Solved Possible to save to a memory card rather than a memory stick ?

[Arcadian]

Completely new to this so apologies if barking up the wrong tree .... !

Rather than buying a 32 gb memory stick to upload some important jpg pictures into for safety's sake, I'm wondering if it's possible to upload and store them in a spare and unused 32gb memory card that I've got lying around instead ? Equally if it's then possible to download them safely later on ?

Thanks

 

[whs]

Short answer is Yes. An SD card is very similar to a flash drive as far as the technology goes and can be used like an SD card for storing files. I would format it Fat32. And you can download (Copy) the files from the card at any time.

 

[strollin]

You will need an SD card reader/writer to be able to access the card.

 

[whs]

You will need an SD card reader/writer to be able to access the card.

LOL, that's a good one.

 

[strollin]

You will need an SD card reader/writer to be able to access the card.

LOL, that's a good one.

Why is it a good one?

The OP stated he is new to this. If he asked a question that is obvious to you or I, it's also possible that it isn't obvious to him that he needs an SD card reader as well. Not to mention that if he has an older card reader, it may not handle 32GB cards.

It's also possible that he phrased his question incorrectly and really meant to ask "How can I copy my pictures to a spare 32GB memory card?".

 

[Arcadian]

Thanks you're right I'd never heard of an SD Card reader before but then this is the first time the situation's ever cropped up. Afraid the words SD and flash drive are still meaningless too, most likely because somewhere along the line having started out with the word memory "sticks" to begin with I've since got mixed up with the word memory "cards". I've seen the words Fat 32 now and again though but still no idea what it means either so right on the button I think with "How can I copy my pictures to a spare 32GB memory card?" !

Anyway Googled Images card reader and immediately saw there was a usb attached so no problems....

Many thanks again for all your kind helps

 

[whs]

If we are talking about the laptop in your profile, that does not have a card reader. But a USB reader like this one is not expensive. And it works well. My wife uses one of those on an Asus T100.

 

[jumanji]

But be aware that Flash drives and memory cards - and for that matter any solid state memory - have the lowest shelf life for data storage.

Data is stored as charges which get depleted gradually and eventually the data may get lost. So you cannot store data and forget it.

On a good brand memory card the data retention period may be say three years. You need to refresh the data periodically, meaning you have to copy the data elsewhere and rewrite it again into the flash memory thus replenishing the lost charges.

If you fail to do that, data dropout will start and eventually after seven to ten years, you may find no data in it at all.

 

[Arcadian]

Thanks for the tip. I've still got my old XP so will download an extra copy into that to be on the safe side....

 

[strollin]

Since Arcadian is in the UK, here is a link to an SD card reader from Amazon UK that should work for him: Integral SD (Secure Digital) Single Slot Reader: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

 

[AddRAM]

Is it wrong for 99% of us here to think that when an OP ask a question, that they have some clue of what they`re talking about ?

I mean seriously, is it wrong ????

This has nothing to do with you Arcadian

I`m glad to know we have an Arcadian in the bunch (d)

 

[WizardOfBoz]

Just to fill in some blanks: By "memory card" I take it you mean the type of cards that are inside your computer (that is RAM, or Random Access Memory), you should know that this is called volatile memory. VRAM, though the V is almost always left off. You computer applies voltages that set specific bits to 1 or 0 in the RAM, and supplies a separate constant voltage that allows the RAM to maintain those settings. As long as that constant power source is supplied, your bits remain in RAM. Turn the computer off, the power goes away, and the information in RAM goes away. So a memory card can't be used to store stuff once it's been removed, unless you write your shopping list on it with a Sharpie pen.

Thumb drives and things like SD cards and solid state drives are made of what is called "non-volatile RAM". NVRAM. In these, a voltage is applied to set a bit, and through technical wizardry of some sort, that bit is maintained in memory, even after you remove the thumb drive from the USB port, or the SD card from the SD card reader, or the SSD from the computer.

As Jumanji points out, NVRAM isn't completely non-volatile. After several years, there can be significant loss of data integrity. So, for convenience and frequent use, an SD card or thumb drive is great. For zippy system performance, an SSD is great. But for critical files (and emotionally important files, like pics of family and friends and such), you are still better off putting things on a hard (spinning platter) drive, or a CD or DVD. There is even tape backup. The article below suggests as many formats as your machine can handle. Copying the files to your XP hard drive is smart.

The TV character Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory) has a "Mortal Enemies List" that he supposedly started in 1982, and that has been stored on a 5 1/4" floppy disk since then. In one episode, he felt the need to update that list, and found that the floppy had been corrupted. The point is, whatever you save your picture files on today will become obsolete. Make sure you make verified copies to new technology as it arises.

Backing up digital photos | Ask Jack | Technology | The Guardian
CD, DVD or SD: what's best for backups? | Ask Jack | Technology | The Guardian

 

[Arcadian]

Wow ! You've lost me completely lol but thanks a lot anyway ! No by memory "cards" I meant what I think is called the card reader mentioned by "strollin" in his last post of all. And by memory "sticks" the long flattened tube shaped plastic items that go into the usb ports....comes of being born a non-techie no question !

 

[WizardOfBoz]

Ok, here's a bit of homework: Look up SD cards, and micro and mini SD cards, and tell your search engine to show you pictures. There are other formats, but these are typically called memory cards.

The usb port thingies are typically called thumb drives; USB flash drives; USB keys; jump drives or rarely pen drives. Google em, ask for pics, fix these in your mind.

The phrase memory stick is almost alway used to refer to internal memory. Google SODIMM and ask for a pic for an example. Memory stick is never (in my experience) used to refer to thumb drives.

You are asking about using SD cards or flash drives. These are both non-volatile memory. They may even have similar chips they use to story information. This is NVRAM. If you have a USB flash drive, and its big enough, you can store your pics on there (but back them up in other formats). If your camera uses SD or other memory cards, it's cheap enough to buy a card reader that plugs into your computer's USB ports. The SD (or other) card is another NVRAM device, same advice as above.

By the second or third post, it IS incumbent on you to do your homework to ensure you understand the lingo. So, along with AddRAM, I'm glad you're here. Keep asking questions. But hold up your end: do your homework. A computer with an internet connection is a powerful thing.

 

[AddRAM]

I`m sorry to say Wizard, but we call thumb drives, sticks, all the time around here.

I`m sure Arcadian knows exactly what he`s talking about

 

[WizardOfBoz]

AddRAM,

I thought that this must just be a Devon, UK thing. It seems that it extends a far west as Jersey (New Jersey!) but not Philly. Or at least 40 miles W of Philly, where I live. Sitll, if you Google "Flash Drive Synonyms", wiktionary uses [FONT=&quot]USB flash drive, USB key, jump drive, thumb drive, and pen drive - but no "memory stick" or "stick drive". [/FONT]

Every mention I've ever heard of memory sticks has been SODIMM or some other form of RAM. I guess it doesn't matter, except that the OP expressed a bit of confusion. And using an ambiguous term may be a barrier to communication. As long as he knows that he can use a flash drive (or a stick, if you will), or can buy a cheap SD card reader and used SD (or with adapter, the smaller forms), for his pic files (and that he should back them up as many other places as possible), I guess his purpose is served.

Some oddly shaped USB Flash drives are shown below, including ones that can be truly called thumb and stick drives.

Wiz

 

[AddRAM]

By "Around here" I meant the forum, not NJ

You are being way too literal

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain !!!

 

[WizardOfBoz]

You are being way too literal

Well, in my defense, I AM an engineer.

I will make an effort to pick up the local lingo, though.

Have a nice weekend, and a nice Easter or Passover if you celebrate one or the other.