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Mac Forum / Country Specific / UK Mac Group / May 2008How to 'force-format' an SD card?
I have an SD card that I use to transfer files between my EeePC and my iMac (via a USB SD card reader). I have also used it recently in my Nikon digital camera (after formating it in said camera first with whatever it formats it as). Now, after using it in the camera, I decided to re-format the SD card via the iMac so I could once again use it for file-swapping duties. I booted up Disk Utility and saw/see either "1.9 GB Generic USB SD Reader", or below it "disc1s1" (greyed out). Highlighting "1.9 GB Generic USB SD Reader" I started an MS-DOS erase, but it was taking so long that I force quit DU. I think this might have been a mistake. If I try the same now DU gives the error: "Bad file descriptor". If I highlight "disc1s1" (greyed out) & try the same thing, DU just hangs. If I try & format it on the EeePC via the terminal, it comes up with some error about not being able to, or not finding that particular drive/partition (if memory serves). Is there a way to 'force-format' the card? Or have I shagged (metaphorically speaking) it? Cheers ... Mark > I have an SD card that I use to transfer files between my EeePC and > my iMac (via a USB SD card reader). I have also used it recently in [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > there a way to 'force-format' the card? Or have I shagged > (metaphorically speaking) it? Can you format it in the camera? I think these tend to prefer to format their cards themselves anyway. If not, I'd try deleting and then re-creating the partition and then reformatting. >> I have an SD card that I use to transfer files between my EeePC and >> my iMac (via a USB SD card reader). I have also used it recently in [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > If not, I'd try deleting and then re-creating the partition and then > reformatting. As above, I did format it in the camera while it was being used there - but I was mindful that whatever it formatted it /as/, it wouldn't be Mac/Eee compatible (hence trying to re-format it using a computer) - but would the camera use an MS-DOS (or UNIX) type file system? How (if not erasing via DU), do I delete and re-create the partition? >As above, I did format it in the camera while it was being used there - but I >was mindful that whatever it formatted it /as/, it wouldn't be Mac/Eee >compatible (hence trying to re-format it using a computer) - but would the >camera use an MS-DOS (or UNIX) type file system? Cameras all use fat32, I think. >How (if not erasing via DU), do I delete and re-create the partition? fdisk on the Eee? Cheers - Jaimie  SignatureI like my coffee how I like my women... frothing. > Cameras all use fat32, I think. Not my Canon PSS70. It uses FAT16. AFAIK bigger flash RAM cards are pushing towards FAT32 but that hasn't happened everywhere. SignatureAndrew Stephenson >> As above, I did format it in the camera while it was being used there - but >> I [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Cheers - Jaimie Nah - tried that. It kicked up some sort of error. Instructions on Eee Wiki said "mkdosfs -F 32 -n XXX /dev/sdb1", with XXX being my choice of name. That's when the error came up. I'll double-check tonight. Cheers ... Mark > Nah - tried that. It kicked up some sort of error. Instructions on Eee Wiki > said "mkdosfs -F 32 -n XXX /dev/sdb1", with XXX being my choice of name. > That's when the error came up. I'll double-check tonight. Is there some kind of mangled partition table on the SD card that needs rebuilding? Cheers, Chris >> Nah - tried that. It kicked up some sort of error. Instructions on Eee Wiki >> said "mkdosfs -F 32 -n XXX /dev/sdb1", with XXX being my choice of name. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Chris yup - looks like there is.. >>> As above, I did format it in the camera while it was being used there - but >>> I [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >said "mkdosfs -F 32 -n XXX /dev/sdb1", with XXX being my choice of name. >That's when the error came up. I'll double-check tonight. Fdisk does partitioning, after which you need mkdosfs to format the partition. Errors might be due to /dev/sdb1 not actually existing yet, though that's normally a pretty clear error report! I'd rewrite the partition table (fdisk /dev/sdb, [p] for print, if it looks sensible then [q] and choose to write, if not then [d]elete all partitions and create one [n]ew one), then format. Uh, and be sure that /dev/sdb is the flash first of course. Cheers - Jaimie Signature"If anyone tells me to work smarter, not harder, I will kick him or her hard in a random body part. I will then kick him or her a second time, "smarter, not harder," which is to say that on the second strike, I'll use the same force, but target more carefully." -- sunflower, asr >>>> As above, I did format it in the camera while it was being used there - >>>> but [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Cheers - Jaimie Tried (from other advice) a "/sbin/cfdisk /dev/sdb" & got a "Fatal Error: Bad Primary Partition 0: Partition ends in the final partition cylinder". I tried "fdisk /dev/sdb" but it comes up with 'command not found'. Hmmm...struggling here - I'm not a command line person! Think it's dead? Cheers ... Mark > Hmmm...struggling here - I'm not a command line person! Think it's dead? Why not just make the camera reformat the card? Cheers, Chris >> Hmmm...struggling here - I'm not a command line person! Think it's dead? > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Chris Yup - that's a definite option...although the camera is out of town until tomorrow. Certainly sounds the simplest route! Cheers ... Mark > > Why not just make the camera reformat the card? > > Yup - that's a definite option...although the camera is out of town until > tomorrow. Certainly sounds the simplest route! I used to upload photos from my camera to the computer by sticking the SD card in a reader, dragging the photos over and deleting them off the card. Worked a few times, then suddenly neither camera nor computer would read the card. Neither of them would format it either, but it was saved by a friend with a higher end Canon formatting the card for me. Since then I use a USB cable to upload photos, and let the camera delete them. SignaturePd >>>>> As above, I did format it in the camera while it was being used there - >>>>> but [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > >I tried "fdisk /dev/sdb" but it comes up with 'command not found'. Probably need the full path, which may be /sbin/fdisk. Or the Eee install might have some strange layout... check in /bin, /usr/sbin, /usr/bin as well. >Hmmm...struggling here - I'm not a command line person! Think it's dead? Nah, it's just confused. Cheers - Jaimie Signature"I went to a planet where the dominant lifeform had no bilateral symmetry, and all I got was this stupid F-Shirt." -- Eric Pivnik >>>>>> As above, I did format it in the camera while it was being used there - >>>>>> but [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > Probably need the full path, which may be /sbin/fdisk. "No such file or directory" Or the Eee > install might have some strange layout... check in /bin, /usr/sbin, > /usr/bin as well. er...'check' for..? :-/ >> Hmmm...struggling here - I'm not a command line person! Think it's dead? > > Nah, it's just confused. > > Cheers - Jaimie >>>>>>> As above, I did format it in the camera while it was being used there - >>>>>>> but [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > >er...'check' for..? :-/ Well, we can either spend the evening familiarising you with the terminal commands (in this case, paths and use of 'ls'), or you can wait til the camera gets back tomorrow. Or as a recipe, try '/sbin/fdisk /dev/sdb', '/usr/sbin/fdisk /dev/sdb' and so on. Cheers - Jaimie SignatureI like my coffee how I like my women... but I can't get coffee that's independent, intelligent and has a career of its own. - Eric Jarvis, urs >>Or the Eee >>> install might have some strange layout... check in /bin, /usr/sbin, [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >terminal commands (in this case, paths and use of 'ls'), or you can >wait til the camera gets back tomorrow. Oops - that sounds harsh, wasn't meant to be. Sorry! Cheers - Jaimie Signature"What happens if a big asteroid hits Earth? Judging from realistic simulations involving a sledgehammer and a common laboratory frog, we can assume it will be pretty bad." - Dave Barry >>> Or the Eee >>>> install might have some strange layout... check in /bin, /usr/sbin, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Cheers - Jaimie S'cool! :-) Will wait for SWMBO to return digicam. Cheers ... Mark |
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