Format Existing Micro SD Card

How To Format Your Existing Micro SD Card and Reburn The Image

PROCEED WITH CAUTION: The following steps should be used ONLY if you've been advised by our Technical Support Team. You do not need to replicate these steps if you have NOT been advised.

Due to the misuse of Hotspots by users, we've found that frequent power cycling, plugging and unplugging the micro SD card, poor internet connection, and frequent failing in syncing blocks may result in unknown micro SD card errors.

IF you determine your Hotspot has slow syncing speeds, such as less than 60 blocks/hour, we would advise you to replace your Micro SD card with a new one to debug/fix the issue. We've provided a link below for recommendation.

• Note: We now have the SD card replacement kit available, which you can purchase by clicking here.

Instructions

The instructions below will help you format the Micro SD card and reburn the image in order to fix the problem cause by potential Micro SD card errors.

NOTE: Please check your Internet connection first to make sure the problem is not related to the Internet before you follow the steps below to replace the micro SD card.

Requirements

1. Micro SD card in your SenseCAP M1 Hotspot

2. Micro SD Card reader

3. Screwdriver

4. The 'config.json' file copied from the original card

   • Note: Please ask our Tech Support Agents to provide one for you if you are unable to retrieve the original one.

5. SD Card Formatter 5.0.1

   • For Windows => Click here to download and install

   • For Mac OS => Click here to download and install

6. SenseCAP M1 Image => Click here to download

7. Balena Etcher => Click here to download

Required Items

Steps

1. Power off the device, open the front panel, remove the yellow sticker on the top of the Micro SD card, unplug the Micro SD card.

2. Connect the Micro SD card to your computer with a Micro SD card reader and copy the 'config.json' file from partition "resin-boot", save it to your computer.

   • Note: Please ask our Tech Support Agents to provide one for your if you are unable to retrieve the original one.

3. Format the MicroSD card using “SD Card Formatter 5.0.1”

4. Flash the SenseCap M1 Image to the MicroSD card with Balena Etcher.

5. Copy the 'config.json' file from your computer to partition "resin-boot" of the Micro SD card.

6. Plug back the Micro SD card from your computer into SenseCap M1 Hotspot.

7. Power on the SenseCap M1, connect to the internet (better with ethernet cable), wait ~20mins for OTA updates, and check the status on Dashboard or run diagnostics within the Helium APP.

Note: You should assemble the front panel of the Hotspot only after you confirm that your Hotspot is OK.

Detailed Instructions - Micro SD Card

If you are not certain on how to do the steps above, please follow the detailed instructions below:

1. Power off your Hotspot, then remove the antenna.

Step 1.

2. Use the screwdriver to loosen the two screws in the front panel.

Step 2.

3. Move the front panel and put it aside.

Step 3

4. Remove the yellow sticker on top of the Micro SD Card (you may use tweezers).

Step 4

Step 4 Continued

5. Unplug and take out the original Micro SD Card.

Step 5

How To Format The Micro SD Card (Windows)

1. Plug a new Micro SD Card into the Micro SD Card reader.

New Micro SD Card Into Micro SD Card Reader

New Micro SD Card Into Micro SD Card Reader

Make Sure It's Fully Plugged In

2. Install and run SD Card Formatter

SD Card Formatter

3. Select the Micro SD card you connect to the computer, choose “Overwrite format”, type “resin-boot” in Volume label, and click “Format” button

SD Card Formatter

4. Select "Yes" on the dialogue window

Select "Yes" from dialogue window

5. Wait for ~30-45 minutes and the formatting process will be completed

SD Card Formatter Progress

How To Format The Micro SD Card (Mac OS)

The steps are similar, please see images below.

SD Card Formatter - MacOS

SD Card Formatter - MacOS - Format Complete

How To Flash The Image

• Download the SenseCap M1 Image from here: sensecap-m1-sd-version-20220213.img.zip

• Download Balena Etcher tool from here: balenaEtcher - Flash OS images to SD cards & USB drives

Select Based On Your Operating System

Drag Image.ZIP File To Balena Etcher

How To Add 'config.json' File To Your Micro SD Card

After you've successfully flashed the image to the MicroSD Card, copy the "config.json" file that we provided/or you copied originally, from your computer to a partition called "resin-boot".

NOTE: Please do NOT delete any other files, otherwise, it will cause unexpected issues with your SenseCAP M1.

NOTE: Every device has a different 'config.json' file registered to it, please do not share your 'config.json' file with others or use files from others.

For MacOS

MacOS - Copy "config.json" File

MacOS - Copy "config.json" File

For Windows

Windows - Copy "config.json" File

Windows - Copy "config.json" File

After Formatting The Micro SD Card and Flashing The Image

1. Unplug the new Micro SD Card from your computer.

2. Plug the Micro SD Card to your SenseCAP M1.

SenseCAP M1

3. Power on the SenseCAP M1, connect back to the Internet (best with Ethernet cable).

4. Wait approximately ~20 minutes to apply updates and check the Dashboard (https://status.sensecapmx.cloud/) or run diagnostics in Helium App after this is complete.

5. The Hotspot will auto-sync within ~30 minutes with a good internet connection.

Helium App - Diagnostics

Note: You should assemble the front panel of the Hotspot only after you confirm that your Hotspot is OK.

Should you have any further issues or questions, please open a ticket here: https://support.sensecapmx.com