Are all memory cards compatible with all cameras? " 1 size fits all" kinda thing? I bought a SanDisk 4 GB 30 MB/s card. I loaded it up into the camera and I got " Memory Card Error" "Card Locked" I have a Canon SD 500 ( P&S style). Is the card not compatible with it? Do I just need to unlock it? How do I do that?

I looked on the web and as far as I can tell it should be. Maybe I'm wrong.....


Thanks for the help...

I always thought if it fits in then it should work...different kinds of cards have different sizes...
I would go back to the store with the camera and card to ask...

It fits just fine. I am just getting the "Card Locked" Error.

Card locked is probably a little tiny itty bitty switch on the actual memory card itself that you just have to flick over. On my memory card it was on the side, very tiny, and it was white, and you just slide it over to the other side. And if it's a new memory card, format it before using. Should be in your camera menu somewhere to format card (be aware it erases everything on the card)

I checked the manual lock on the side. It was unlocked. I tried to format and it would not give me the option to. I checked my old card and it gave me the option to format that one. Could it just be a bad card?

So even when you switched that little switch, it still said locked? That's weird. I honestly don't know :S If you just bought it maybe return it and get a different one?

there are 3 types maybe 4.
but there are a lot of different brands.

You say you have more then one? if one says locked does the other? assuming the switch is on unlock. if so ide replace or exchange the card.


The switch / notch works in same way as the notches on compact audio cassettes and videotape cassette tapes or floppy disks. A closed or covered notch is writable, while an open notch (or removed tab) is protected.

If the switch becomes broken or falls off then the card will become a write-protected ROM card and no longer be writable. A possible troubleshooting solution would be to apply tape over the notched area (avoiding the connectors and the other notch) to configure the card in a permanent writable state.

This post was edited by PoisonDeath on Mar 16 2012 05:20am