bad card. Which I will reformat the card and taking your advice. I'm still learning sentinel and the scanner. You know, a newbie. Thanks for your input.

If you want to format the old card, after you're back up & running with a new card, use the SD Card formatter which can be found here. For best results, use the "Full (Overwrite)" option.

 

[banjo5stringleon]

hiegtx
Thanks for the link to the SD card formatter

 

[ofd8001]

ofd8001
I looked into using Clear User Data. But my knowledge of using that, at this time I don't understand how to use it. I'm thinking like what someone else suggested. Is to download to the new card and see how that works. If everything is good, then work with the bad card. Which I will reformat the card and taking your advice. I'm still learning sentinel and the scanner. You know, a newbie. Thanks for your input.

"Clear User Data" is like making a removable computer disk bootable - it places certain system files needed by the scanner to function, on the new/reformatted SD card. Yeah it can be scary at first. Just think back to childhood and learning how to tie your shoes. For me it was difficult at first, but once I mastered it, never think about it.

Copying one SD card to another is okay, but if the source has errors, you will put them on the target card.

Here are the steps to set up a new SD card, or renovate an older one:

1. Put the card in a card reader. Note the associated drive letter found in Windows Explorer. (Scanner will work as a "card reader", but it goes slower)
2. Use the SD Formatter - the one mentioned above.
3. Start Sentinel
4. Go To Scanner>Clear User Data
5. In the Pop-up window that opens, check the Display all drives box near the bottom.
6. Choose the Drive letter you noted in step 1. (It probably will be highlighted already)
7. Click OK,respond OK when you get the confirmation pop-up
7. Click OK with the next window opens which says "All information in your scanner will be erase if you proceed"
8. Click OK when the finished window opens
9. Go back to Scanner>Write to Scanner
10. Click the "Erase Favorites Lists on Scanner" and "Force Write Full Database" boxes then click OK
11. Click OK when you get the confirmation pop-up
12. Click OK when you get the Finished pop-up window.
13. Unmount/Eject the SD card using Windows Explorer.
14. Remove the SD card and put it in the scanner and you are ready to go.

I have yet to see someone come back and post "I tried to do this, but just can't".

 

[banjo5stringleon]

ofd8001
I appreciate the steps you need to take to make an SD card work. I’m not very experienced in computers or scanner. The steps you take that you wrote down sounds easy to follow. I’m waiting on my new SD card which according to Amazon should be here Sunday. I will follow what you posted. I’m a newbie and I would always listen to both the sds100 and 200 together. I miss hearing the 100 signals coming in. Thanks for your time in posting the directions.

 

[ofd8001]

You can try the card that came with the scanner. You might find reformatting it clears the problem. In nothing else, it will give you some practice.

 

[banjo5stringleon]

Yeah I understand the practice. So for now it’s a wait and see. I did order as well as the new SD card a card reader. I talked with my brother in law who is our computer expert in the family but not on scanners. He did say the SD card reader I ordered should work just fine. Who new tying shoe strings would come this far. When I was a kid tying my hoodie that came with my coat was hard to do. I remember the teacher working with me to be able to tie my hoodie.🤔🙂