Hardware A bizarre misadventure with the SD-slot of my dear DSi

[Nikokaro]

Hello everyone. I was lazily playing a dsiware game (launched via TWL++ from SD slot) on my faithful DSi and suddenly it freezes for no apparent reason. I reset the console by returning to the DSi menu, but selecting Flipnote does not detect the presence of the SD card (precisely micro SD + adapter). Even through the camera software results in the absence of the SD card. I turn off the console, remove and put back the SD card several times, reset several times, and try again, but the DSi will not read the card.
At this point I fear the worst; that the entire SD card is corrupted!
I insert it into the SD-reader and plug the latter into the PC but, to my surprise, the data is intact and everything is fine.

It immediately occurs to me that it is a contact problem in the DSi's slot, so I replace the adapter with a newer Sandisk one, insert the micro SD into it, and put it in the DSi's slot; et voila, the console magically goes back to reading the SD without any problems. For this time, happy ending.

There remains the unsolved mystery of how, without apparent cause, without having taken any knocks or jolts, the console stopped recognizing the previous adapter while recognizing this seemingly identical one with no problems. Out of curiosity, has this ever happened to any of you?

 

[r1vver]

So DSi has stopped seeing the card through one specific microSD to SD adapter?
By the way, when you tested this card on a PC via card reader, did you also use this specific adapter?
So it's only the DSi that doesn't like this specific adapter?

 

[Nikokaro]

So DSi has stopped seeing the card through one specific microSD to SD adapter?
By the way, when you tested this card on a PC via card reader, did you also use this specific adapter?
So it's only the DSi that doesn't like this specific adapter?

Yeah, the Kingston adapter was no longer being read by the DSi (but previously it was) but was being read by the SD Card Reader, then inserted into the PC.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Flimsy mirco-SD adapters. They go bad all the time. Works in one reader but not another. Doesn't work at all. Works sometimes…
To get around potential problems with bad quality adapters (which introduce another potential point of failure¹), it is a good idea to simply use full-sized SDs for devices with full-sized slot.

Please don't say it.


__________________
¹Contact problems between micro-SD and adapter, contact problems between adapter and reader.
Contact problems due to adapter not fully closed anymore (falling appart)
Problems due to adapter being more slim than a real SD.
====
Most of the time micro-SD in adapter works… until is suddenly doesn't

 

[Nikokaro]

Please don't say it.

Reaction to this vague and obscure warning:

 

[r1vver]

it is a good idea to simply use full-sized SDs

Some fancy ultra-modern full-sized SD cards nowadays look something like this inside:

 

[KleinesSinchen]

@Nikokaro
Technically such a post – picture/meme only – is against the rules.
So at least explain what this has to do with the topic. I'm too dumb, yes

I'm much too happy at the moment for an animated gif getting on my nerves.

Some fancy ultra-modern full-sized SD cards nowadays look something like this inside:

With the difference that the internal contacts will not wear because the µSD inside won't get removed normally.

 

[Nikokaro]

Technically such a post – picture/meme only – is against the rules.
So at least explain what this has to do with the topic.

1) Technically it is not only a meme, but also a quoted text;

2) What does your "don't say it" have to do with the topic? All I did was ask you for an explanation of that expression in an indirect and funny way (for everyone, not for you).

 

[KleinesSinchen]

2) What does your "don't say it" have to do with the topic?

Was I too cryptic? Dang it! Hard to find the balance. It was not for trying to take your thread off-topic!

It fits here, but not only here. Experience: Whenever I give you an advise or a possible solution, there is a high probability you will answer it with: "I don't have […] and can't do that."
My advise here is:

"Just use full-sized SDs to have one possible point of failure less." and I feared something like: "I don't have a full-sized SD and/or a reader for them"
A little frustration about your lack of interest in getting your hands on a proper Windows or Linux machine, which would make things a lot more easier in many cases.
Again: Not a joke, if I was near you, I'd give you a old but usable computer just to solve that problem (most of that stuff didn't cost me a penny).

But don't take my "Please don't say it." too seriously. Maybe it was just a side-product of the rare instance of feeling overwhelmingly well and happy. I don't know. Maybe I post some kind of bizarre humor because of this?

 

[JuanMena]

Might be either faulty SD Adapter or faulty DSi contacts.

Blow into the DSi SD Card Slot and try again. If it works it's just dirty contacts.

If not, try damping a smooth toothbrush with a bit of alcohol (not water! nor soap!) and wipe the DSi SD Card Slot. If it works it was just dirty contacts.

If not, try opening your DSi to visually find the cause of the problem, i.e. desoldered joints/points.
After this step it's obvious what's wrong and how to fix.

Alternatively, clean your SD Card Adapter, that's where the miniSD slot is (with toothbrush+alcohol) and the outer card's pins... sometimes oil might prevent proper contact, and by oil I mean fingerprints.

 

[Nikokaro]

Not a joke, if I was near you, I'd give you a old but usable computer just to solve that problem (most of that stuff didn't cost me a penny).

The fact that I do not buy a new or used but more modern PC is not because I cannot afford it, but because I have no interest in it. I already use it at work unwillingly and almost nauseously, let alone at home: life and time are too precious to throw them away like that.
Have I made myself clear? Thank you anyway for the thought and the kind offer.

 

[r1vver]

I have only one guess:
It is possible that this specific DSi slot is more tighter/stronger/springly and (or otherwise) warps or tilts the slim body of the adapter and interconnecting conductors inside of adapter (they are very thin). So there is a contact disruption - for example, one of the pins has loosened its seat and has become more loose than before. But this specific PC card reader slot is softer, it doesn't spring as much, and so the reading of card is going fine.

With the difference that the internal contacts will not wear because the µSD inside won't get removed normally.

That's if the manufacturer is generous with the material and coating of the contacts. Or you might come across a more flawed 'hello contacts oxidation' version.

 

[Nikokaro]

@JuanBaNaNa , thanks for the advice, but maybe you didn't read the whole opening post. I solved the problem by replacing the Kingston adapter with a Sandisk one (evidently of higher quality).

Post automatically merged: Jan 18, 2023

I have only one guess:
It is possible that this specific DSi slot is more tighter/stronger/springly and (or otherwise) warps or tilts the slim body of the adapter and interconnecting conductors inside of adapter (they are very thin). So there is a contact disruption - for example, one of the pins has loosened its seat and has become more loose than before. But this specific PC card reader slot is softer, it doesn't spring as much, and so the reading of card is going fine.

Bravo. Well said. I too surmised such an explanation.

 

[JuanMena]

@JuanBaNaNa , thanks for the advice, but maybe you didn't read the whole opening post. I solved the problem by replacing the Kingston adapter with a Sandisk one (evidently of higher quality).

Post automatically merged: Jan 18, 2023

Bravo. Well said. I too surmised such an explanation.

Sorry, tend to write as I think.
Yes, according to the last part of your origin post, I have a Kingston adapter that kinda refuses to live or die.

 

[CoolMe]

Yea, i can also attend to the notion that sd card adapters most of the time they break start malfunctioning easily. The locking slider no longer registers it's unlocked, which can be mistaken for micro sd card going read-only (and is dying). Contact issues, works this time and not again soon after Etc.
So always keep a few close when you start having issues with one..

 

[AncientBoi]

Might be either faulty SD Adapter or faulty DSi contacts.

Blow into the DSi SD Card Slot and try again. If it works it's just dirty contacts.

If not, try damping a smooth toothbrush with a bit of alcohol (not water! nor soap!) and wipe the DSi SD Card Slot. If it works it was just dirty contacts.

If not, try opening your DSi to visually find the cause of the problem, i.e. desoldered joints/points.
After this step it's obvious what's wrong and how to fix.

Alternatively, clean your SD Card Adapter, that's where the miniSD slot is (with toothbrush+alcohol) and the outer card's pins... sometimes oil might prevent proper contact, and by oil I mean fingerprints.

Not to mention the SD Card's pins. [whatever they call them]