Formatting SD cards

[GORDON STREETER]

I inadvertently formatted an SD card on my PC that I was using in my HD camcorder and have since found out that if you do this it will not work in the camcorder again regardless of what you try.
Looking on the net I am not alone it would appear, and before anyone tells me to format it in the camcorder you can't because it will not read that there is a card in it !

[Tim Falce]

Is this camcorder/your camcorder specific as I haven't had a problem with my slr camera

[grantp]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I inadvertently formatted an SD card on my PC that I was using in my HD camcorder and have since found out that if you do this it will not work in the camcorder again regardless of what you try.

Format it as what Gordon?

There has ot be a way around that. Or just buy another cheap as computer chips card.

[Tim Falce]

Is it one of those cheapo sd cards that you bought?

[GORDON STREETER]

No it's not a cheapo, I use two decent grade 10 HC cards designed for camcorders, although both of my Panasonic 900 cameras have built in hard drives and card slots it's quicker and easier to use SD cards to transfer to the desktop for editing.
As most of us do I read the million page manual afterwards regarding the use of cards and it states that you should not format it in anything else than in the camera.
As I said I went on camcorder forums and found loads of people with the same problem and have tried reformatting it in FAT 32/ ex etc etc but to no avail. The card works fine in Sue's SLR so she might as well keep it for a spare.
I'm not saying it's impossible to sort it but it's easier to just get another card and take it as a lesson learned !

[Aysedasi]

I must admit I've never formatted a card other than in the camera/camcorder, so no experience of this here......

[GORDON STREETER]

Reading between the lines it looks like for some reason it only seems to happen with camcorders and possibly only Panasonic ?
At least I haven't lost any important footage

[JurekB]

I've heard of this problem and I think the problem is because the folders your camera puts on the card are missing so that's why it wont recognise it.

So if for instance you normally have a 101DCIM folder and a MISC folder you need to manually replace them via your computer and then hopefully the camera will recognise them.

I don't know if this will actually work as the person who told me about it had deleted the folders from his card rather than formatting it but it may be worth a go.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by JurekB

I've heard of this problem and I think the problem is because the folders your camera puts on the card are missing so that's why it wont recognise it.

So if for instance you normally have a 101DCIM folder and a MISC folder you need to manually replace them via your computer and then hopefully the camera will recognise them.

I don't know if this will actually work as the person who told me about it had deleted the folders from his card rather than formatting it but it may be worth a go.

Yes you are right but I did know this and tried to put the folders (and the other folders that are inside them) via the PC and the camcorder still will not acknowledge that there is a card inserted so you can't format it in the camera.
What I can't understand is that when you buy a new card it doesn't know what camera it's going in !
As I said I can't be arsed to waste more time sodding about with it and just use it in one of the still cameras.
Incidently I copied a known good card but after putting the same card back in the camera I had to reformat it before I could use it

[JimW]

I'd try one of the many data recovery tools to see if it will restore whatever it is the camcorder is expecting to find.

Then I'd try a "low-level" format to see if that restores the card back to the sort of "ex-factory" state that the camcorder may be insisting on.

No specific knowledge, just general principles.

Regards

Jim

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by JimW

I'd try one of the many data recovery tools to see if it will restore whatever it is the camcorder is expecting to find.

Then I'd try a "low-level" format to see if that restores the card back to the sort of "ex-factory" state that the camcorder may be insisting on.

No specific knowledge, just general principles.

Regards

Jim

Tried it all, not to save myself a few quid but just interested for the future.
Actually cloning a known working card and showing all the relevant partitions on the clone it still wont work and the camera comes up with "no card"

[flagwaver]

Have you tried downloading what was on the SD card before you formatted it back on to the SD card and then putting it into the camcorder?

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by flagwaver

Have you tried downloading what was on the SD card before you formatted it back on to the SD card and then putting it into the camcorder?

You don't have to download everything that's on the card, just the AVCHD video stream, as I said the card works OK in an SLR after formatting it in it.
One thing I do know is if you put HD video back on a card from a PC it will not play in a camcorder.
Things have got complicated over the years since I started on 16mm 50 odd years ago

[Tim Falce]

It's only an SD card fer chrissy sake, just use it in the slr or send it to me.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

It's only an SD card fer chrissy sake, just use it in the slr or send it to me.

Tim I have already stated that I will use it in one of the SLRs, the whole point was trying to figure it out for the future in case it happens again as a genuine 32gig top of the range camcorder card ain't 10 bob !

[TWRv12]

Is there a support forum for the card manufacturer? Might be a was to do a factory reset.

Are they SDXC?
http://www.lexar.com/support/sdxc-faqs

exFAT?
http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7593_102...read-card-now/

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by TWRv12

Is there a support forum for the card manufacturer? Might be a was to do a factory reset.

Yes I have all the latest settings regards formatting on one of my PCs that is dedicated solely to HD video, also because of family connections I have access to a lot of set up software that is not available outside of the digi camera repair business.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Tim I have already stated that I will use it in one of the SLRs, the whole point was trying to figure it out for the future in case it happens again as a genuine 32gig top of the range camcorder card ain't 10 bob !

True, my top of the range 32 gig card cost all of £25, I know it's a good part of the heating allowance to you but in real life it's pocket money.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

True, my top of the range 32 gig card cost all of £25, I know it's a good part of the heating allowance to you but in real life it's pocket money.

Pocket money to you it maybe but to us OAPs it's a small fortune, besides I need my heating allowance to keep the swimming pool going over the Winter
Also I can't find a SanDisk 32GB Extreme Pro 95MB/Sec SDHC Card for 25 quid !

[grantp]

Gordon,

Just caught up with this thread. Intrigued. So I ran a search and this popped up from a couple of years back.

You may already have tried it but you haven't mentioned it specifically. It may not be relevant to your card or camera but I thought it was worth mentioning. The later posts are possibly pertinent.

http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7593_102...read-card-now/

ETA: Whoops - I see that TWRv12 has previously suggested the same link.

[TWRv12]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Yes I have all the latest settings regards formatting on one of my PCs that is dedicated solely to HD video,

What OS is on your PC?

Did you ever try the exFAT as mentioned in the previous links?

Seems very odd that there isn't a solution

[GORDON STREETER]

Yes have tried every format I think I'll try the microwave next !
I must admit it is strange and maybe it's peculiar to Panasonic camcorders, both of my 900s won't read it neither will my older 700.

I think it's formatted out !!!!!

[TWRv12]

I assume the card is on the sd card compatability list for your device?
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/e_cam/index.html

http://forums.sandisk.com/t5/Product...tcompatibility

Device firmware up to date? Computer up to date?

Do SanDisk have a way of doing a low level format to restore to factory format?

Good luck with it

[Clive]

Do Panasonic give any advice? Can they tell you what format system they use?