Welcome to addlink Support

Memory Cards & Flash Drives

Why is the actual storage capacity of the product slightly less than the volume written on the product specification?

All storage products will display a less memory capacity on a computer than stated. The discrepancy is resulted from the way flash memory and hard drive manufacturers calculate the megabyte of memory.
Hard drive manufacturers calculate a megabyte (or 1,000x1,000 bytes) as 1,000KBs, when in fact the correct calculation is 1,024KBs. So, for a 8GB storage device, Windows will calculate it as having a capacity around 7.2GB. In addition, addlink will save partial memory capacity for firmware, software applications, data storage and maintenance.



Why do I get a "The disk is write-protected" message when I transfer files to my SD card?

SOLUTION 1 - Unlock the memory card.
There is a Lock switch on the left side of the SD card. Make sure the Lock switch is slid up (unlock position). You will not be able to modify or delete the contents on the memory card if it is locked.
SOLUTION 2 - Toggle the lock switch.
If the lock switch is loose and moves easily It is likely the switch is sliding to the locked position as the card is placed in your host device. In this case the card will need to be replaced.



What should I do if I cannot delete or format my SD/SDHC card due to write protection?

Please make sure that the write protection switch is on the correct position. If the problem still exists, please kindly take the product with the receipt back to the original retailer and ask for a repair or replacement service.



Why can't my digital camera use a higher capacity flash card?

Please contact the manufacturer of your digital camera to verify its maximum supported capacity.



How come the files in my memory card are corrupted?

There are two main reasons for data corruption in a memory card.
Taking pictures or recording with a camera that is running low on batteries, or has an unstable power supply.
Removing the memory card from a device during a read/write operation. Please make sure that you have safely ejected your memory card before unplugging it from your device.
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Also, please remember to format your memory card in the camera before using.



How many number of pictures can I store in my card or device?

The following assumptions were made to calculate the number of images per card:
MP = 1,000,000 pixels
1MB = 1,000,000 bytes, 1GB = 1,000MB
TIFF image has 24 bit color depth, one of 16,777,216 colors per pixel
JPEG 100% Quality = Visually lossless JPEG compression with 1:10 ratio of RAW image
Photos - Compressed (JPEG 100% quality) Images per card.
NOTE: JPEG is the most common file format for consumer cameras.



My card reader is not being detected, how do I troubleshoot?

SOLUTION 1 - Verify if minimum system requirement is met.
addling card readers support Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2000 SP4, Windows 7.
NOTE: No additional drivers need to be downloaded for the card readers as they are native to the above mentioned supported operating systems. SOLUTION 2 - Verify the reader's status under Device Manager. STEP 1 - Connect the reader to the PC
NOTE: It is recommended that you plug your card reader to the back USB port on your PC to ensure that there is enough power from the USB port for the card reader to be detected properly. STEP 2 - Check under Device Manager
1. Right-click My Computer.
2. Select Manage.
3. On the left pane, click Device Manager.
NOTE: The card reader will appear in two places: Disk Drives and Universal Serial Bus controls as USB Mass Storage. If there is a yellow exclamation point (!) or question mark (?) next to the device, try to refresh the drivers. STEP 3 - Refresh the drivers
1. Right-click the entry with the error mark, select Uninstall.
2. On the top menu, click Action, and then click Scan for hardware changes. STEP 4 - Verify if the reader is detected
1. Double-click My Computer.
2. Look for the card reader under Devices with removable storage. SOLUTION 3 - Try other USB ports.
A yellow exclamation point (!) under Device Manager usually means that the device is not receiving enough power. If the reader is not receiving ample amount of power from the USB port, it may not function properly. SOLUTION 4 - Change the drive letters
NOTE: The SDDR-89, SDDR-189, SDDR-289 reader should show 4 drive letters under My Computer.



What the differences between speed ratings and speed class?

Rated Speed (e.g. 15MB/s, 30MB/s, etc.) is maximum speed of the card and also what you would expect to approximately see in typical usage of writing or reading files on the card. This measurement is pertinent to still photography, especially for taking pictures with high resolution and/or saving in RAW format where the files created are very large. The faster the card, the faster it can save the file and be ready to take another picture. You can really notice speed differences with high-megapixel DSLR cameras when using multi-shot burst mode. Still digital images shot on high-megapixel cameras should utilize fast data throughput (a large data pipe), higher speed cards for improved performance. Higher speed cards can also improve how fast you can transfer the files to and from the card and your computer. Speed Class is a minimum speed based on a worst case scenario test. The Speed Class is important for video mode or camcorders, where the device is actually saving a steady stream of data. The resolution and format of the video determines the amount of steady stream data. This translates to a minimum speed you need to guarantee that the video captured on the cards is recorded at an even, sustained rate with no dropped frames (which would result in lost data and choppy playback). Compared to high-megapixel photography, video doesn't need as big a data pipe because the video format is a smaller "fixed stream" that uses only a portion of the data pipe. But you do need a minimum guaranteed speed for the SDHC card that satisfies the requirement of the data stream. Your camera's specifications should state the minimum SDHC Class Rating required. Using a card without the proper class rating on a more advanced camera, such as a high-definition (HD) camcorder or Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera with HD video record settings is likely to result in an error message indicating that video can only be recorded at a lower definition setting.



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What is USB3.1 and USB Type-C?

What is USB 3.1?
USB 3.1 is a new standard defined by USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum).
- USB 3.1 Gen1 (SuperSpeed): merely a renaming of USB 3.0 (theoretical bandwidth of up to 5Gbit/s)
- USB 3.1 Gen2 (SuperSpeedPlus): an impact on the transfer speeds (double the theoretical bandwidth of up to 10Gbit/s) What is USB Type-C?
(1) USB Type-C is a new connector type introduced by USB-IF in the USB Type-C Specification 1.0.
(2) The Type-C connector is a reversible plug-and-play connector for USB devices.
(3) USB Type-C can be applied to the host device, the USB device and cables. How do I know my host device has a USB 3.1 port?
- Please refer to the below connector table to check the USB port of your platform.
For further confirmation, please check the specifications of your host device or seek for the technical support from your host device manufacturer. Can I upgrade to USB 3.1 e.g. by using adapters?
- Yes, you can upgrade your device to USB3.1 Gen1 / Gen2 by an supported add-on card. Is USB 3.1 the same as Type-C?
- No, USB 3.1 is the USB specification, whereas Type-C is merely a USB connector type. Does USB 3.1 always come with Type-C connector?
- There are three types of connectors that comply with USB 3.1, including Type-A (Standard-A), Type-B (Standard-B / Micro-B) and Type-C. Please refer to the below connector table for more information.



Why is the actual storage capacity of the product slightly less than the volume written on the product specification?

All storage products will display a less memory capacity on a computer than stated. The discrepancy is resulted from the way flash memory and hard drive manufacturers calculate the megabyte of memory.
Hard drive manufacturers calculate a megabyte (or 1,000x1,000 bytes) as 1,000KBs, when in fact the correct calculation is 1,024KBs. So, for a 8GB storage device, Windows will calculate it as having a capacity around 7.2GB. In addition, addlink will save partial memory capacity for firmware, software applications, data storage and maintenance.



Why can't I transfer a 4GB or larger file to my USB flash drive or memory card?

This is due to FAT32 limitation. Files larger than 4GB can NOT be stored on a FAT32 volume. Formatting the flash drive as exFAT or NTFS will resolve this issue. WARNING: Backup your data. Formatting will delete all the data in your device.
SOLUTION 1 - Format in exFAT
exFAT file system that allows a single file larger than 4GB to be stored on the device. This file system is also compatible with Mac.
Windows 7 and Mac OS 10.6.6 and higher are compatible with exFAT out of the box. Older operating systems may need a patch installed for exFAT compatibility. NOTE: exFAT file system is NOT compatible with some host devices such as TV, game systems, older operating systems, car stereos etc. Formatting a drive in exFAT
1. Double-click on My Computer.
2. Right-click on the flash drive or memory card, then select Format.
3. In the File System list, click exFAT.
4. Click Start.
5. Click OK to start formatting.
SOLUTION 2 - Format in NTFS WARNING:
Formatting the device as NTFS will make it unwriteable on a Mac computer. Most Mac computers can read NTFS, but not write.
NTFS is a journaled file system, this creates more read/write activities. Therefore, it MAY decrease life expectancy of your device.
Once the device is formatted as NTFS, you MUST use "Safely Remove Hardware" to remove your device. STEP 1 - Optimize the flash drive for performance
1. Plug in the device to the PC.
2. Open The Computer Management Console
a) Windows 8
b) Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
3. On the Left side select Device Manager
4. On the right side expand Disk Drives
5. Right-click on the flash drive, then select Properties.
6. Click the Policy tab.
7. Select Optimize for performance, then click OK. STEP 2 - Format the flash drive
1. Double-click My Computer.
2. Right-click on the flash drive, then select Format.
3. In the File system list, click NTFS.
4. Click Start.
5. Click OK to start formatting.



How do I fix a Write Protect error?

Write protection errors occur when a flash drive detects a potential fault within itself. The drive will go into write-protected mode to prevent data loss. There is no method to fix this. To verify the issue is related to the flash drive and not your computer we recommend that you try plugging the USB drive into another port on your computer. You should also try the drive on another computer if possible. Note: If using a company computer, ensure your IT department does not block saving files to removable drives.



Why can't my USB drive be recognized by TVs, DVD players or car audio systems?

Here are the system requirements for USB drive:
-Desktops or laptops with working USB Ports
-Microsoft Windows 2000
-Microsoft Windows XP
-Microsoft Windows Vista
-Microsoft Windows 7
-Microsoft Windows 8
-Mac OS 9.0 or later
-Linux Kernel 2.4.2 or later
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We cannot guarantee normal function of USB drive on non-computer environments. Some devices might not accept NTFS file system, so you may want to check with your media device manufacturer for more information and further support.



How to remove computer viruses from my USB drive?

All computer viruses including stored files will be erased after USB drive is formatted. If the computer virus continues to be rewritten to the USB drive, we would recommend you to scan your computer with a virus scanner. Remove the virus once it is found. To format the USB drive:
Right click on the removable storage device in "My Computer", select "Format," and then click the "Start" button. After the formatting process is completed, please disconnect and then reconnect your USB drive to restore it's functionality.



How to prevent files from being damaged or lost from the USB drive?

addlink suggests that you:
Connecting your USB drive to the rear USB ports of your computer. Try to avoid using an USB hub or an extension cable.
Do not use several USB devices at the same time to avoid any possibility of insufficient power supply.
Making sure that you execute the "Safely Remove Hardware" option before disconnecting the USB drive from your computer.



Why will I get an error message, "Confirm Stream Loss," when data is written to my USB drive?​

When you transfer data stored in a NTFS disk partition to a USB drive that was formatted FAT or FAT32, Windows will prompt a "Confirm Stream Loss" error message. This error message is caused by the "Thumbs.db" file, which is generated by Windows when the partition is NTFS. This issue will not damage the data stored in the USB drive. By deleting the "Thumbs.db" file before transferring data to the flash drive, the error message will be eliminated.
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Note: "Thumbs.db" is a hidden file. To display this file in Windows, please go to "Tool" > "Folder Options" > "View." Under "Hidden files and folders," select "Show hidden files and folders."



Why can my USB Drive work on other computers, but not mine?

If the USB drive can work normally on some platforms, but not on yours, then the problem probably lies on your computer system. You may want to try the following steps to solve this problem:
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If you had previously installed any USB driver for other device, please remove it first. Have your computer entered safe mode before removing all the unknown devices (Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus Controllers). Restart your computer in normal mode, and then reconnect the USB drive.
If the above steps cannot solve your problem, please upgrade the BIOS settings, and make sure that the USB setting is enabled. Please follow the procedures: enter BIOS > Load Optimized Defaults [Y] > Integrated Peripherals > USB Legacy support [Enable] > Save & Exit Setup [Y].
Reinstall the USB driver on your computer motherboard.
Update the BIOS for your motherboard.



When can I safely remove the USB drive from my computer?

Never remove the USB from a computer when its LED is flashing. A flashing LED signifies that data is still being transferred. Removing the USB during data transmission may cause data loss and/or USB damage. Select the JetFlash hardware icon on the system tray to safely remove your USB.



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