SD Cards.  

Hi to all members,


Is there any type of information that maybe on a SD card that windows 10 cannot read. ? Can it read SD cards that hold map information, streets, roads etc?

Hope someone can help. Opel Astra.

Hi Thanks for the reply. How will I know if Windows 10 will read the SD card. I am not familiar with these types of card. I want to know what information it contains. Thanks Opel Astra.

OPEL ASTRA said:

Hi Thanks for the reply. How will I know if Windows 10 will read the SD card. I am not familiar with these types of card. I want to know what information it contains. Thanks Opel Astra.

You will almost certainly be able to read the files on an SD card. Like a USB stick it will be partitioned and most likely formatted as Fat32 (or exFAT if larger than 32GB). I routinely put the SD from my camera in the PC to copy my photos from it. Windows sees it as just another removable drive, much the same as a usb stick.

However, judging by your user name this particular SD card holds navigation maps for an Opel Astra's satnav. While you almost certainly can see and copy the files on the SD card, you will not be able to make use of the map data, it will be in a format specifically for the satnav. There's no software to display the maps on a PC.

Hi Bree,

Will I be able to tell if there are any files on the card. I understand that I will not be able to see maps, I just want to know if the card contains files pertaining to the Sat Nav system. Do you know what type of software is need to view the maps?

OPEL ASTRA said:

Will I be able to tell if there are any files on the card. I understand that I will not be able to see maps, I just want to know if the card contains files pertaining to the Sat Nav system. Do you know what type of software is need to view the maps?

As a precaution, write-protect it before putting it into a PC reader. If it's a standard SD card it has a write protect slider. If it's a micro SD card, put it in an full size SD adapter that has a write protect slider.


SD card - Wikipedia

Windows will create a hidden System Volume Information folder on any writeable SD card or USB stick that's inserted into the PC. You should then be able to safely view what files on the SD card.

I know of no software for a PC that can display the maps for a car's satnav.

I have a Clarion radio/GPS nav system. Its maps are stored on an 8GB micro SD card. (Micro SD appears to be functionally the same as SD, but physically smaller.) It may be possible to copy the contents, but the card has somehow been specialized so that it cannot be copied and have the copy function with the nav system. Too bad; 8GB is too small these days.

Hi Bree,

The computer did indeed read the SD card, It opened up with a screen containing 5 items 3 files and 2 other items. I am not sure what they represent. These are the first 3 files in order. cfg.(file folder) data(file folder). dnl(file folder) . Then, info. (Text Document.1KB) then lastly . medium cfg. (CFG File 1KB) I opened the info Text Document. it then showed me a bunch of information. Interestingly one heading was Sprachen. brt.english. brz.portuguese. lat.spanish. arabic. Another listing was D.T title, Australia, New Zealand. There were many other listings that I am not sure what they represent. Do you think that the card is still readable and that it probably contains maps . Your insight would be much appreciated.