HDD GURU FORUMS

Hi there,

Have here a weird 32GB microSD HC card that works almost like a healthy one, quickly answering to commands, and also cloning at a normal speed. However, when cloning its only ouputs FF values.

The client explained me that the pictures suddenly were non more readable in her camera and confirmed me that the card had not been reformated.

fdisk -l :

Code:

Disk /dev/sde: 29.1 GiB, 31272206336 bytes, 61078528 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

hdparm -I /dev/sde

Code:

/dev/sde:

Unknown device type:
   bits 15&14 of general configuration word 0 both set to 1.


As we can see, the card properly answers to fdisk -l but not not to hdparm -I.
Can someone tell more about the "general configuration word" mentioned for the unknown device type?

"hdparm -I" sends an ATA Identify Device command to a PATA/SATA drive and expects a 512-byte response (aka "passport"). The first word of this response is the "general configuration word". If bit 15 = 0, then the device is an ATA device. If bit 15 = 1, then the device is ATAPI. Bit 14 is reserved (?), so I expect that it should be 0.

In short, this is the wrong command to be sending to an SD card, if I understand correctly.

bits 15&14 of general configuration word 0 both set to 1 = only ouputs FF values.

Firmware / translator issue?

"hdparm -I" sends an ATA Identify Device command to a PATA/SATA drive and expects a 512-byte response (aka "passport"). The first word of this response is the "general configuration word". If bit 15 = 0, then the device is an ATA device. If bit 15 = 1, then the device is ATAPI. Bit 14 is reserved (?), so I expect that it should be 0.

In short, this is the wrong command to be sending to an SD card, if I understand correctly.

This is correct. I am using hdparm so often to identify hard drives, that I missed checking the documentation.
It remains for SATA/IDE: https://linux.die.net/man/8/hdparm
Interesting to notice that CompactFlash cards support IDE/ATA command protocol.

As for SD cards, they do use SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface).

Firmware / translator issue?

I also assume so.
The card as viewed by HxD editor is also full of FF.

Try via NAND protocol. Maybe translator is damaged or erased.