Prevent SD Card Corruption During Loadshedding

Why Loadshedding is a Nightmare for Your SD Cards

It’s a feeling every South African knows too well. You’re halfway through transferring precious photos, saving a game capture, or offloading drone footage when... boom. The power cuts out. Beyond the sigh of frustration, a bigger worry sinks in: did your SD card just get fried? 😫 This sudden power loss during a write cycle is a leading cause of data corruption, turning your valuable files into an unreadable mess. It’s a costly problem, but thankfully, you can prevent SD card corruption during loadshedding.

The technical reason is simple. When your device—be it a PC, camera, or console—writes data to a card, it's also updating a directory called the File Allocation Table (FAT). A sudden power cut can interrupt this process, leaving the directory scrambled. Your device then has no idea where the files are, even if the data is still technically there. This is how loadshedding causes catastrophic data loss on what was a perfectly good card.

Kingston Ironkey D500S 256GB Encrypted Flash Drive | Dual Hidden Partition | FIPS 140-3 Level 3 | XTS-AES 256-bit | BadUSB and Brute Force Protection | Multi-Pin Option | IKD500S/256GB

R6499.00In Stock

Kingston 256GB microSDXC Canvas Select Plus Memory Card / 100/85MB/s Read/Write Speed / UHS-I Speed Class, U3, V30 / + Adapter (SDCS2/256GB)

R449.00In Stock

Kingston MobileLite Plus USB 3.2 microSDHC/SDXC UHS-II Card Reader / MLPM

R199.00In Stock

Kingston DataTraveler Kyson 512GB High Performance USB 3.2 Metal Flash Drive / Speeds up to 200MB/s / DTKN/512GB

R649.00In Stock

Kingston DataTraveler Micro 256GB USB Flash Drive | Ultra-Small Premium Metal Design | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | Speeds up to 200MB/s / DTMC3G2/256GB

R499.00In Stock

Kingston 256GB DataTraveler microDuo 3C USB Flash Drive / Dual Interface / 200MB/s Read / DTDUO3CG3/256GB

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Practical Steps to Prevent SD Card Corruption

You don't have to leave your data's fate to Eskom's schedule. Being proactive is the best defence. Protecting your SD cards from power surge damage involves a mix of good habits and the right hardware.

1. Always Eject Safely

This is the golden rule. Whether there's loadshedding or not, always use the 'Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media' option on your computer. On a camera or console, ensure the device is fully powered off before removing the card. This guarantees all write operations are complete, dramatically lowering the risk of corruption.

2. Invest in Quality Storage

Not all SD cards are created equal. Cheaper, unbranded cards often use lower-grade controllers that are far more susceptible to failure from power fluctuations. Investing a little more in a reputable card with built-in protection is a smart move. For example, a reliable card like the Kingston Canvas Go! Plus 128GB SDXC is built for stability, making it ideal for 4K video and high-res photos where write speeds are critical.

Kingston 128GB microSDXC Canvas Go Plus 170MB/s Read UHS-I, C10, U3, V30, A2/A1 Memory Card + Adapter (SDCG3/128GB)

R349.00In Stock

Kingston DataTraveler Kyson 128GB High Performance USB 3.2 Metal Flash Drive / Speeds up to 200MB/s / DTKN/128GB

R249.00In Stock

Kingston DataTraveler Exodia S 512GB USB Flash Drive / USB 3.2 Gen 1 Speed / Swivel Cap Design / DTXS/512GB

R699.00In Stock

Kingston DataTraveler Kyson 512GB High Performance USB 3.2 Metal Flash Drive / Speeds up to 200MB/s / DTKN/512GB

R649.00In Stock

Kingston 256GB microSDXC Endurance Memory Card / 95MB/45MB/s Read/Write Speed / UHS-I Speed Class 1 (U1) / (SDCE/256GB)

R699.00In Stock

Kingston Canvas Go Plus 256GB SDXC Card / Supports seamless 4K Ultra-HD recording / Reliable for burst photography / Up to 200MB/s Read Speed / Up to 160MB/s Write Speed / Class 10, UHS-I, U3, V30 / SDG4/256GB

R599.00In Stock

3. Get an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

For those with a desktop PC or console setup, a UPS is the ultimate solution. This device is essentially a big battery that kicks in the instant the power goes out, giving you several minutes to save your work, finish a file transfer, and shut down your system safely. It’s the most effective way to stop loadshedding from causing SD card corruption.

Choosing the Right Gear for a Power-Proof Setup 🛡️

Building a resilient tech setup in South Africa means planning for the inevitable. Beyond a UPS, choosing components from trusted brands is crucial for long-term reliability. We've seen firsthand how gear from trusted brands like Kingston South Africa consistently performs under pressure, offering the durability that local conditions demand.

This mindset extends beyond just storage. When your whole system is stable, every component benefits. This includes everything from your RAM to your SSD and even peripherals. Protecting your core system with a UPS ensures that all your connected Kingston gaming accessories are also shielded from the sudden power surges and cuts that accompany loadshedding, extending their lifespan and ensuring consistent performance. ✨

Kingston DataTraveler Kyson 512GB High Performance USB 3.2 Metal Flash Drive / Speeds up to 200MB/s / DTKN/512GB

R649.00In Stock

Kingston DataTraveler Max Type-A 256GB High Performance USB Flash Drive USB 3.2 Gen 2 Up to 1000 MB/s Sliding Cap Design / DTMAXA/256GB

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Kingston DataTraveler Micro 128GB USB Flash Drive | Ultra-Small Premium Metal Design | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | Speeds up to 200MB/s / DTMC3G2/128GB

R299.00In Stock

Kingston DataTraveler Exodia Onyx 128GB Flash Drive with USB 3.2 Gen 1 Performance / DTXON/128GB

R299.00In Stock

Kingston DataTraveler Exodia S 512GB USB Flash Drive / USB 3.2 Gen 1 Speed / Swivel Cap Design / DTXS/512GB

R699.00In Stock

Kingston DataTraveler Exodia S 256GB USB Flash Drive / USB 3.2 Gen 1 Speed / Swivel Cap Design / DTXS/256GB

R349.00In Stock