Saving SD Card Data

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This page is geared towards Windows users

Saving SD card images

NOTE: Write protect your SD card before putting it into a Windows 8, Windows 10, or Apple computer. Slide the little tab toward the middle of the card. This way, you can't damage the data on your card. Unlock the card before putting it back into your CPAP machine.

SD card unlocked and locked.svg.png

Note that by "image," I mean a complete copy of the data on the SD card.

Some of the CPAP machines do "non-standard" things to the SD card and you may not actually get ALL the data off of the card, and that you may not be able to restore the data back to the SD card.

1) Open "My Computer"

Depending on which version of Windows you have, it may be called "Computer." It may be on the desktop, or under Start->Computer.

2) Insert the SD card into your computer.

3) Left click on the drive that represents your SD card.

Note that you can rename this card from with windows. I find it useful to rename it to something like "S9-SDcard" so that it's easy to spot.

4) Right click and select "copy." Do NOT select "CUT".

5) Open the directory you want to put the data into.

I use a directory called "C:\S9".

6) Paste the data into that directory. You will end up with a directory called "S9-SDcard" or something like "Removable disk" if you haven't renamed the SD card.

7) Right click on the new directory and rename it to something useful. I usually name mine something like 150326 for today's date. 2015/03/26.

Sharing your SD Card Data

If you want to send your data to someone else on the internet, you need to put it into a "zip" file of some sort so that it is one file instead of many files.

Creating a .zip file

With most versions of Windows, once you've copied the SD card to your hard drive, you can select the folder with left click, then use right click->Send to-> Compressed (zipped) folder. This will create a file with the .zip extension. Unfortunately, Windows may hide the ".zip" extension and make it sort of look like a new folder. The icon looks a little different.

On windows, it's a good idea in general to turn off the "hide extensions" option. When you open "my computer," click on "tools -> Folder options -> view" and turn off "Hide extensions for known file types."

I prefer the free and open source 7-zip program.

7-zip is a really great program that opens and creates all kinds of archive files.

Once you install z-zip, Right click on the directory you want to create a zip (archive) file for. You should have a 7-zip-> item in the menu. You can select "add to ?.zip." This will create a .zip format file that contains your data.

You can also create .7z format files, which are a little smaller. More people know how to open a .zip file, but many experienced users prefer .7z.

You can also use .7z->add to archive, which gives you more options, including encryption.

Sharing your data

You can e-mail the .zip or .7z file you just created. However, the files are large enough that you may not be able to send them via e-mail.

You can also store it on the internet somewhere. is one site many people use. Sign up for an ID, and upload the file there.

Dropbox will want you to install dropbox software on your PC. As far as I know, this software is entirely legitimate, but you don't have to install it. Dropbox will work just fine using only a web browser, although you will not be able to use some of the more powerful features of Dropbox.


In summary, I don't think there are any "real" privacy problems with sharing an image of your CPAP data, but here is the "fine print."

There are some legal requirements on sharing medical data, but I believe you are free to share your own medical data. Choose wisely. I would be very careful about sharing someone else's data.

Even if it's your own data, realize that you are exposing some data about yourself.

However, the only information on the card that seems somewhat sensitive is the serial number of your machine. Only your doctor, equipment supplier, or insurance company might be able to do something with that, and all they should be able to do is tell that "Archangle on apneaboard" is actually John H. Smith, 123 Main Street. Anyone with info that links my machine serial number to me probably already has my address, phone, insurance number, SSN, etc. and access to my CPAP data.

Even if the "bad guys" get your SD card image, I think all they they can see is:

Your CPAP usage.
The hours you sleep every night.
How well your therapy is working. Waveforms of your breathing patterns, etc.
Your machine type and serial number.
The therapy settings such as pressure.

I don't think your CPAP machine saves any personal information like name, e-mail, credit card, social security number. Someone with access to your real world medical info might be able to link your internet identity to your real world data. It should only be a problem if someone in your doctor's office or the supplier finds your post and decides to look you up. It seems really unlikely they'd find your post and take the trouble to "hunt you down." It doesn't seem like something that would attract hackers or "data miners," even if they did have access to the records of your doctor or supplier. Note that the data you put into OSCAR, Encore, or ResScan does not get put on the SD card.

I don't think people can see your file on Dropbox unless you tell them the URL. If you post the URL on a forum, the people there can see your data. If you're concerned, you can send the URL via PM (Private Message) or e-mail.

If you create a Dropbox account, you can delete the card image once the person you sent it to downloads it.

If you want extra privacy, 7-zip will allow you to create an encrypted file. You can put a file on dropbox, and then send the key via a different method such as e-mail or PM.

I believe you can set the file to only be accessible on dropbox to certain dropbox users.

You can make the file public on Dropbox by sharing the URL.

Remember that once your personal information "escapes" onto the internet, you generally can't remove it from the internet.