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Before Using your SDXC Memory Card

The first SDXC memory cards and SDXC host products (digital cameras, video cameras, mobile phones, etc.) have begun to reach the consumer market. As an early adopter of the new SDXC technology, it is important that you understand how to use your new SDXC memory card to its greatest capacity.

Confirm Compatibility

Before inserting your SDXC memory card, confirm the host product is SDXC compatible by locating an SDXC logo on the host product or referring to the host product's instruction manual or manufacturer's information.

Understanding Backwards Compatibility

Understanding Backwards Compatibility

  • SDXC memory cards can be used only with SDXC host products.
  • SDXC host products can use SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards.
  • SDHC memory cards can be used with SDHC and SDXC host products.
  • SDHC host products can use both SD and SDHC memory cards.

Only Use SDXC Memory Cards in SDXC Host Products

SDXC host products are backwards compatible with earlier SD and SDHC memory cards. SDXC memory cards should not be used in non-compatible host products. If you need to format an SDXC card, you can format by using SDXC host products or the SD Formatter 3.0.

If an SDXC memory card is inserted into a PC or a host product that does not support SDXC memory cards, a message may prompt you to format the card. Do not format the SDXC memory card in a non-compatible host product; it will erase the data on the SDXC memory card and format the card for a different file system that will no longer work with SDXC host products.

Possible Host Product Messages

1. Non-compatible PC

If you accidentally insert your SDXC card into a PC that does not support SDXC (using a direct SD slot or USB reader/writer), the following messages may appear:

Non-compatible PC

2. Non-compatible Host Product

If you accidentally insert your SDXC memory card into an SDHC host product that is not compliant, the following messages may appear:

Non-compatible Host Product

Overview: SDXC support on Windows OS

  Windows 7 Windows Vista (SP1 or later) Windows XP (SP2 or later)
[with exFAT update]
SDXC Compatible USB Reader YES YES YES
SD Slot on PC Yes
[needs SDXC driver patch]
Yes
[needs SDXC driver patch]
NO

SDXC Memory Cards for PCs

  • The exFAT file system used for SDXC is available on Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP (SP1 or later) with exFAT file system update (KB955704) available from the Microsoft Download Center.
  • You can access the SDXC card by using an SDXC compatible USB reader or adapter.
  • If you want to use an SDXC card in the SD slot on your PC, you need an SDXC compatible driver for the SD slot.*
  • Contact your PC manufacturer to confirm the SD slot on your PC is compatible with SDXC cards and for availability of the SDXC driver.

* SDXC compatible driver for the SD slot can be downloaded from the following Microsoft sites. However, please check with the manufacturer of your PC to determine if the following download is applicable to your PC before applying the download.

Windows 7

Windows Vista