Significant Problems With External SD Card

[davidw]

I don't know if this is typical of the S95 Telos or just my unit...

But ever since it arrived, I have had real troubles trying to use the external SD card slot. I seem to get the best results using a 4GB card. But there are still occasional issues even with that. And 4GB is too small to be of any real use. I have tried 16 and 32GB cards what work fine in other Android devices and Windows. But put them into this Telos and all hell breaks loose. Programs trying to write to them hang. Cards don't mount correctly sometimes and then the card cannot even be accessed. Pull the card out and stick it back into Windows and it immediately is detected as corrupted - requiring a chkdsk or a re-format.

I have tried formatting the cards with exFAT and FAT32. Seems like both should work and sometimes both do. In /system/bin there is a fsck module for exFAT but none for FAT32 (there is one for plain old FAT - msdos). Aleha's TWRP for this device doesn't seem to like exFAT so that is a problem for me as I need to put backups there.

Am I alone in this? Thanks

[trebor]

Have you tried using SD Formatter. to format cards
Windows can be slow in reading/writing SD cards when first inserted, also use the eject option in windows to be sure when finished writing to card.
Are you using Full Size or TF type in an Adapter I hate those adapters with a passion.

Suggestion to try a USB to SD card reader if not already,may help
Cheers

[davidw]

Interesting. I have been using SD cards (full size and micro) for years now with Android devices including Samsung phone and a Minix Neo X5. I have never had these sorts of problems. In this case, I am using a micro in an adapter but this is nothing new for me. I always use the correct safely remove mechanism in Windows and have tested all the cards vigorously with 2 different 3rd party utilities for that purpose only. I always avoid quick formats and I always follow any format with a chkdsk /f /r to ensure that any bad areas are detected and marked as such before any write attempts are made. Again, I have no idea if this is a problem with just my unit or if it is wide spread with this device model. In either case, this has not been helping my sanity any :-)

[trebor]

Well as you appear to be on top of it, wish you well hope you can get it resolved,
I had issues when unit was first released would not read SD or TF well, now all is normal
Cheers

[davidw]

Can I ask what size SD you are using and which firmware seems to have done the trick for you? Thanks

[trebor]

8 and 32Gb Samsung, 32 mainly,
I just went thru the updates as they arrived I think I have the dual boot loader, loads OpenElec and Linux etc from SD..

[davidw]

Thanks. So you are not running the Android firmware? I am not familiar yet with OpenElec and what it does. I was planning on running a chrooted Linux from an image stored on my external SD card simultaneously with Android. This has worked well for me in the past on my Neo X5. I mostly use it for running my home automation system (Heyu) on the TV box (which is often underutilized). But, of course, with so many external SD issues, I just cannot get there on this device.

[trebor]

Some Observations on SD card reader:

http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/s905/tronsmart-ac/firmware-roms-tools-at/564159-openelec-for-tronsmart-vega-s95?p=586767#post586767

[davidw]

I had read some similar things in other places. Never experienced anything like this trouble with my Minix Neo X5 or any of my several phones. I have concluded that the hardware or the kernel is the source of the problem. I have given up on this thing, filed an issue with PayPal for Geekbuying, and am sending it back to China. Too bad! Thanks

[prahjister]

Trebor gave good advise with sd formatter tool. I believe windows does some non standard stuff when formatting. These boxes are picky with brands as well. Some brands work better then others

[davidw]

I actually tried several format tools - including the one built into the device's Android. I tried several formats: FAT32 and exFAT. I ran several test programs to ensure there was nothing wrong with the SD. The 32G was a Sandisk card. Same exact card, purchased at the same time, as the ones in my Neo and Note3. This same card was used without issues for years in my Note 1 phone. No problems anywhere else but here. Perhaps some work when this one will not. But this level of finickiness is just way too much for a device at this price point and supposed quality. If they cannot even get SD cards right you have to wonder what else is not going to work right. Thanks