Nikon D90 - SD(HC) card not being detected, format impossible

Hello guys,

i do have an issue with my Nikon D90. I tried one 16GB, one 32GB SDHC card, and i can't format the card anymore inside the body.
The card is by no means being recognized as such, therefore, not being detected and useable.

I tried these things:
1) Shutter on/off
2) Battery in/out
3) Reset the D90 - serveral times
4) blowing out the SD Card slot via Rocket Blower
5) Current FW is A:1.00/B:1.00, L:1.02 - but without SD card, i can't update to B:1.01 and L:2.018
6) Tried different EN-EL3e, of course, every battery charged to 100%
7) The D90 still says via grey out format menu - that this feature isn't avialable currently


Shooting Nikon DSLRs since the D100 (2002), never had that particular issue. Are they any more things to tryout -
or is it a lost cause? Hope not.

TIA.

SDHC can be finicky.
Have you tried removing the cards from the camera and formatting them on a computer? Sometimes this helps. You may try to use a tool that entirely removes the file system from the card (Windows Partition/Disk Manager may suffice). A quick format will likely *not* get the job done; you ideally want to reset the card to a 'factory new' condition. Removing the existing file system and recreating it might do the trick. You could also remove the file system and then feed the card into the camera in the hope that the camera will re-create the file system.
Don't hesitate to try a third card.

I never liked SD very much because it's more prone than CF to data corruption. I've run into this several times despite having owned very few devices with SD cards. I suppose things have improved over time, but I'm still wary of SD as a result of earlier experiences. With CF, the worst failures I've had were one or two corrupted images, but never a lost card or anything like it - despite having shot thousands upon thousands of images on the same handful of cards over the best part of 2 decades.

I don't have any older SD cards, might buy a ordinary, old Class 10 SD 16GB card again. Card was being formatted with Windows, of course, quick format - it's just FAT32. I would try another SD card.

Honestly, i never had issues with CF all the decades, only 2 cards (one from Sandisk, other was a NoName)
failed me since 2002, ever. I like CF much more, because the memory is more robust, than SD cards.

Are the cards unlocked?

Bushcat said:

Are the cards unlocked?

Click to expand...

Of course - it's the 1st thing i ever check before insert an SD card into one of my cameras.
Perhaps the SD Card slot is damaged? Maybe ? The D90 does look mint, works perfectly fine otherwise -
low shutter count...it's a pity. I don't want to trash a like new looking D90 otherwise, only it's old - doesn't mean,
it doesn't take great pictures anymore.

Yashica said:

Card was being formatted with Windows, of course, quick format - it's just FAT32.

Click to expand...

OK, try remove the file system, create a new one, and do a full format (slow, not quick). Quick format only recreates the FAT system.

Yashica said:

The D90 does look mint

Click to expand...

Oh, is this a camera you acquired recently? Maybe you've encountered the reason why it found its way into your hands...?

koraks said:

OK, try remove the file system, create a new one, and do a full format (slow, not quick). Quick format only recreates the FAT system.



Oh, is this a camera you acquired recently? Maybe you've encountered the reason why it found its way into your hands...?

Click to expand...

I would try it. Nope, i did buy a second D700 like new, for (very) little money, and just a bit over 55k clicks. This is the D90. I own my original D700 since 2010.

I am getting old. I shuffled my D90's, have two of them. Sorry, it's still not working, D90 #1 does have the dreaded aperture gear damaged, so it doesn't record anything, but does AF, SD cards, any of them works. D90 #2 does focus and everything fine - except for the SD card slot...this seems to be damaged, electronically, mechanically it does work fine. But neither, no SD card ever is being detected, since the last time, being used that...some 2 years ago...how could that happen?