Formatting Memory Cards

A memory card is a type of portable memory storage, which is used in various electronic devices, including digital cameras and MP3 players, to store data in digital format. Many a times the card runs into problems, such as continuous error messages or bad writes. Formatting memory cards can be an ideal option to fix these minor problems in the card. In digital cameras, formatting memory cards also makes them ready to be used with the camera. In simple words, formatting memory card is an easier way to delete the files off the card, instead of choosing and deleting each file one after another. One has to be careful when formatting memory cards because the files erased off the cards cannot be retrieved.

How to Format a Memory Card?
You would require a card reader to format a memory card. You can either use the computer's in-built card reader or get one of the various types of card readers available in the market. Insert the memory card into the card reader and open 'My Computer'. Once you do it, you will see a list of drives available in the machine. Select the drive representing the memory card (most often lettered as E or F drive or listed at the bottom of the page as removable drive) and get ready to format it. It's wiser to check the contents of the card, before you format it. This will make you aware if you have chosen the wrong drive and more importantly this last minute check can save some of your valuable data. Next, right click on the drive and click on the 'Format' option that you get to see. A box will appear on the screen. Leave all the options as they are, and click on the 'Start' tab. Being a non-reversible process, one should make sure that this is what he is intending to before clicking on the 'Start' tab. After the formatting process is complete, you can insert it into an electronic device and ensure it is working fine.

How to Format a Memory Card Without Losing Files?
Formatting involves erasing all the files off the card, and hence there are chances of losing some important files in process of formatting the memory card. But there is a procedure, wherein you can format a memory card without losing the files stored in it. Insert the memory card into the card reader or any other electronic device and connect it to the computer. Go to 'My Computer' and select the portable storage device. Open the drive and choose the files you want to keep. Select these files one by one by holding the 'Ctrl' on the keyboard. Copy these files using 'Ctrl + C' command and transfer them to a new folder by pasting them with 'Ctrl + V' command. Then right click on the drive and click on 'Format' and follow the process of formatting as mentioned above. Once you are done with the formatting, you can replace the files back on the memory card by using the 'Ctrl + C' and 'Ctrl + V' commands.

Knowing how to format a memory card can be helpful in circumstances, wherein there is an urgent need of storing some valuable data. You can also format an SD memory card in the aforementioned formatting process. If used properly, these small but efficient memory cards can have a long life.