"Could not find FAT16/FAT32 partition" - after attempt to format by SD-formatter

Other Hardware Storage
1

I try to format a microSD 16 GB Kingston (SDHC), using Formatter software from SD Association
:

I am on Win7 64, a USB thumb card reader (checked: it is labeled "SD/SDHC/MMC").

I use both options of the Formatter (on and off). The Formatter only runs in Quick format mode (others said "not supported).

The formatting action ends successfully stating "FAT32"

I took out the microSD and put it in the Arduino module . This one:

I mounted the module on Arduino UNO R3, along with a temperature sensor and put the SD in. The SD card is supposed to serve as data logger for the temperature sensor.

I run the test scketch bellow (CS is on pin 8 on my board).

The result is:

"Initialization SD card...wiring is correct and a card is present
Cardtype SD2
Could not find FAT16/FAT32 partition
Make sure you've formatted the card"

I run the Windows 7 format command. Same result.

The card is new, not used in any other device.

I do not post schematics because the SD test said it is correct.

===

Question:

My hypothesis is that the format program formats the SD as an SD, and not as a SDHC, for unknown reasons. Then, when the Arduino attempts reading it it turns to a conflictual situation: it is declared an SD, but physically is an SDHC.

I did a google search but it returns a bunch of SD cards basic formatting operation - not useful in my case.

What could be wrong in my routine above to format the SD?

Thank you very much!

2 
/*
  SD card test 
   
 This example shows how use the utility libraries on which the'
 SD library is based in order to get info about your SD card.
 Very useful for testing a card when you're not sure whether its working or not.
    
 The circuit:
  * SD card attached to SPI bus as follows:
 ** MOSI - pin 11 on Arduino Uno/Duemilanove/Diecimila
 ** MISO - pin 12 on Arduino Uno/Duemilanove/Diecimila
 ** CLK - pin 13 on Arduino Uno/Duemilanove/Diecimila
 ** CS - depends on your SD card shield or module. 
       Pin 4 used here for consistency with other Arduino examples

 
 created  28 Mar 2011
 by Limor Fried 
 modified 9 Apr 2012
 by Tom Igoe

 2015: included SPI.h and made SPI bus idle.
 */

#include <SPI.h>

// include the SD library:
#include <SD.h>

// set up variables using the SD utility library functions:
Sd2Card card;
SdVolume volume;
SdFile root;

// change this to match your SD shield or module;
// Arduino Ethernet shield: pin 4
// Adafruit SD shields and modules: pin 10
// Sparkfun SD shield: pin 8
const int chipSelect = 8;    

void setup()
{
  // Open serial communications and wait for port to open:
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println("\nCardInfo sketch");
  
  while (!Serial) {
    ; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for Leonardo only
  }
  
  // Disable all slave selects on the SPI bus, and set 'SS' to output.
  // The Ethernet Shield uses pin 4 and 10.
  // The 'SS' is pin 10 for Uno and pin 53 for Mega.
  // But disable them all, even if SS is also pin 10.
  // The 'SS' needs to be output, for the internal SPI hardware to work properly.
  // Disable a SPI device means setting the chip select high.
  pinMode ( SS, OUTPUT);    // pin 10 on Uno, pin 53 on Mega
  digitalWrite( SS, HIGH);

  pinMode( 8, OUTPUT);       // SD chip select at pin 4
  digitalWrite( 8, HIGH);

  pinMode( 10, OUTPUT);     // W5100 chip select at pin 10
  digitalWrite( 10, HIGH);

  // SPI bus is now idle and ready to be used.
  delay(1);    


  Serial.print("\nInitializing SD card...");
  // On the Ethernet Shield, CS is pin 4. It's set as an output by default.
  // Note that even if it's not used as the CS pin, the hardware SS pin 
  // (10 on most Arduino boards, 53 on the Mega) must be left as an output 
  // or the SD library functions will not work. 
  pinMode(10, OUTPUT);     // change this to 53 on a mega


  // we'll use the initialization code from the utility libraries
  // since we're just testing if the card is working!
  if (!card.init(SPI_HALF_SPEED, chipSelect)) {
    Serial.println("initialization failed. Things to check:");
    Serial.println("* is a card is inserted?");
    Serial.println("* Is your wiring correct?");
    Serial.println("* did you change the chipSelect pin to match your shield or module?");
    return;
  } else {
    Serial.println("Wiring is correct and a card is present."); 
  }

  // print the type of card
  Serial.print("\nCard type: ");
  switch(card.type()) {
    case SD_CARD_TYPE_SD1:
      Serial.println("SD1");
      break;
    case SD_CARD_TYPE_SD2:
      Serial.println("SD2");
      break;
    case SD_CARD_TYPE_SDHC:
      Serial.println("SDHC");
      break;
    default:
      Serial.println("Unknown");
  }

  // Now we will try to open the 'volume'/'partition' - it should be FAT16 or FAT32
  if (!volume.init(card)) {
    Serial.println("Could not find FAT16/FAT32 partition.\nMake sure you've formatted the card");
    return;
  }


  // print the type and size of the first FAT-type volume
  uint32_t volumesize;
  Serial.print("\nVolume type is FAT");
  Serial.println(volume.fatType(), DEC);
  Serial.println();
  
  volumesize = volume.blocksPerCluster();    // clusters are collections of blocks
  volumesize *= volume.clusterCount();       // we'll have a lot of clusters
  volumesize *= 512;                            // SD card blocks are always 512 bytes
  Serial.print("Volume size (bytes): ");
  Serial.println(volumesize);
  Serial.print("Volume size (Kbytes): ");
  volumesize /= 1024;
  Serial.println(volumesize);
  Serial.print("Volume size (Mbytes): ");
  volumesize /= 1024;
  Serial.println(volumesize);

  
  Serial.println("\nFiles found on the card (name, date and size in bytes): ");
  root.openRoot(volume);
  
  // list all files in the card with date and size
  root.ls(LS_R | LS_DATE | LS_SIZE);
}

void loop(void) { 
}
3

I spend 3 hours more on searching this issue (internet and forum).

No conclusive answer.

The only interesting point I found was that somebody solved this error by changing the SPI speed to 1/4 (10 MHz?). Still, the card was FAT16 in his case and up to 4 GB.

Another idea I came across is that no matter how large is the SD, ARDUINO modules can only recognize up to 4GB and therefore any SD larger than that shall be "reduced" - I do not trust to much this opinion.

Some other said there is a problem with the wires of the SD module connected to the UNO itself (not supported setup. Strange.

Some other claimed that there is a bug in the library itself. I do not know.

There are people who apparently never solved this error.

===

Would you please guys tell me whether there is a solution to this error or not?

I spent to much time on this issue of SD formatting (encountered by other people as well with no solution reported).

If there is no solution, I guess it is time for me to give up SD entirely and look for EEPROM or FRAM instead.

Thank you!

4

You could try the SDfat.h library also instead of SD.h.
It is better maintained.

Check your 3.3V supply, many Arduinos cannot supply enough current at 3.3V for an uSD/SD card.

5

It is a 5V SD module (I guess it has a sort of internal converter).

I will try the SDfat - thanks!

6

Thanks @Crossroads!

No chance. SFFat requires at least IDE 1.6.0.

I am running IDE 1.0.6. I cant install newer versions, because they need Java 8. That I cannt install because of... and the story goes on.

The breakout would be to write my own code to manage the SD, but I guess it is to complicated for a beginner.

I rather try EEPROM (I only need to log GPS data).

7

I changed the microSd 32 GB by a 2 GB Standard SD.

The test confirmed access and reads all files from the SD card. It is an FAT16 (SD2- according to the notation in the test above).

It then turns that there is a problem in reading SDHC cards. My hypothesis:
a) the library is to old to work with SDHC and/or the IDE can not handle this (IDE 1.0.6 - very old)
b) the clock frequency should be reduced to deal with SD HC
c) there is a supplementary command to declare some sort of partitions on SDHC.

Next, I am going to test the hypothesis a) by using another computer, running IDE 1.8.0 and Adafruit SD library.

The hyphothesis b) and c) I cannot test. If you guys have some ideas about these 2 hyphotesis I will highely appreciate.

And I guess a lot of other people encountering the similar problem.

1 Like
8

Try the SDFat.h library that member fat16lib maintains instead.

9

Thanks CrossRoads!

SDFatlib requires at least IDE 1.6.0. which I cant install on my PC because it needs Java 8. Which I cant install.

I will test SDFatlib when I will go to another PC.

10

SD card Adapter need 5V supply.

Change your supply from 3.3 to 5. It works for me!

1 Like