Formatting memory cards: Regular formatting vs. low level
Sep 16, 2014 17:52:20 #
shall1585
Loc: Prichard, WV
What's the difference between regular formatting and low level formatting? I tried to search here as well as Google, and came up with nothing relevant to cameras..
Sep 16, 2014 18:01:56 #
From http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001407.htm
A Quick Format is just that, quick. In order to make the formatting process quick, the drive is not checked for bad sectors. Anyone looking at the hard drive or storage device would not see any data and assume the drive is erased. Unfortunately, the files are actually still there and the volume could be re-built, to gain access to the files again.
A Full Format runs an additional step that checks the hard drive for any bad sectors. This check is what makes the full format take so much longer than a quick format. Unfortunately, just like the quick format the files still exist and the volume could be re-built to gain access to any of the files on the drive again.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302686
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/80478-tech-myth-2-quick-format-vs-full-format
http://www.howtogeek.com/179920/what-is-the-difference-between-a-quick-and-full-format
A Quick Format is just that, quick. In order to make the formatting process quick, the drive is not checked for bad sectors. Anyone looking at the hard drive or storage device would not see any data and assume the drive is erased. Unfortunately, the files are actually still there and the volume could be re-built, to gain access to the files again.
A Full Format runs an additional step that checks the hard drive for any bad sectors. This check is what makes the full format take so much longer than a quick format. Unfortunately, just like the quick format the files still exist and the volume could be re-built to gain access to any of the files on the drive again.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302686
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/80478-tech-myth-2-quick-format-vs-full-format
http://www.howtogeek.com/179920/what-is-the-difference-between-a-quick-and-full-format
Sep 16, 2014 18:05:12 #
Sep 16, 2014 18:05:14 #
" A quick format done through Windows* sets up an empty file system on the disk and installs a boot sector; the full format in Windows does the same as a quick format and will scan the entire disk for defects. A low-level format, on the other hand, queries each cell if it has been written to and then will write a zero to this cell. This may also be referred to as 'zeroing' the drive or 'flushing' the drive."
A low level format tests each cell for defects and marks bad cells as bad. This can fix performance issues but most new cards do this on the fly.
A low level format tests each cell for defects and marks bad cells as bad. This can fix performance issues but most new cards do this on the fly.
shall1585 wrote:
What's the difference between regular formatting and low level formatting? I tried to search here as well as Google, and came up with nothing relevant to cameras..
Sep 16, 2014 18:17:17 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
The original question concerned regular and low level formatting of a memory card - the above replies concern quick and full formatting of a hard drive. Are you folks saying it is all the same?
Sep 16, 2014 18:19:32 #
" A low-level format, on the other hand, queries each cell if it has been written to and then will write a zero to this cell. This may also be referred to as 'zeroing' the drive or 'flushing' the drive. " Asked and answered ...
RWR wrote:
The original question concerned regular and low level formatting of a memory card - the above replies concerned quick and full formatting of a hard drive. Are you folks saying it is all the same?
Sep 16, 2014 18:37:01 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
nakkh wrote:
" A low-level format, on the other hand, queries each cell if it has been written to and then will write a zero to this cell. This may also be referred to as 'zeroing' the drive or 'flushing' the drive. " Asked and answered ...
Actually, it was the first reply that I didn't understand. Of course, I would only format a camera's memory card in the camera, where there are no options (on my cameras, at least). Thanks.
Sep 16, 2014 18:49:30 #
Which works fine- error correction in the cards firmware takes care of errors and bad blocks on the fly.
RWR wrote:
Actually, it was the first reply that I didn't understand. Of course, I would only format a camera's memory card in the camera, where there are no options (on my cameras, at least). Thanks.
Sep 16, 2014 18:56:33 #
shall1585 wrote:
What's the difference between regular formatting and low level formatting? I tried to search here as well as Google, and came up with nothing relevant to cameras..
there is one more way to format a memory devise !!
take it out into the garage fire up the cutting torch, and melt the h$ll out of it!!!
Sep 16, 2014 19:31:25 #
Format your memory cards in the camera, if that is where they are to be used. Otherwise, follow the advice given if using the card as an external drive.
Sep 16, 2014 20:07:06 #
shall1585
Loc: Prichard, WV
Hunakai wrote:
Format your memory cards in the camera, if that is where they are to be used. Otherwise, follow the advice given if using the card as an external drive.
I always format in my camera, but both of my Canons have 2 options-regular and low level formatting.
Sep 16, 2014 21:12:33 #
There is an international organization of SD card manufacturers. This is their site:
http://www.sdcard.org/home/
On it you will find just about anything you want to know about SD cards. Check the consumers section. In the downloads section you will find SD Formatter. It's free and the manufacturers recommend that it be used to format their cards.
http://www.sdcard.org/home/
On it you will find just about anything you want to know about SD cards. Check the consumers section. In the downloads section you will find SD Formatter. It's free and the manufacturers recommend that it be used to format their cards.
Sep 16, 2014 23:54:45 #
St3v3M wrote:
I do it this way
Format in card reader. Open to see if empty. Place back in camera and reformat again. 3 years now Card still going strong.
Sep 17, 2014 07:14:11 #
RWR wrote:
The original question concerned regular and low level formatting of a memory card - the above replies concern quick and full formatting of a hard drive. Are you folks saying it is all the same?
Staying on point is a constant problem in this site.
Sep 17, 2014 07:29:46 #
jrushphoto
Loc: Flint, MI
Straight from the user manual of my Canon T5i: "Perform low-level formatting if the card's recording or reading speed seems slow or if you want to totally erase all data in the card." "When the card is formatted or data is erased, only the file management information is changed. The actual data is not completely erased......execute low-level formatting to prevent any personal data from being leaked."
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