SD Card for ResMed S9

[perrennial]

I am getting errors messages from my SD card when I reinsert it back into my S9. Can I replace the SD card with one from the store or does it specifically need to come from my DME?

Pamela

[Pugsy]

You can use a generic SD card. Doesn't have to be name brand.

But you might run into the same problem if your issues are what I think they might be.
What is the error message saying?

If it says "invalid SD card" and the only choice it lets you do is "erase the card" it may be that your computer is writing a little file to the SD card and the S9 machines will spit out the SD card if there is anything on the SD card that it doesn't like.
Mac computer and Windows 8.0 and 8.1 have been known to add a little file and the S9 won't take the SD card.
The solution is to slide the write protect tab so that the SD card is in read only mode and then the computer can't mess with the SD card.

[perrennial]

Pugs[/quote]

If it says "invalid SD card" and the only choice it lets you do is "erase the card" it may be that your computer is writing a little file to the SD card and the S9 machines will spit out the SD card if there is anything on the SD card that it doesn't like.
Mac computer and Windows 8.0 and 8.1 have been known to add a little file and the S9 won't take the SD card.
The solution is to slide the write protect tab so that the SD card is in read only mode and then the computer can't mess with the SD card.

That is the error message I am getting. And I have a Windows 8.1 lappy. I am going to try to reformat it and put it in my S9. I will make sure to remember to put the car in read mode only when I upload my info into Sleepyhead and ResScan.

Thank you so much for your help.

Man you're fast!

[robysue]

I am getting errors messages from my SD card when I reinsert it back into my S9. Can I replace the SD card with one from the store or does it specifically need to come from my DME?

Pamela

First, any SD card should work. But an SDHC card might not work. And plain SD cards are getting harder and harder to find.

Next: Are you getting the error after you download your data into either SleepyHead or ResScan? And if so, are you using a Windows 8.1 machine or a Macintosh by chance?

For most people, moving the lock switch on the SD card to the Lock position prevents the operating system from writing anything to the card while it is in your computer, and this will keep the S9 from saying that there's a problem with the SD card. The SD card is LOCKED when the little plastic slider on the side of the card is moved AWAY from the edge of the card with the metal contacts.

However, there are a few people who have reported that their Windows 8.1 machine continues to write hidden system files to the SD card even when the SD card is locked. The problem seems to be that not all SD card readers have the necessary physical "switch" inside to detect the SD card lock tab's position. To determine whether your computer's SD card reader won't recognize a locked card, insert a LOCKED SD card into the slot and then try to save a file or folder to the card. If you can do that, then the Window 8.1 operating system will continue to write hidden system files to SD card regardless of whether the card is locked. In this case, the easiest work around seems to be to buy a USB SD card reader and use that when you want to download your data.

[palerider]

The solution is to slide the write protect tab so that the SD card is in read only mode and then the computer can't mess with the SD card.

to complicated matters, we've found that a few sd card readers ignore that lock tab

most honor it, but I've got at least one here that doesn't.

[perrennial]

Pugsy wrote:
Next: Are you getting the error after you download your data into either SleepyHead or ResScan? And if so, are you using a Windows 8.1 machine or a Macintosh by chance?

It could be either software, I've not tried it out one at a time but I may if I am still having difficulty. I am using Windows 8.1.

I reformatted the SD card...duhhh, I got the error again. Of coarse I did...I reformatted with my Windows 8.1. I answered yes to erasing it. Took the SD card out of the S9 and reinserted it and no error message.

For most people, moving the lock switch on the SD card to the Lock position prevents the operating system from writing anything to the card while it is in your computer, and this will keep the S9 from saying that there's a problem with the SD card. The SD card is LOCKED when the little plastic slider on the side of the card is moved AWAY from the edge of the card with the metal contacts.

When I tried to reformat the SD card, I was told it could not reformat because the card was locked. It reformatted after I unlocked it.

However, there are a few people who have reported that their Windows 8.1 machine continues to write hidden system files to the SD card even when the SD card is locked. The problem seems to be that not all SD card readers have the necessary physical "switch" inside to detect the SD card lock tab's position. To determine whether your computer's SD card reader won't recognize a locked card, insert a LOCKED SD card into the slot and then try to save a file or folder to the card. If you can do that, then the Window 8.1 operating system will continue to write hidden system files to SD card regardless of whether the card is locked. In this case, the easiest work around seems to be to buy a USB SD card reader and use that when you want to download your data.

I already use a USB SD card reader. I will check the rest out in the morning. If I still have the problem I will look into getting a different card reader. I will also make sure I lock it before putting it into the card reader.

Again, many thanks Pugsy.

[archangle]

First, any SD card should work. But an SDHC card might not work. And plain SD cards are getting harder and harder to find.

I've tried 4 or 5 different SDHC cards in S9 and PRS1 machines and all have worked.


--------

Preventing Windows 8.1 from corrupting S9 data cards.

Windows 8.1 writes some data on SD cards when you insert them into the PC, even if you don't write any data to the card. This causes S9 machines to reject the card.

This link details how to prevent Windows 8.1 from writing this "search" data to the SD card. (In theory, that is. I have not verified this yet.)

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 3f5?page=2

The relevant info is:

"Try adding DWORD value DisableRemovableDriveIndexing = 1 in "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Policies/Microsoft/Windows/Windows Search" in the registry and restarting the PC"

This does require you to edit the registry, which is a fairly technical thing to do. Be careful whenever you edit the registry.

The article mentions using the group policy editor to change this setting. The group policy editor is not available on home editions of Windows. (Shame on you, Microsoft!)

[JDS74]

I suspect the on the cards that still write even with the lock switch in locked position that the card is defective. The lock switch is a sliding electrical contact that should either make (write enable) or open (write disable) the circuit on the card that allows writing to the card. If that switch fails, writing is allowed and changing card readers won't help.

[palerider]

The relevant info is:

"Try adding DWORD value DisableRemovableDriveIndexing = 1 in "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Policies/Microsoft/Windows/Windows Search" in the registry and restarting the PC"

This does require you to edit the registry, which is a fairly technical thing to do. Be careful whenever you edit the registry.

windows folks could come up with a .reg file that other windows people could download and run to edit their registry without having to get into regedit.

<- not a windows guy.

[CoastalSun]

I am having the same issue: twice in the last two months. The latest was yesterday - I haven't checked the date for a few weeks but wanted to see if there were changes since I have switched over from a nasal mask to a pillow type.
I definitely locked the card before I put it in my Mac book. Unlocked it to put the card back into ResMed S9 Elite. A message came up that it didn't recognize the card. So I reformatted.
I am positive that both times this has happened, I locked the card before downloading. (I have a note on the reader to remind me to lock! ha ha) A few weeks after the first time I had to reformat, I took my card into DME but the tech couldn't download the information on to her PC.
After reading this thread, I am wondering if the problem is with my external card reader and the card lock isn't working properly, allowing a file to be written to my SD ResMed card.
What to do?
Buy a new card reader?
Buy a new SD card?
Or buy both?

[StuUnderPressure]

First, any SD card should work. But an SDHC card might not work. And plain SD cards are getting harder and harder to find.

I've tried 4 or 5 different SDHC cards in S9 and PRS1 machines and all have worked.

I use a Class 10 SDHC Card in 1 of my S9 AutoSets - also with no problems whatsoever. Only use it because I caught a sale where it was cheaper than a plain SD Card.

However, there is no reason to pay extra for the SDHC card when a plain vanilla SD card will do (if you can still find one).

The SD cards that come with the S9 AutoSet were originally only 1 GB capacity, but the newer S9 AutoSet seems to now come with a 2 GB capacity.

Apparently even ResMed can't get their hands on the 1 GB any more.

No matter how limited the capacity, you will never run out of space.
ResMed automatically deletes data in such a fashion that you will use only a small portion of even the 1 GB capacity.

[Craig-Tx]

I suspect the on the cards that still write even with the lock switch in locked position that the card is defective. The lock switch is a sliding electrical contact that should either make (write enable) or open (write disable) the circuit on the card that allows writing to the card. If that switch fails, writing is allowed and changing card readers won't help.

Actually the lock is simply a sliding piece of plastic. It is not a switch. The reader is *supposed* to honor the placement of that plastic, and if the reader sees it in the "lock" position, it is supposed to prevent writing to the card. See this for a picture. [/http://www.electronics-lab.com/blog/?p=2620]

I'll show my age a bit here. This is exactly how old floppy disks worked. Cassettes and VHS tapes had a similar concept. If you broke off a little tab, you couldn't record to them.

[palerider]

After reading this thread, I am wondering if the problem is with my external card reader and the card lock isn't working properly, allowing a file to be written to my SD ResMed card.
What to do?
Buy a new card reader?
Buy a new SD card?
Or buy both?

some card readers don't pay attention to the lock slider (it's just a chunk of plastic that moves)

lock your sd card, stick it in your reader, try and save a file to it, if it works, your reader doesn't care about the lock slider, (I've got at least one usb sd reader that doesn't... it doesn't have the little switch on the side that's needed for that.)

in that event, the answer is to go buy one that does, fortunately, they're pretty cheap.

[archangle]

some card readers don't pay attention to the lock slider (it's just a chunk of plastic that moves)

I wonder if these rogue card readers are due to companies cheating to save on the cost of a switch or just making a design error. Or for that matter whether it's just a broken switch on a few card readers, not a flaw with that particular design.

[palerider]

some card readers don't pay attention to the lock slider (it's just a chunk of plastic that moves)

I wonder if these rogue card readers are due to companies cheating to save on the cost of a switch or just making a design error. Or for that matter whether it's just a broken switch on a few card readers, not a flaw with that particular design.

could be both, i know one of mine doesn't have the switch, you can see it on the left of the slot... on one, no switch, on most, switch.

and, like anything tiny and mechanical, it could get a bit of cruft in there and not make contact when it should, and thus, no lock.