64GB SD card says it only is 4GB

[WinnerZ]

I just got a new phone and a 64 GB SD card. It worked perfectly fine for the first two months, but recently I tried putting music on it again and something weird happened. For some reason it said that my memory card was full and that it is only a 4GB memorg card when it most definitely is not. I can't install anymore apps and it won't let me move my apps to the SD card because it is "full"(there is at least 30 GB free). I haven't found anything else about this problem and it is extremely frustrating. I have a Virgin Mobile Supreme and a sandisk ultra sd card.

 

[pierrerock]

What is the phone ?

 

[ttcboy]

Seems like u got fake SD card. Which means that they flash the 4GB card to look like 64GB card. Follow this article and test the card out http://rmprepusb.blogspot.sg/2013/10/a-faster-test-for-fake-sd-cards-and-usb.html .

If you buy from store, u should have the warranty and should ask for replacement immediately.

 

[Santanu_Saha]

You will check the SD card in another phone that is it show 64 GB on that phone? If it displays the same 64 GB, scan the SD card immediately may be some virus have in it.

 

[Pr3di]

You can try to connect your SD card to your PC, make a backup of it, and run a format.
After the format, regardless of what size you have displayed on it, try and copy one or multiple large files to it, that exceed the 4 Gb limit.

If you manage to do it, the card should actually be 64 Gb. If not, it`s a fake 4 Gb card.

 

[pierrerock]

Can your phone handle 64 GB or SD memory ? because most don't. What is the make and model of your phone.

 

[WinnerZ]

My phone is the Virgin Mobile Supreme( or ZTE Supreme) and it says that it can support 64 GB. I do know for a fact that it is a real 64 gig because i had at least 30-34 gigs of stuff on it before this happened.

It having a virus may be the real solution, though I don't know how. How would i check that or fix it? I do have an antivirus app on my phone but it hasn't picked up anything.

 

[jock1092]

scan it for a virus and check the formmating on a pc as it may be formatteded at fat32 which would limit the size to 4gb

 

[christinebcw]

Some Windows PCs will only format a FAT32 device at 4Gb. They can read greater-than capacities, but they can't format FAT32 larger than 4Gb.

 

[WinnerZ]

Christine, your answer sounds about right. I do have an older PC(it still uses windows vista because my dad doesn't understand upgrading) however how do I change back my SD card? It also won't let me download music from my PC because it states there's "not enough space"

 

[christinebcw]

WZ, groan... IF in fact the card has been reformatted on some Windows PC to FAT32, then it's now got a 4Gb limit.

Macs will merrily format FAT32 to the 128Gb limit. (I'm not sure what the world is going to do with 256Gb USB sticks, by the way!)

If you know someone with a Mac, then you can get them to reformat it, AND the Windows machines can READ and SAVE files onto it afterwards.

Your next option is to get Linux LIVE BOOT CD and let a PC boot up into a "Live Trial Linux", and then let this Live Trial Linux "PC" do the FAT32 formatting. (This does NOT install Linux - you're only 'testing it', running your PC's CPU, memory, video and USB functions from that booting CD.)

Ubuntu offers you a way to download its "ISO" installation disk that your Windows PC can burn onto a (DVD or CD - I forget which). Then, I can boot up with that CD/DVD and select "Run Live Linux" from there.

There's probably a better way around all of this, but I've got a spare Mac that has saved my cards a time or two.

(By the way, there is an earlier comment about the possibility of a "fake" chip. Sadly, that IS a possibility as well. I'd take it to some shop - even like an OfficeDepot or OfficeMax, Staples - that also have Macs and see if they can read it - and maybe format it! Wheeeee)

 

[ttcboy]

U can try re-formatting it from ur phone as well

-From the homescreen press Menu > Settings
-Scroll to SD & Phone Storage.
-As you can see the Format SD card option is grayed out, don't panic.
-Tap on Unmount SD card and validate
-Tap on Format SD and follow the on-screen procedure.

 

[Eastinoyon3]

Try this 64GB SD card on another phone or computer and check whether it has the same problem. If it shows the same stuffs, you indeed get a fake one. Remember this lesson and choose another one with the guidance of experts.
But, if it shows completely differently on another computer or phone, it could be the problem of your phone. Just fix it immediately.

 

[WinnerZ]

Again, I know for a fact it is not fake as it has over 4 gigs of stuff on it which is why it won't let me add anything. Christine, that souns like the best solution, I will try that out.

 

[WinnerZ]

Also, my phone does not have a formatting option, just an erase everything option. Is that the same thing?

 

[christinebcw]

WZ, go visit some Office store - any retailer that has Macs on display, and ask some clerk if he'd mind checking that card for you. (You might not mention, ahem, that you didn't buy it there... in fact, if you let him THINK you bought it there, well, that'd be a dirty trick BUT if you could get him to slide it into a Mac and view the contents, you'd have a good answer.)

By the way - is there anything on it that can't be replaced? That you need to retrieve? If not, I might use your phone's ERASE option and see what happens. ERASE may also include some format function.

 

[jock1092]

just quick note if you havent fixed thgis yet you can always format on windows and choose the NTFS option
just right click on the sd card icon, select format and the then the "fat32" box will have a drop down arrow to choose file system
the select the capacity drop down and go full <or formaty as ntfs and re format as full size