Almost regardless of device, there are means through which storage can be improved. For mobile devices, as well as smaller devices like digital cameras, the best way to expand storage is through the use of an SD card.
These simple little cards might not seem like much but they have the ability to upgrade storage exponentially. There are a few best practices to keep in mind when using an SD card on a regular basis.
Always Use a Reader
One of the first things to do is always use an SD card reader. Whether it be for personal or business use, having an SD card reader will come in handy at one point or another. Don’t just directly connect your device to your computer, even though it may feel like it is convenient and easy.
Data transfer speeds are far slower when you skip over using an SD card reader. Not only that, a reader is far less likely to corrupt data along the way. Card readers are simple, easy to find, and will save you a lot of hassle in the long run. Don’t cut corners when an SD card reader can make life easier.
Always Have a Backup
One of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to data storage is not backing things up. Having a backup will leave you prepared for anything, at any time. We have all gone through the nightmare of having a device compromised only to find out that there is no recent backup from which to work off of.
Whenever using SD cards, make sure that you have a recent backup. It might not be perfectly recent, but it will ensure that the data stored on your SD card is at least close. This way, you won’t have to go through the process of finding old files that could otherwise have bene pulled up immediately while using a backup.
Read/Write to a Card at Least Once a Year
Anyone who uses SD cards on a semi regular basis probably has more than a few at their disposal. It is all too easy to have an SD card or two that have gone unused for a while. While it might not seem like a big deal, it can wind up leading to corruption and loss of that card.
Try to remember to read/write to a card at least once per years. Cards that are left inactive for too long will be far more prone to data loss and corruption. Even though those old cards might not have relevant files on them, it is never fun to lose a perfectly good data storage card that could have otherwise been used again.
Don’t Format on the Computer
A common mistake that SD card users make is when formatting. For instance, having an SD card for a digital camera, it might seem like the best move is to format it on your computer. As it turns out, that can be a huge mistake, one that leads to the corruption or loss of data entirely.
Take the time to format your card on the device you are using. It is just as easy to do and will wind up saving a lot of trouble in the end. Many users don’t know to do this, assuming that memory cards are the same as disk drives in just about any way. But that’s not true and best practices for one are not best practices for the other. This is one of those simple-to-do things that can save you an SD card and a lot of hassle in the process.
