By Kim Fogle
You've backed up your photographs to your computer, an external hard drive, DVD, jump drive, prints, online backup, card catalog, or whatever filing system you have devised--and now you're ready to clear your memory card and start over. What is the best way to do it? There are a couple of options right on your camera: erasing and formatting. Both have their benefits, and both have their drawbacks.
Erasing (Simple Deleting)
First off, there is plain old erasing. Most cameras have an "erase all" button right on the back. It is marked with the little icon of a trash can. From there, you just need to go into the playback mode where you review your pictures, push the trash can button, select the "erase all" (or "delete all", or whatever variant shows up), press "select" or "OK", and the pictures will be gone. It is an easy way to clear the card without pushing a bunch of buttons, and if you need to clear the card in a hurry, it will do.
There are a few drawbacks to this method, though. By pressing "erase all", the camera is not really deleting the pictures. It is just telling the camera that there is room on the card to save pictures, allowing the camera simply to overwrite the existing files. Since each picture file is a slightly different size, it is not a perfect overwrite. As you erase and delete repeatedly again, these imperfect overwrites can eventually cause file errors that can cause you to lose individual pictures, or even an entire card's worth of pictures.
How do you avoid this? Try formatting the card now and then.
Formatting
Formatting a card is like bleaching a towel instead of just rinsing it out. While you get most of the dirt out of the towel when you run some water through it, it is not completely clean. Bleach the towel, and it will be super clean.
To format your card, simply press "Menu" and go tothe Tools menu. You will find it under "Format" or possibly "Initialize", depending on the brand of camera. You will have to confirm that you want to clear the card--it is a built-in failsafe to make sure you do not accidentally delete pictures you actually want to save, since the pictures will be gone for good and prove very difficult to retrieve with media recovery software.
It is a good idea to format your memory card occasionally to prevent file errors from building up. You may also want to format when you buy a new card, or when you switch a card from one camera to another, especially if the cameras are different brands. As well as clearing the card, formatting sets the card up for your camera's particular file structure for storing the pictures. A formatted memory card is a healthy memory card, and a healthy memory card means you are less likely to lose pictures.
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Memory cards have a lifetime...and we can help you replace them when necessary. Always ask our friendly camera experts which card is right for your particular camera--because not all cards are created equal, and not all cameras take all cards!
FAQs
It is a good idea to format your memory card occasionally to prevent file errors from building up. You may also want to format when you buy a new card, or when you switch a card from one camera to another, especially if the cameras are different brands.
Do I need to format my SD card every time I use it? ›
It is very important that your SD card is formatted regularly, for most customers we recommend formatting your SD card every 2-3 weeks using the cameras setup menu.
Does formatting a SD card erase everything? ›
A quick format will mark an SD card as empty, but not erase anything. A full/complete format or a secure erase will also overwrite any data on the SD card, rendering it unrecoverable.
Does formatting a SD card shorten life? ›
Delete simply marks the storage blocks as available for writing over existing data. Format goes through the entire card, clears the data, and marks the blocks as available. Since cards have a finite amount of read/writes formatting can shorten the life of a card.
What happens if I don't format my SD card? ›
If you don't format an SD card, you risk corrupting the data on the card, which can lead to lost files or render the card unusable. Furthermore, your device may have difficulty reading the card if it's not formatted correctly, which can lead to crashes or other errors.
Should I delete or format my SD card? ›
It is a good idea to format your memory card occasionally to prevent file errors from building up. You may also want to format when you buy a new card, or when you switch a card from one camera to another, especially if the cameras are different brands.
Will I lose data if I format my SD card? ›
If you're faced with a corrupted SD card and want to format it without losing data, here's an effective approach: Back up your data using data recovery software. Insert the SD card into your computer. Open 'Disk Management', right-click the SD card, and choose 'Format'.
What is difference between delete and format? ›
Deleting a file removes the file entry from the index and marks the space as available. Formatting creates a new index and marks all space as available, same as deleting all the files and folders. In neither case is the data actually erased - it can still be recovered unless it's overwritten.
How do I completely wipe an SD card? ›
How to Clear an SD Card in Windows
- Open File Manager, select This PC, and right-click your SD card.
- Click Format.
- Click the File system drop down and select the file system you want.
- Click Start. ...
- Click OK.
Conclusion. Accidental formatting of SD cards doesn't have to mean permanent loss of data. With the right tools and techniques, such as those provided by data recovery software, recovery is more than just a possibility—it's a likelihood. However, prevention should always be the priority.
SD standards-based memory cards, like most semiconductor cards, store information in flash memory. The current technology along with normal usage typically gives the card a lifespan of 10 years or more, allowing consumers to upgrade their devices for many years and reduce consumer electronic waste.
Does formatting a memory card damage it? ›
Can this harm the SD card or is it ok? It's more than OK. It can actually be beneficial. You're much more likely to extend the life of the card, as compared to never formatting and only erasing images in the card, by formatting regularly.
How can I make my SD card last longer? ›
Here's a summary:
- Keep SD and microSD cards in a case if not in use – waterproof is ideal.
- Avoid cards' exposure to moisture or extreme temperatures.
- Be aware of potential static when handling SD and microSD cards.
With loop recording, the card will need to be formatted on a regular basis. This is when there is a build-up of protected files stored on the card, which shortens the recording time. It is generally recommended to format the SD card once a month to free up space.
Do SanDisk SD cards need to be formatted? ›
SD cards, like all types of removable disks and other media, need to be formatted before they'll work as a form of storage. This formatting process creates a file system, or directory structure, to store files. When the SD card is formatted a second time, the formatting uses the same file system but deletes the files.
Will formatting an SD card delete the pictures? ›
The answer is yes, it does. However, the data is only deleted and not permanently erased. Contrary to the popular belief, formatting an SD card makes the data stored on it practically unavailable for further use but does not remove it permanently.
Should you format your SD card after every shoot? ›
If you take a lot of pictures and regularly delete or transfer these images to your computer, format the SD card once a month or so. Regular formatting keeps your SD card operating at peak performance and reduces the chance of your files becoming corrupted.
Why do I suddenly need to format my SD card? ›
The interrupted process of writing on the SD card, corrupted SD card, loss of camera or computer files for reading and writing purposes, etc., may press on the need to format the SD card.
How often should I reformat my SD card for my Dash Cam? ›
Dashcams usually perform read/write tasks extensively, which is why memory card errors occur after lots of use. For the best recording performance, we suggest that you format the memory card quarterly. You can format the memory card on your dashcam, in the DrivePro App, or on your PC using a card reader.
