Drive Raw Access

Hey guys i know i have not been here in a long time but been moving around alot.

Can anyone spare some info on how to access a SD card RAW?

I am currently working on PIC microcontrollers and can read/write data to a SD Card but RAW. I was woundering how would i do the same on a PC.

I can use either:
VB6
VS.NET EXPRESS

Any links or examples would rock! thanks!

Found someones old code and fixed it:

Code:

---

Public Function ReadDrive(BytesToRead As Long)
Dim dh As Long, ret As Long
Dim strBuffer As String
Dim lngRead As Long
Dim bBytes() As Byte
Dim x As Long

ReDim bBytes(1 To BytesToRead) As Byte

dh = CreateFile("\\.\D:", GENERIC_READ + GENERIC_WRITE, FILE_SHARE_READ + FILE_SHARE_WRITE, ByVal CLng(0), OPEN_EXISTING, ByVal FILE_FLAG_NO_BUFFERING, 0)
If dh = -1 Then
 MsgBox "Could not open drive D:"
 End
End If

ReadFile dh, bBytes(1), UBound(bBytes), ret, ByVal 0&
Dim HexV As String
Dim StrV As String

Text1.Text = ""
Text2.Text = ""
For x = 1 To UBound(bBytes)
    HexV = Hex(bBytes(x))
    Text1.Text = Text1.Text & HexV & ","

    StrV = Chr(bBytes(x))
    Text2.Text = Text2.Text & StrV
Next x
End Function

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http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...ight=RAW+drive

In fact a little Read Sector Program that can read a sector off any HD. (READ ONLY) for safety :D

Code:

---

Const FILE_BEGIN = 0
Const FILE_SHARE_READ = &H1
Const FILE_SHARE_WRITE = &H2
Const CREATE_NEW = 1
Const OPEN_EXISTING = 3
Const GENERIC_READ = &H80000000
Const GENERIC_WRITE = &H40000000
Private Declare Function ReadFile Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hFile As Long, lpBuffer As Any, ByVal nNumberOfBytesToRead As Long, lpNumberOfBytesRead As Long, ByVal lpOverlapped As Any) As Long
Private Declare Function CreateFile Lib "kernel32" Alias "CreateFileA" (ByVal lpFileName As String, ByVal dwDesiredAccess As Long, ByVal dwShareMode As Long, ByVal lpSecurityAttributes As Any, ByVal dwCreationDisposition As Long, ByVal dwFlagsAndAttributes As Long, ByVal hTemplateFile As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function CloseHandle Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function SetFilePointer Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hFile As Long, ByVal lDistanceToMove As Long, lpDistanceToMoveHigh As Long, ByVal dwMoveMethod As Long) As Long

Public Function ReadSector(Sector As Long, Drive As String)
Dim dh As Long, ret As Long
Dim strBuffer As String
Dim bBytes(512) As Byte

Dim HexV As String
Dim StrV As String
Dim x As Long

Sector = Sector * 512
Drive = UCase(Drive)

dh = CreateFile("\\.\" & Drive & ":", GENERIC_READ, FILE_SHARE_READ Or FILE_SHARE_WRITE, ByVal 0&, OPEN_EXISTING, 0, 0)

If dh = -1 Then
 MsgBox "Could not open drive " & Drive & ":"
 End
End If

SetFilePointer dh, Sector, 0, FILE_BEGIN

ReadFile dh, bBytes(1), UBound(bBytes), ret, ByVal 0&

CloseHandle (dh)

Text1.Text = ""
Text2.Text = ""
For x = 1 To UBound(bBytes)
    HexV = Hex(bBytes(x))
    Text1.Text = Text1.Text & HexV & ","

    StrV = Chr(bBytes(x))
    Text2.Text = Text2.Text & StrV
Next x
End Function

Private Sub Command1_Click()
    Dim tmp As String
        tmp = Mid$(Drive1.Drive, 1, 1)
    If (IsNumeric(SectTxt.Text) = False) Then
        MsgBox "bad number)"
        Exit Sub
    End If
   
    ReadSector SectTxt.Text, tmp
   
End Sub

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Here is full project with source and new NEXT and PREV buttons

Hello Atomsoft,
Thanks very much for the response and the sample code.
I did try the code and was able to read a USB stick. Great.
Next step is to write to the USB :-) and put some safetychecks in to prevent writing to the C-drive
Djuskal