First of all, what model is your Media System and what software version is it running?
Also, where did you get the SD card from? There are countless Chinese counterfeit versions kicking around (especially on eBay) that don't actually hold the capacity they claim, or that shows up as available free space in the file explorer software. The result is that files on the card get corrupted which can cause all sorts of issues.
I have an RNS-315 in my car with Media System 2.2 software on and I have a Transcend 64GB Class 10 SDXC card working just fine with over 4000 mp3 files on it in various folders.
I did initially have issues because the card came pre-formatted with the exFAT file system and even with mp3 files on the Media System was complaining with a "Error: SD Card" message when inserting the card. I re-formatted the card to FAT32 and re-loaded the songs but still got the same error message. It was only after I used a specific FAT32 formatting software utility that I got the card to work.
Assuming you're running on Windows and not a poncy Mac I suggest you do the following:-
- Download the GUI version of "FAT32 Formatter" from this link and run it (click on the picture of the screenshot to download it, not the dodgy download button under the donation button which is just an advert image).
- Insert your SD card and select it's drive letter in the "FAT32 Formatter" program.
- Just use whatever default "Allocation Unit Size" the program puts in that box which depends on the card size.
- Click on the "Start" button and wait for the formatting of the card to complete.
The card will now have a proper FAT32 format file system on it.
Next, check the actual capacity of the card to prove that it's the capacity that it actually says on the tin by following the steps below (again, it's Windows only software). I always do this with any new cards I buy for peace of mind regardless of whether the place I bought them from has a good reputation.
- Download "H2testw" from this link and run it.
- Insert your SD card and select it's target drive letter in the "H2testw" program.
- Click on the "Write + Verify" button and wait for the test to complete (on large cards this can take some time so you have to be patient).
If the write and verify process completes having written to the whole card without any errors then you have a card that actually has the capacity it says it is so you know you are safe. If you get errors then you almost certainly have a counterfeit card which you need to return for a refund and then report the seller to eBay if that's where you bought it from to try and prevent other unsuspecting buyers from getting stitched up.
If the card capacity is good then load on some mp3 files, cross your fingers and try it in your Media System again.
One other thing to be aware of is that even with the card is properly formatted to FAT32, if there isn't at least one file on the card that is of one of the types supported by the Media System, then the Media System will display the message "Error: SD Card". So a correctly FAT32 formatted blank SD card will display that error message making you think there is actually a
problem with the card itself when in fact it's just that there are no recognise music files on it. It would be nice if the Media System actually displayed a specific message telling you that files were missing rather than making you think there is a fault with the card itself but unfortunately it doesn't and you just get the standard generic error message.
