[Potter Co. Joe]

I've read in some cases New SD cards have to be Formatted.
Can anyone tell me if that's true or not
and if so how do you go about it.
I lost 2 SD cards and bought 2 new ones.
Can't get any pictures out of 2 Cams.
Not sure if they bit the dust or it's the cards.

 

[5chunter]

I run quite a few cams. Just put a new one out last week with a new card and no need to format anything. Pulled the pictures last night no issues.

 

[cubcadet]

New sd cards I just put in the camera, making sure the yellow tap is up on the card. The only time I format the card on my cameras is deleting pictures.

 

[KingRon]

IF your camera has a format card option then use that to format the card. IF you format the card on your PC make sure you are using the correct format "FAT" or "FAT32" and not "NTFS" . Check your cameras manual for the correct format to use.

 

[Potter Co. Joe]

Thanks for the info guys.
Just got my new Browning Micro series 12MP
in today from Cabelas.
Hope I have better Luck with this Cam.

 

[mauser06]

When I put my cards in for the first time I format them to that camera...I have 2 cards for each camera so I can simply swap cards as I pass by...I keep them labeled for each camera...each season I start with a fresh format...


Does it matter? Need to be done? No idea...but made sense to me lol. The last thing I want is to leave a camera in a hot spot for a month and come back to find out it didn't take pics...

 

[Newport-Bill]

I always format mine as well first time they go into the camera. I did have one that the second year I reformatted on my PC to wipe it clean and now it freezes the trail cam on boot up. Works fine in my Canon hand camera though.

 

[REDLAB]

also some cams only take so many gb sd card ! If you put one in that is higher than the cam will allow it won't work ! some also won't work on high capacidy cards or the ultra cards !

 

[surveyor]

I've read in some cases New SD cards have to be Formatted.

not to be smart but format is basically a fancy word for erase so new cards do not need formatted. i generally do not ever format anything unless it is a last resort. it's possible that you just didn't click on your correct computer drive, i had that happen to me. now if your chip is full i guess you'll need to format it after you copy everything off of it but make sure you can view the pics on your PC..

 

[Potter Co. Joe]

I tried these new cards in a new Cam. and they worked fine.
Just thought it was odd that 2 Cams. quit at the same time.
The one Cam takes pictures in the first 2 minutes then shuts down.
The other just flat out died.
The Cams are only a couple years old and were not used that much.
I'll have to call Wild Game Innovations and see what they can do.
Can't find receipts.

 

[surveyor]

maybe bad batteries? this is certainly bad timing for a cam to go down.

 

[Potter Co. Joe]

maybe bad batteries? this is certainly bad timing for a cam to go down.

Nah, tried new batteries.

 

[littlegopher]

Here is something else that may work: insert your SD card in the computer. Select and delete everything. This speeds up any format. Select format, but do not click on okay. You will see a check mark for "Quick Format". Click on this which will remove the check mark. If the card is named under a different camera, high light the name and click delete. Now okay the format. Formatting this way takes a fair bit longer, for me, up to 30 minutes using a 32 GB SD card. The next time you want to format a card the check mark is automatically back as it originally was. Good luck.

 

[[email protected]]

not to be smart but format is basically a fancy word for erase so new cards do not need formatted. i generally do not ever format anything unless it is a last resort. it's possible that you just didn't click on your correct computer drive, i had that happen to me. now if your chip is full i guess you'll need to format it after you copy everything off of it but make sure you can view the pics on your PC..

Erasing pictures and formatting cards are two different things. Erased or deleted data on cards is a result of formatting. Formatting cards is a necessity to ensure data is being properly written to cards, especially when you are running multiple cameras that use different codec or writing processes. Formatting restructures the file allocation tables (FAT) on cards, clears any corrupt files or cookies that may be present and if you are able to do it inside of your camera it allows the card to sync writing speeds to the host. You can go without formatting and potentially not have any issues but sooner or later it will happen. Consider it similar to an oil change in a vehicle.

 

[[email protected]]

I've read in some cases New SD cards have to be Formatted.
Can anyone tell me if that's true or not
and if so how do you go about it.
I lost 2 SD cards and bought 2 new ones.
Can't get any pictures out of 2 Cams.
Not sure if they bit the dust or it's the cards.

Are you using the recommend brand by the manufacturer and the correct size/speed? I know if models recommend a 32g card and you use something larger it will cause fits. Also, make sure the cards are not locked.