S2 Memory Card Error Card Locked!

[Lone Ranger]

I am currently getting an error that says "Memory Card Error" and "Card Locked" when I put my S2IS in playback mode. I've searched around and have seens this problem alot. Is there a known fix, or firmware update to solve it? I have a 2 GB Patriot High Speed SD card.

Better yet, is there a way that I can reformat it from within the S2? No options seem are available form the menus, record or playback. I don't currently have a card reader to try the reformat.

I tried searching Canon's site, but to no avail. Thats pretty low.

[nwyman]

usually, if I get this message, it's because the little white lock tab on the memory card has slid into the locked position. But I've never used the brand you mention.

[waussie]

There is format and low level format options, did you see those in the menu?

[Lone Ranger]

The format option is blacked out. It cannot be accessed. Is there a "backdoor" way to get it to achieve this?

[waussie]

Not that I know of, just a thought is card in correctly? I doubt formatting for windows on puter will do it. :(

[b00ty]

there should be a tiny switch on the card itself, sounds like it got moved to "locked" or "Read-only" something rather. That is there to protect the card if you had valuable data and accidentally tried to write over or erase anything on there.

[spur]

I just tested it in my S3. The little slide on the side of the card will cause the camera to say "Card Locked" and Format will be blacked out but it does not say "Memory Card Error". Try that and see if the Format option lights up.

[Lone Ranger]

Yah, I've tried messing with the lock on the card, just in case it was stuck. I put the card in question in my other camera and it functions fine. I am convinced the S2 corrupted the card and it needs to be reformatted. I bought a card reader, it will be here in a few days. I hope doing an external format will cure the problem, but it seems doubtful. :(

I will update this post when I find out.

[waussie]

I put the card in question in my other camera and it functions fine. I am convinced the S2 corrupted the card and it needs to be reformatted. :(

I will update this post when I find out.

Wait a minute!
If the card works in the other camera how can the card be corrupted?
Assuming other cards work in the S2 than the camera is OK.
Some kind of incompatability between the card and the S2?

[thesupe87]

This is happening on my a610 - i suspect that it's inside the camera, the little mechanical piece that reads what position the lock tab is in on the sd card. Did you ever figure yours out? I'm about to toss this useless camera against a brick wall - not 1 of my 3 fully functional memory cards are working in it right now. :evil:

[dreamz_z5]

Hi,

I was wondering if either of you were able to figure out the problem with the "memory card error-card locked!" on canon powershot a610? I would really appreciate it if you got back to me about it!

I have the same problem and I can't afford another camera. Its been over a year, so its past warranty . Please help.

Thanks!!

[Jon]

Look in the card slot - there may be a small bit sticking out over where the card's locking switch would fit when the card's inserted.

[mcc]

I have a Canon Powershot A610 and am unable to format my 2G Memory card. I'm getting the same error message as the others. I've tried formatting with the slide in both locked and unlocked positions. I was able to format a 512 MB card. Does anyone have any idea what the problem may be. Thanks.

[Lone Ranger]

I've found using Sandisk brand SD cards have cleared up my issues. I think some of the cheaper cards aren't seen correctly by the Canon flash controller. It stinks, because Sandisk cards generally cost more, but since purchasing it, I've had no issues.

[Jon]

I have a Canon Powershot A610 and am unable to format my 2G Memory card. I'm getting the same error message as the others. I've tried formatting with the slide in both locked and unlocked positions. I was able to format a 512 MB card. Does anyone have any idea what the problem may be. Thanks.See my post above - the problem may be in the card slot, not the card.

[brantfordbandit]

u get what u pay for with sd cards, did u format it in the camera the first time u used it.

[gmavromichalis]

I too have had the same problem with card error - I now know why and this may explain your problems. If you look at the metallic strips on the car that are showing you will see that they separated by plastic into 9 strips.
If the plastic strip in between the segments is damaged or partly torn away then you will get this error.

I got it and noticed that one part of the card plastic was stretching over the metallic gap and the card reader was not able to read it. After straigthening the plastic and inserting it carefully back in I was able to get the card to be read downloaded onto the HDD and coopied ontop another card.

Thank goodness - otherwise there went 1000 photos.

Hope this is of some help.

[sssteveg]

I have a similar but different problem. While shooting with my S3 IS I got a "memory card error" and then a "memory full" message. The lock switch is free and clear and a different card works fine in the camera. Now the situation is the following: 1. In shooting mode, I get a "memory card full" message; 2. In viewing mode, I get a "no image" message; 3. connected to the computer, I can't download anything off the card. Help!!

I have tried a recovery utility with no success. I have about 300 pictures on this card which I would like to see. Does anybody have a suggestion?

[Jon]

"Connected to the computer" how? The camera connected to the computer, or are you using a card reader?

[sssteveg]

I've tried both ways. When I connect the camera using a canon utility, it recognizes the camera but doesn't show any images. When I use a card reader, it doesn't even recognize the card.

[Jon]

What make card, and what recovery utility did you try? There are many out there, some better than others.

[sssteveg]

The name on the card is "HCOM". Type is "SD". Size 1GB.

As for the recovery program, I searched the net and found one that gave the possibility of installing an evaluation version to find out if it could salvage any data from the card before purchasing it. It's called "card recovery" and its website is "www.cardrecovery.com". It didn't succeed in recovering any data so at least I didn't waste $30 buying it.

[Jon]

I use RescuePro, which comes with SanDisk's higher performance cards and readers or PhotoRescue Expert (http://www.photorescue.com).

[frankiec36]

For no apparent reason, my card shows "locked". I had it in my card reader, and I wanted to delete the images, but it will not allow me to delete or format. In the camera the card is locked and all of the erase options are not available. It is a SD 1 gig card, and I've used it in my camera for a couple of years....I would appreciate some advise. I will go ahead and check all suggestions already given in this thread. FC

[alsion]

I have a Canon A650 that was displaying a "card locked!" message. First I checked the lock tab on the card itself. Then I tried an old 256 MB SD card from an older camera. I still got the "card locked" message. When I put the 1 GB card I was struggling with in my old Nikon, it read fine. So at this point I knew it was my camera and not the card. What finally worked was very gently pressing down on the metal flap inside the card chamber that detects the lock with the tip of a straightened paperclip. When I turned the camera on again the problem was gone. Hope this helps someone else out there.

[juicysen]

Just try changing memory card position as you will see on the memory card a small sliding switch along one edge so try changing its position if it works. If the switch is previously in proper position try sliding it fully the other way and then back again. If this not works then try out another card as you have not any option left.

[TheBiblemen]

I have the A610. I got a new SD card for it and it shows the card error/locked message. The format option id blanked, it work fine with my pc and the lock tab is unlocked. Any clues?

[tmwag]

Have you checked the lock tab?

[TheBiblemen]

I have the A610. I got a new SD card for it and it shows the card error/locked message. The format option id blanked, it work fine with my pc and the lock tab is unlocked. Any clues?

Never mind. I found out.I don't know about other models but the A610 cannot use SDHC cards, but only standard' SD cards up to 2 GB.

[tmwag]

GREAT! Glad you worked it out Biblemen. If you stated in your first post you were using a SDHC card...and... that you checked the lock tab (not afterward) maybe you could get a more intelligent response

[stevewf1]

Have you been using this card?

Seems like I read somewhere that the S2IS cannot use SDHC cards, only SD, but I thought SDHC cards started at a 4GB capacity...

[Jon]

Well, TheBibleman didn't actually say what the card capacity was . . .

[ChristopheN]

I had this memory card error with the Canon Powershot D10. But when we tried to read the card with our pc's or other memory card readers it didn't work out. We also tried several software programs for data recovery like eIMAGE Recovery and PhotoRescue, but none of this worked, suggesting there was some physical damage to the card. At last we contacted “Recoverfab” from Germany (http://recoverfab.com). We’ve got an answer very soon and within two days of our card mailing we received an overview of a sample of 100 of our nice pictures! We recommend Recoverfab to anyone who has the kind of problem we described above and wants to recover his data because it’s a professional company which takes its task seriously and has a fast and above all affordable service.

Regards,