Empty 64 GB MicroSD card reduced to 32 GB Space available when empty?

j814wong

Senior Member
Apr 11, 2012
123
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0
I have a Sandisk 64Gb MicroSDHC card. I've been using it for sometime on Android and. I've used Android to format it but never to partition it. I've also used Android to wipe data on the card. I've formatted it varous times again on Ubuntu.


The card was working fine but today, I decided to format and clear all the data on it. Much to my dismay, after when plugging in the card and formatting it, Windows read it to have only 27.8 GB space even though it was empty. Ubuntu also showed 27.48 GB only.

I've not much problems with the card on Android and Ubuntu but today, this serious problem occured. Just how does a 64GB card reduce to 27.48GB? I've formatted the card to FAT32 and EXT4 multiple times to no avail with GParted.

Previously, some time ago, I've formatted the card to FAT32 and because the computer, I forgot if it was Windows or Ubuntu and because the computer read it as having 30GB space, named the card 32GB Volume or something like that (The name has long since changed to one of my choosing). However, Ubuntu still read the card as having 64GB of space and filling it up with more than 30GB worked just fine.

What happened? How do I resolve this? I need the card to work on both Ubuntu and Android.

This is my card. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005V7WIA2 Based on reviews alone, it seems to be very good quality. I've used the card on Ubuntu, and Motorola Defy (Android), and the Motorola Xoom (Also Android). Both Android and Ubuntu have worked with the card just fine except for one thing Occasionally, when copying files to or from the card, I get an error message. Sorry but I don't recall what the message said.

Also, sorry for this mess of a post. I'll try to reword it once I have the time or overcome my exaggerated grief for this unexpected tragedy.
 

alfavictor

Senior Member
Dec 12, 2012
75
9
0
Just how does a 64GB card reduce to 27.48GB?

Use h2testw and check if it might be fake (i.e. actually 32 GB, but re-programmed and re-labeled to say 64 GB).

I got delivery of a new 32 GB thumb drive an hour back and am running the test as I type this. Makes sense to test out all new flash memory purchases as soon as you get them. Lots of fakes going around.

If at all yours turns out to be fake, then you're lucky you got a 32 GB, and not a 2 GB! Hope yours is not such a case!
 

j814wong

Senior Member
Apr 11, 2012
123
8
0
Use h2testw and check if it might be fake (i.e. actually 32 GB, but re-programmed and re-labeled to say 64 GB).

I got delivery of a new 32 GB thumb drive an hour back and am running the test as I type this. Makes sense to test out all new flash memory purchases as soon as you get them. Lots of fakes going around.

If at all yours turns out to be fake, then you're lucky you got a 32 GB, and not a 2 GB! Hope yours is not such a case!
I bought it from Amazon not Amazon Used or Amazon Marketplace. Oh well, I'll still check it out with that program you suggested.