Formatting SD memory cards

2009-06-15 19:57:05

#1

OxenBreeder: Member; +46|6028|KTRI

I've got 2 1GB SD memory cards used in a digital camera. The cards were originally formatted using the camera (Nikon CoolPix L18.) So I'm deleting older photos off the memory card, and I'm noticing the properties of the card, the card is formatted in FAT, and I notice that I can reformat the card in NTFS, FAT, FAT32 and exFAT. I'm also noticing there are different "allocation unit size" it's currently set at 16 kilobytes. Not sure I understand what the "allocation unit size" is/means.

My question... with an SD memory card, is there any advantage to reformatting it to NTFS, FAT32, or any others that I mentioned above? Should I just leave it set at FAT? Will reformatting to say NTFS allow more pictures to be held on each card? The pictures average about 2.0MB each in FAT format.

Thanks
Ox

2009-06-15 20:02:12

#2

blademaster: I'm moving to Brazil; +2,075|6908

Yeah just leave it as FAT, dont change it to NTFS . FAT is an older method of storing data on a disk NTFS is a newer method kind of like the hard disk.

so yeah just leave it as it is.
The memory stick is prob. FAT because of its small size and you want it to be compatible across a range of different systems.if you want to access it from some other OS besides XP thats why one may rely on FAT.

Last edited by blademaster (2009-06-15 20:03:57)

2009-06-15 20:02:45

#3

Winston_Churchill: Bazinga!; +521|7001|Toronto | Canada

I'm pretty sure you shouldnt, the camera probably only recognizes it in its original state

2009-06-15 20:03:29

#4

Brasso: member; +1,549|6893

just leave it as FAT. that's the way it's meant to be for a digital camera. if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

NTFS is normally more of a disk drive structure, as in internal HDDs. not flash memory. think of it this way: NTFS - permanent; FAT - temporary. that's why flash drives are often FAT or FAT32 - so that you don't have to do the stupid "eject drive" thing every time before removing it. there are a couple limitations to FAT (one of them being the single file storage size; a single file can't be over 4.-something GB on a FAT device), but it works perfectly for a camera.

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-06-15 20:15:19

#5

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6830|NYC / Hamburg

Chances are your camera only supports FAT and maybe FAT32. There aren't really any advantages for using NTFS on such a small card anyhow

haffeysucks wrote:
hink of it this way: NTFS - permanent; FAT - temporary. that's why flash drives are often FAT or FAT32 - so that you don't have to do the stupid "eject drive" thing every time before removing it

That's not true. If anything you need to unmount FAT drives and not NTFS. Remember how you'd always had to run a checkdisk after your DOS-based PC crashed?

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2009-06-15 20:16:38

#6

OxenBreeder: Member; +46|6028|KTRI

haffeysucks wrote:
just leave it as FAT. that's the way it's meant to be for a digital camera. if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

NTFS is normally more of a disk drive structure, as in internal HDDs. not flash memory. think of it this way: NTFS - permanent; FAT - temporary. that's why flash drives are often FAT or FAT32 - so that you don't have to do the stupid "eject drive" thing every time before removing it. there are a couple limitations to FAT (one of them being the single file storage size; a single file can't be over 4.-something GB on a FAT device), but it works perfectly for a camera.

Great explanation haffeysucks. Though I appreciate everyone's input.

Edit: just saw Maxs' reply. I'll just leave it as is.

haffeysucks wrote:
if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Thanks everyone.

Ox

Last edited by OxenBreeder (2009-06-15 20:22:02)

2009-06-15 20:17:54

#7

Brasso: member; +1,549|6893

max wrote:
Chances are your camera only supports FAT and maybe FAT32. There aren't really any advantages for using NTFS on such a small card anyhow
haffeysucks wrote:
hink of it this way: NTFS - permanent; FAT - temporary. that's why flash drives are often FAT or FAT32 - so that you don't have to do the stupid "eject drive" thing every time before removing it
That's not true. If anything you need to unmount FAT drives and not NTFS. Remember how you'd always had to run a checkdisk after your DOS-based PC crashed?

you forget i'm not that old. i had to format my 16 GB flash drive to NTFS, however, because i wanted to put single large files on it. it constantly warns me to unmount it before removing it. i don't get any sort of message like that for FAT devices.

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2009-06-15 20:22:32

#8

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6830|NYC / Hamburg

Never used a windows 98 PC?

Given the 2GB file size limitation of FAT I doubt it'll be an issue with 1GB cards

just because windows doesn't bitch, doesn't mean you don't need to unmount the drive. Removing a FAT formatted disk while data is being written to it can really fuck things up

Last edited by max (2009-06-15 20:23:13)

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2009-06-15 20:26:03

#9

OxenBreeder: Member; +46|6028|KTRI

I've always unmounted a memory card, or flash drive, no need in taking any chances.

2009-06-15 20:26:24

#10

Brasso: member; +1,549|6893

max wrote:
Never used a windows 98 PC?

Given the 2GB file size limitation of FAT I doubt it'll be an issue with 1GB cards

just because windows doesn't bitch, doesn't mean you don't need to unmount the drive. Removing a FAT formatted disk while data is being written to it can really fuck things up

well, just in the back of the room in elementary school to play worms armageddon...

about the unmounting: yeah, i know. i was just under the impression that NTFS drives were more likely to be randomly accessed (since my 16GB drive lights up when i'm not doing anything remotely related to that drive) than FAT drives (which usually don't light up as soon as i'm done moving files).

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

BF2S Forums Formatting SD memory cards

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haffeysucks wrote:

max wrote:

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