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Hey, I've had my Evo for a couple weeks now, and have recently started experiencing an issue that has been since happened quite frequently - the SD card will randomly appear empty, and I won't be able to add files to it. The only way to get around this, it seems, is to reboot the phone.
At first I thought my MicroSD card that came with the phone was defective, so I got Best Buy to exchange it today, but it just started happening again! My phone is rooted and running the latest RvU ROM, if that could have anything to do with it. Does anyone have any help, or is this just a hardware problem? (If it is, I'll just exchanged the phone at Best Buy, since I'm within my 30 days.)
Thanks!
vonStemmington said:
Hey, I've had my Evo for a couple weeks now, and have recently started experiencing an issue that has been since happened quite frequently - the SD card will randomly appear empty, and I won't be able to add files to it. The only way to get around this, it seems, is to reboot the phone.
At first I thought my MicroSD card that came with the phone was defective, so I got Best Buy to exchange it today, but it just started happening again! My phone is rooted and running the latest RvU ROM, if that could have anything to do with it. Does anyone have any help, or is this just a hardware problem? (If it is, I'll just exchanged the phone at Best Buy, since I'm within my 30 days.)
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing for me. I tried Baked Snack and now Fresh 0.5.3, both have the same issue. Rebooting seems to work for a short time, but it always fails when I'm using programs that access the SD a lot such as the Gallery app or the Camera. As long as I stay clear of those it seems to hold up a bit longer, but I've had it fail while using Astro File Manager too.
When I was running The latest stock OTA I had no issues. I posted a similar question in the threads for both ROM's with no response yet. Because of that, I was beginning to think I had a bad card too.
I don't want to go back to stock. I just can't understand why this keeps happening.
Glad to know I'm not the only one.. I just wish there was some resolution to this.
I contacted HTC and they said it wasn't a known issue with the phone, so they said I should go to Best Buy and exchange it. So maybe our SD slots are just defective?
I have this problem too. It empties every day it seems and I need to reformat the SD card just to get it working again. It erases all my pictures and video and is very frustrating.
It seems to happen most often when I am taking a picture or going into Gallery, but has happened in other instances as well.
I hope HTC releases a solution that addresses this.
Also, it tells me in the notification bar that the SD card is damaged or unsupported file type or something along those lines.
And for the record, I am running a stock Evo.
i welcome u guys to my world.i been having the problem since day one tried everything and nothing worked.fully rooted,new radio,tried few roms,formated SD card,put in a new SD card and still that random SD failure.i reboot about 3-4 times a day and its really irritating.im afraid i might brake my evo one day or jus claim for a new one.
GHOST99K said:
im afraid i might brake my evo one day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is how I feel
I'm tempted now to go back to stock and verify, but I never had a single issue on my phone until it was rooted. However, it's possible that the problem was there and I didn't encounter it.
If I take that step and find that it is still an issue on the stock OTA, I will most likely try to get the card replaced or have the phone if it persists after a new card.
It's very inconvenient and makes the camera pretty unreliable. Plus I am a field tech, and I store .pdf's on the card for different devices. If the SD is frakked I can't be sure I can get to important paperwork in the field.
It's not the SD card.I have already reformated the SD and even put a new 16gb SD card but same issue everyday.
Sent from beneath the earth using XDA App
It's definitely not the SD card. I've formatted it, gone to Best Buy and had the SD card replaced, and used a different SD card.
It could be the ROMs we're using, but I've got a serious problem with this phone if using a rooted ROM does this.. And few other people are experiencing the problem. That leads me to believe it's a hardware defect.
My suggestion jus get your phone exchanged ASAP.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Yeah.. I've contacted Best Buy and they'll let me know when they get their next order in
Unfortunately I am am outside my 30 day exchange period so I cannot do that.
Well, I hate to break it to you guys, but custom ROMs is not the issue. I am stock and have had my phone since launch morning (June 4) and today, for the first time, my SD card contents disappeared. I was changing wallpaper when the default wallpaper kept coming up as the wallpaper. Note that the when selecting a wallpaper, the gallery showed all my images (cached?) but when I went to Gallery, nothing was there. I pulled the battery to reboot and now the SD card contents are back.
I had the same thing happen with me. I've also experienced other strange things related to the card. When hooking the phone up to my macbook, sometimes files copy and sometimes they don't (to the card). I was thinking it was an app corrupting the card. I've tried large files (100-200mb) and small files (like apks or old video game console roms). It seems that when data is going to the card very aggressively, it doesn't wasn't to copy. What I mean by aggressive is like 2+ dialog boxes of files being copied at the same time.
More often than not, it seems like lots of small files pisses the phone off and it parts me back by bowling the card. Lots of files means hundreds to thousands.
I saw this thread awhile ago but didn't look at it until today. At least I'm not going crazy or even maybe have a bad card. The cards never gave me any problems with the devices its been in for maybe the last 3 years until last week.
I gotta find another card to try. I am using sandisk 16gb. Maybe a different brand? Anyone try that yet?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I'm doing a test now. I removed the suspect 16gb card from the phone and put in a 8gb card that has never been in the evo ever. I put the 16 in a sd adapter which goes into a usb adapter. All are official sandisk. I formatted the 16 in my macbook as fat32. I am now copying 8557 files to the card which size total is about 6.97gb. After a few minutes, I'm down to 6291 files to go and almost half way finished copying. I have not received one error message or anything that might lead me to believe there is something wrong somewhere. I'm starting to think there's nothing wrong with the card(s). It's the gd phone! I am so pissed now!!!! I keep looking back at the progress window and it's chugging along no problem. I am thinking about something tho. When I was changing cards I noticed that even when the card's lock bar was down, the card could wiggle a little. HMM. I'm gonna get a piece of thick paper and put it on top of the card and see if that helps make the card not want to wiggle as much when the lock bar is in place.
I will report back if I find out if it works or not in like 24 hours or less.
I don't think it makes any difference what rom you are running but I went to the one stock rooted "EVO_1.47.651.1_Rooted_stockrom.zip" one calkulin posted.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=712695
That link is just in case someone stumbles across this post later and wonders what I'm talking about.
So far, so good. I will give progress reports when I'm at work when I'm able to. I hope I may have stumbled across a simple fix to a defect.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I had the issue you guys are talking abou this is what I did to resolve my issue.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Just got a new SDHC card and simpleroot worked. The SDHC that came with my phone died. I placed a spare in there that was a 2gd regular micro and Hboot would not read the IMG for nothing.
If simple root is not working then it's the Sh!tty card acting up.
Happy ending for me.
vonStemmington said:
It's definitely not the SD card. I've formatted it, gone to Best Buy and had the SD card replaced, and used a different SD card.
It could be the ROMs we're using, but I've got a serious problem with this phone if using a rooted ROM does this.. And few other people are experiencing the problem. That leads me to believe it's a hardware defect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For those who post before reading the thread, I am STOCK and this also happened to me. Battery out/in fixed the issue (for now).
So far I'm going on around 16 hours without the card screwing up. If you wanna try this, get a business card. Pull the card out of the phone. Lay the card on the business card at a corner. Measure about twice as long and normal width. Cut the business card. Fold the piece in half length wise so its the same size as the sd card. If it's too big, snip the non folded end of the paper and measure it so that its the same size as the sd card. Put the card into the phone and make sure its ask the way in. don't force it to hard. Then hold the card down and slide the paper, folded end first, on top of the sd and into the card bay. Make sure the paper isn't sticking out of the card well where the battery would be on top of. Gently push and lock the lock bar down onto the card. If you have to push firmly then the paper is too thick. Place the battery in the phone and put the cover back on. That extra bit of thickness added to the card I think is keeping it from scooting around in the sd card well and judging by the size of the contacts on the card, it wouldn't take much movement to get off the contacts. The folded end under the lock bar and the other end being held down by the battery I think is doing the trick. Just power down before removing the battery next time.
So far, this is working for me and I'm keeping my fingers crossed...
Just another update and bump off the topic...
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I agree the ROM probably isn't the problem, but definitely come back and let us know if the paper helped at all. It could just be that the SD card is loose.. It seems like sometimes if my SD card stops being read, but I leave the phone alone, it'll work again later, without rebooting, which is odd.
Hey Guys,
I dropped my Evo today pretty hard and i'm pretty sure something inside related to the sd card reader broke. I hear something rattling and it will not recognize my sd card. I restarted plenty of times, took out sd card and put back in and doesn't make a difference.
I plan on making sure its the phone later with another sd card I have at home to make sure its the phone vs the sd card.
Assuming it's the phone that's screwed, I'm thinking without access to an sd card, I can't really unroot before taking it into sprint to get it checked out.
I have insurance, would it be best to just claim it lost? Do you think sprint will give me crap about it being rooted if I take it in?
I really appreciate any feedback.
I would! But if you have ADB install on your computer, you can try to unroot it that way, if not I would claim it lost.
9 times out of 10 they won't give a fu€¥. If it's got pieces lose and it won't operate there not going to fix it before they replace it.
Swyped from a galaxy far far away......
Thanks guys. I got home and swapped another sd card and it reads that card fine... I guess i just killed my 16gb card I just recently got for xmas! ><
The weird thing is there is definitely something loose rattling inside now.. I'm still tempted to just claim it lost and get a brand new one since this thing is a little beat up
LP_sk8er said:
Thanks guys. I got home and swapped another sd card and it reads that card fine... I guess i just killed my 16gb card I just recently got for xmas! ><
The weird thing is there is definitely something loose rattling inside now.. I'm still tempted to just claim it lost and get a brand new one since this thing is a little beat up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It might just be corrupt. Try to mount it to your PC. It should "repair" it and you can take some files off.
As for something rattling around, if you have Total Equipment Protection, bring it to a Sprint store. They will fix it for you for free, even if its your fault. If you claim it stolen/lost, it will cost you $100. Unless you REALLY want a new one.
hmmm happened to me. just removed card and inserted and all was good.
Yeah, i tried inserting my 16gb sdcard into my pc and it doesn't even recognize it via the card reader. but if i put my 8gb into the same reader, it reads it fine... I'm guessing that means 16gb card = dead.
If I take it in for repair for that rattling, do you think they will notice/care that the phone is rooted though? That's why i'm weary of taking it in to get it "checked out" at a sprint store.
I keep getting a warning on the top of me screen saying "SD card removed. Please insert new one"
This happen after trying to delete my MIUI content from my SD card through Astro. When I clicked delete it took some time the said "error while deleting " then I got this message.
I pulled the battery, and put it back in. SD card was read fine. As I was navigating through Astro again I got the SD card message again. I tried pulling the battery but nothing.
I've looked around on several site trying to find what's wrong with no luck.
I was trying to free up some new space to swap Rome again. I was on MIUI, then came to HTCclay.
My SD card is a 4gb sandisk(I think) cheap o from Walmart.
Any help would be nice. I don't have a computer with me right now, but my SD card is able to be read in recovery (although when I click on things it says "file not found" but labels are there) and it can be read on a friends phone.
I have since wipes my SD card in hopes of it working, but all that did is make me lose all my pics and music.
Any help and a fast response would be appreciated.
Sent from my Htcclay's SuperCM7 G2 using XDA App
I just pulled the SD card and reboot the phone with out it. Then put it back in and now I get this "SD card damaged. You may have to reformat it."
But it works fine on friends phone.
Wth is going on?
Sent from my Htcclay's SuperCM7 G2 using XDA App
Formatting does nothing
Sent from my Htcclay's SuperCM7 G2 using XDA App
I had this on a cheap 8 gig card that had been modded to look like a 32GB card from Amazon marketplace... got a refund but it was the card at fault. Got another one kicking around to try?
I will in a few hours. My shift is over at 8pm central. That's 2hours away. Ill give feed back when I try.
Sent from my Htcclay's SuperCM7 G2 using XDA App
No another SD card will not work. They all give me the same message.
Its so odd that I can see all the content in recovery, but it says file not found when I try to open anything. But I can not see any content when I turn my phone on.
Sent from my Htcclay's SuperCM7 G2 using XDA App
If your phone wont read any sdcards then its your phone. Anychance you got some dirt in there? You could try blowing it out real good or taking your old card cleaning it off real good then slide it in and out a few times. Also i would try doing a factory reset, if that dont work try wiping and flashing new rom. If none of those work then you got a broke phone. There was a website floating around that had all the parts for the vision. However i think that part is attatched to the mainboard..... So you might be better off getting a new phone. Thats worst case though hopefully one of the first things will fix it. Good luck!
Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk
Well that's what I thought, but my phone can read the content in recovery so its got to be the program right?
Well this is where it gets very odd.
I had an old 542mb memory card from an old phone in a small case with some old pics on it and was swapping out my wife's 1gb card to view the pics. But the case broke and I had know safe way of keeping the 1gb card from my wife's phone so I popped it into my phone for the time being.
I played on her phone looking at old pics and what not. Then just so happen to look down at my phone and did not see the "you have a bad SD card" thing. I went to gallery and all her pics where there.
I went and grabbed my 4gb card (the original card that stopped working on me) and put it in my phone ......and nothing.
Had a small hope...lol.
Well my wife wanted to use my 4gb SD card, so we put it into her phone (some super cheap Samsung not even a smart phone). I jokingly said "watch it work in my phone now....lol"
Put it back in my phone and............bam working again.
I'm not sure what happen. If anyone can explain that would be nice. My SD card was put into several smart phones witch they all where able to read and use the card. After it was always put back into my phone with no luck. Now we put it into my wife's phone and it works again.....hmmmm. wish I would have not deleted all my songs,pics,backups,and documents......but oh well got my card back.
Sorry for such a long thread , just trying to put every little thing down.
Sent from my Htcclay's SuperCM7 G2 using XDA App
because it is happening randomly and the only constant is that the card in question at any given moment works in other devices i would blame your phone. If it works in recovery try a factory reset or flash an older backup to see if that fixes it. Also take a toothbrush with pure alcohol and give the contacts a cleaning. a rubber eraser works too just blow out the dust afterwords.
p.s. Sandisk is not a cheap brand of sd's theya re generally regarded one of the better and more reliable brands if not the best.
Ill clean it even though its working.
If it happens again ill try to swap out the rom, but I did do a factory reset. Was one of the first things I did.
Sent from my Htcclay's SuperCM7 G2 using XDA App
Its possible that putting the card in your wifes phone cleaned the contacts some. Its also possible that while you phone was able to read the directory of the disk without being able to read the files themselves. I know they are stored seperatly but i dont know if jits a specific contact on the card itself. That might explain why you could see the files in recovery. Im just taking guesses here but hey it makes sense in my mind.
Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk
you said it wasn't working, which is it? lol
Hi guys,
2 days ago my phone suddenly refused to recognize my sd-card. The card is ok, i checked it.
From this point on, I was not and am not able to use usb mass drive, even while being in recovery.
As the phone is rooted, s-off and all that stuff, i can get a replacement on the warranty way..or is it possible to unroot etc. without sd-card access??
Maybe you have some ideas, how i could fix this problem myself?
TY!
the slot is usualy about $15 and easy to replace, search ebay and amazon
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium
Okay, I ordered one of these on Ebay.
Is it possible to replace the slot without breaking the case? I mean, will the cover still fit together after opening it one time? Just made sum bad experiences with my net book...
opened my phone many times, you could never tell
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium
Hey,
so today i got the replacement sd-card slot.
Opened the handy, replaced the slot, everything was smooth and you couldn't tell i opened the desire, as u said.
But:
There is still no reaction to any form of sd card...
I know there is small hope for this, but could it be a software / driver error?
I remembered one thing:
I used and use at the moment "Virtuous Sense", based on Android 2.3.3.
Right before the problems started to begin, I used "Quadrasense 1.0" for a week or so.
When i became way slower, I wiped and restored my Virtuous Sense backup...
Maybe..?!
It's a bug in Sense 2.1 ROMs, u have to change the ROM if u want working SD card
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
How can I, without sd card?
EDIT:
Anyways, found the way to do it in the xda-Wiki.
Gonna try out now.
Does, sadly, not seem to work out. Went to ICS, still no sd-card..
wipe and flash with fastboot
if that won't work it could be the connection at the motherboard
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium
So its probably the motherboard connector... hard stuff.
Will flash my old rom now and try to stick with the internal storage -.-
So I got a slightly pre-used S3 T999 on eBay (decent deal at $435).
I cut my regular SIM card to fit in micro SIM slot (said card was from my T369, worked fine in temp/lent Galaxy Exhibit 4G). Cut card isn't being read....... ok fine... except, card won't eject....
Grab tiny tweezers to get card out......card comes out..... so does tiny sliver of gold connection piece...(tried to get a photo but it's really difficult with the angle).
Awaiting arrival of proper micro SIM.
If I need to though, I found Sim Card replacement modules are sold. However pretty much all I've found list being for the i9300. Are the modules interchangeable? If not, where can I find one compatible for the T999?
Thanks!
GB452 said:
So I got a slightly pre-used S3 T999 on eBay (decent deal at $435).
I cut my regular SIM card to fit in micro SIM slot (said card was from my T369, worked fine in temp/lent Galaxy Exhibit 4G). Cut card isn't being read....... ok fine... except, card won't eject....
Grab tiny tweezers to get card out......card comes out..... so does tiny sliver of gold connection piece...(tried to get a photo but it's really difficult with the angle).
Awaiting arrival of proper micro SIM.
If I need to though, I found Sim Card replacement modules are sold. However pretty much all I've found list being for the i9300. Are the modules interchangeable? If not, where can I find one compatible for the T999?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldnt help but cringe when i read this
But yes the i9300 sim module will work with the T999. Good luck in taking it apart! Better you than me ^-^
elesbb said:
I couldnt help but cringe when i read this
But yes the i9300 sim module will work with the T999. Good luck in taking it apart! Better you than me ^-^
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hah, I was overcome with a very sick feeling when not only the card appeared stuck, but when the sliver of gold came out with it...x_x
Thanks for the confirmation on the compatibility, hopefully it won't come to it but I'm confident in my taking apart and putting back together skills (I think the issue with the card was that I was far too tired to be doing it then... but NEW PHONE MUST DO NOW! came over me).
Well the micro SIM came yesterday. I inserted it into the s3, and it read it (had yet to activate it).
Today, I activated the new card and.... the s3 continues to request that I insert a sim card. I waited the 2hr period of time for things to transfer, and soon enough the card in the Galaxy Exhibit 4G, was no longer working. But the new card still wasn't being read. I tried to use the new card in the Galaxy Exhibit 4G.... and...given a few moments,......and that worked. Even got text notifications from T-Mobile that "The SIM card for ***-***-**** has been updated.
Based upon that... looks like I'll need that replacement module (why it recognized the card before... I have no idea).
GB452 said:
Well the micro SIM came yesterday. I inserted it into the s3, and it read it (had yet to activate it).
Today, I activated the new card and.... the s3 continues to request that I insert a sim card. I waited the 2hr period of time for things to transfer, and soon enough the card in the Galaxy Exhibit 4G, was no longer working. But the new card still wasn't being read. I tried to use the new card in the Galaxy Exhibit 4G.... and...given a few moments,......and that worked. Even got text notifications from T-Mobile that "The SIM card for ***-***-**** has been updated.
Based upon that... looks like I'll need that replacement module (why it recognized the card before... I have no idea).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tedious things such as micro connectors and small slivers of metal can be very touchy. So the prong prolly sat at the right place for it to make contact. Then once removed, the pin moved causing it to no longer make contact.
I havent had my S3 apart due to me still having warranty, or else id give you a hand. I had my S2 apart and the module seems simple enough to replace. I dont see a huge difference would be made within a year of how they work in each phone. I am sure there are some youtube vids or pics of someone doing it
elesbb said:
Tedious things such as micro connectors and small slivers of metal can be very touchy. So the prong prolly sat at the right place for it to make contact. Then once removed, the pin moved causing it to no longer make contact.
I havent had my S3 apart due to me still having warranty, or else id give you a hand. I had my S2 apart and the module seems simple enough to replace. I dont see a huge difference would be made within a year of how they work in each phone. I am sure there are some youtube vids or pics of someone doing it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I more than likely got "lucky" that first try... At least I know what the issue is. It's not the phone, and it's not the card... just the connectors which I so lovingly screwed up. :silly:
Yes, I reviewed a video on how to replace it and given that I've worked on electronics with teeny-tiny parts before I'm confident this shouldn't take too much time. Just bought a replacement part for $7 (could have gone cheaper, but delivery would take longer from Hong Kong... so I went for the auction in the state next to me) and hope to get it by Saturday... or Tuesday given the ETA.
Once it's replaced, I'll post an update on the status of it working (or not...).
I seem to have run into a slight snag.... the sim/sd card casing isn't held in place like the vids show....(and by "vids" I mean ... well I can't link them but "Samsung Galaxy S3 i9300 Disassembly & Assembly - Drop Test Repair" and/or "Samsung Galaxy S3 Dis-Assembly Replacing Sim / SD Card Module SIII GT-i9300" on youtube).
*edit*
So I removed the actual holder from the metal part. There was some double-sided tape (none the likes I've ever seen before...please let me know if there's some similar tape!), which got a bit messed up (as I had no idea it was there) upon removal (which I pried it off gently with a micro-flathead screwdriver), but I managed to fix it up as best I could (thin portions wouldn't untangle/smooth). I placed the new holder upon it, but saw it wasn't going to stay put (inserting the sim card to test was enough to almost push it right off, and would have if not for the connector ribbon!).... so some bits of electrical tape are keeping things as secure as possible.
Phone appears to finally be able to function as a phone! :good:
Well I'm impressed. I would never attempt something like that. There's a reason I buy my phones new and have handset protection.
jcbofkc said:
Well I'm impressed. I would never attempt something like that. There's a reason I buy my phones new and have handset protection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't afford protection for my phones. :'( so i have to learn how to repair things on my own like the OP . plus there is just that strange peculiar feeling you get when you've done something yourself
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
elesbb said:
I can't afford protection for my phones. :'( so i have to learn how to repair things on my own like the OP . plus there is just that strange peculiar feeling you get when you've done something yourself
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just hate the strange peculiar feeling when you know you have screwed something up beyond repair. Ouch.....
Glad you got your phone working.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
ioitall said:
I just hate the strange peculiar feeling when you know you have screwed something up beyond repair. Ouch.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never felt that before!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Good job bro, glad its working now.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
GB452 said:
So I got a slightly pre-used S3 T999 on eBay (decent deal at $435).
I cut my regular SIM card to fit in micro SIM slot (said card was from my T369, worked fine in temp/lent Galaxy Exhibit 4G). Cut card isn't being read....... ok fine... except, card won't eject....
Grab tiny tweezers to get card out......card comes out..... so does tiny sliver of gold connection piece...(tried to get a photo but it's really difficult with the angle).
Awaiting arrival of proper micro SIM.
If I need to though, I found Sim Card replacement modules are sold. However pretty much all I've found list being for the i9300. Are the modules interchangeable? If not, where can I find one compatible for the T999?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why didn't you just go into a T-Mobile store and get a new micro SD card? I mean that seemed like the sensible thing to do. I was in your shoes and needing a new SIM card and they gave me one for free when I went into the T-Mobile store near my place of work. I just had to manually enter my contacts was the only hang up. No big deal though.
Alien1099 said:
I just had to manually enter my contacts was the only hang up. No big deal though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just save my contacts to Google. Wipe phones, switch phones. Never had problem with contacts syncing back up. Saves the hassle of manual input. Save once and done.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda app-developers app
shdw03 said:
I just save my contacts to Google. Wipe phones, switch phones. Never had problem with contacts syncing back up. Saves the hassle of manual input. Save once and done.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I export mine to a vcf file on my memory card
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
I used the card-cutting method because I wanted the $30 100 min/5Gb plan and it seemed like the easiest way. Ordered a sticker template for $1 on-line and cut it out - worked great, SIM pops in and out like normal, no problems.
As for a more secure tape/glue, my first concern would be if the original was intended to disperse heat and if so, how important is that feature to the phone's operation ?
If that wasn't a huge issue, I'd look at 3M double-sided film tape or even very careful, very tiny dobs of E6000 (I like it because it's pretty secure and still generally peels off easily if necessary) - concern here is making sure you don't use so much that it oozes everywhere and into something important - best to apply to the card holder, spread it out and let dry a bit, then stick the two together.
Making hardware work certainly is a feeling of accomplishment - it's like "yeah, look, I did that" - kind of like a kid, except a lot less expensive and you can't go to jail if you brick it.