Write Protected (my ass) • Non-Gaming • Photography • Eurogamer.net

Tonka 19 Oct 2012 11:46:42 31,979 posts
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My dear not too old Olympus E-PL1 has started refusing memorycards saying they are write protected (they're not, trust me)

Have any of you guys had similar problems?

CosmicFuzz 19 Oct 2012 12:17:32 32,632 posts
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Protected (my ass)

MrDigital 19 Oct 2012 12:19:44 1,885 posts
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Allow the camera to format and then see if it plays nicely

MrWorf 19 Oct 2012 12:21:07 64,187 posts
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ARSCH

MrWorf 19 Oct 2012 12:24:11 64,187 posts
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Deleted user 19 October 2012 12:27:59

What do I have to do to your ass?

Murbs 19 Oct 2012 12:38:46 25,151 posts
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Physically_Insane wrote:
What do I have to do to your ass?

Wipe protect it?

Tonka 19 Oct 2012 12:48:00 31,979 posts
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Geesh wrote:
Allow the camera to format and then see if it plays nicely

Good idea. Will try that.

mal 19 Oct 2012 13:58:29 29,326 posts
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EPL1 takes SD cards right? AFAIK write protection on SD cards comes down to the little plastic switch on the side, which I guess is probably detected with a little lever arm. Perhaps that's got stuck with some gunk?

To be honest I'm not sure the best way to clean it without taking the camera apart. Even then if I'm looking at this right the write protect arm isn't exactly accessible even with the mainboard exposed.

Tonka 19 Oct 2012 21:05:03 31,979 posts
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I wish it was something as simpe as the little plastic thingimajiggy. (Yes, it is SD cards)
Went to the only camera rapair shop where I live and they said Olympus don't allow for others to muck about in their cameras. So it's either off to Turkey or buy a new one.

Fuck.

MrDigital 19 Oct 2012 21:24:19 1,885 posts
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To Turkey! And don't just send the camera, bring yourself as well and immerse yourself in the numerous Little-Britains!

mal 19 Oct 2012 21:35:54 29,326 posts
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In which case, you may as well crack out the watchmaker's screwdrivers and get tinkering. Perhaps a little spray of contact cleaner might do the trick, if sprayed in the hole on the left of the SD card slot (with the back off the camera, of course). Failing that it may be the connection from the write protect pin (second from the left if it's like the one in the diagram I linked), although these days with multilayer PCBs replacing a broken trace is rarely possible. Still, perhaps it's just a dry joint on the SD socket terminal?

Tonka 19 Nov 2012 07:47:51 31,979 posts
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@mal How do you know so much about this stuff? Do you work with electronics? I'm a complete n00b AND have shaky hands.
But, now that I've bought a replacement I might just as well get cracking. Contact cleaner... ok.

I did do the old NES "blow" a few times with success. So I think there's some connection error with one of the "thingys" that get in contact with the "brassy looking slots" on the SD card

mal 19 Nov 2012 08:10:53 29,326 posts
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No, I've never worked in electronics, but I do own my own soldering iron. I'm just a persistent tinkerer. I think I had my Dreamcast stripped down to bits before I put my first game disc in.

I'd be surprised if it's a problem with connection to the terminals, if it's reporting the card's write protected. Skipping contacts would likely result in it not recognising there's a card inserted, or it throwing up an error (or it seizing up and acting strange, if my experience of cameras and dodgy SD cards is anything to go by). Write protect is usually detected by a little lever arm which drops into the gap left when the write protect switch is up. Either that's not dropping down physically (perhaps it's bent, or it's seized up), or the signal that it's dropped isn't making it back to the CPU, most likley due to a dodgy solder joint on the SD card slot itself.

Edit: Ah, you say you did have some success blowing into it? Possible the lever arm's not dropping by itself, but blowing into it might warm up the grease in the axle enough to make it move more freely.

Edited by mal at 08:12:42 19-11-2012

Salaman 19 Nov 2012 08:27:37 24,162 posts
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You need some elbow grease mate. Sorted my camera right out that!

Tonka 19 Nov 2012 09:41:51 31,979 posts
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Cryptic post of the week ^^^

The idea of unscrewing the back of the camera is really tickling my inner geek. Maybe I should invest in one of those cool soldering maginfying glasses with little clamps...

skuzzbag 19 Nov 2012 09:46:57 5,950 posts
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You'll need a little tool for picking up small screws.

Tonka 19 Nov 2012 10:21:21 31,979 posts
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I have a bunch of fridge magnets.

warlockuk 19 Nov 2012 10:37:39 19,519 posts
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I have one 1GB SD card that has a write protect tab that's a bit loose. Every time I plug it in there's a 80% chance the tab will move just enough to prevent writing, making it useless in a Raspberry Pi

Tonka 19 Nov 2012 10:42:33 31,979 posts
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Could you tape it open? Or use glue maybe?

I never ever used the write protection on an SD card. I wonder if anyone has.

MrDigital 14 Feb 2013 21:57:29 1,885 posts
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Did you ever solve your problem, Tonka?