Josmi Shvan
Member
When using your CF cards, how do you decide whether to ERASE or FORMAT? What are the pros/cons of each process?
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Do you ERASE or do you FORMAT?
- Thread starter Josmi Shvan
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fanandie
Well-known member
I always move the image data from CF to HD folders within XP
Theory - the more you format the card the shorter life of it
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fanandie
Theory - the more you format the card the shorter life of it
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fanandie
R
Rich Gibson
Guest
Good grief; where did THAT idea come from? Incidentally, format rather than erase. Just like a hard drive you will clobber the FAT table with segments all over the place, drastically slowing down the CF card if you erase.
Rich
Rich
dmlove
Senior Member
Fragmentation - that's the first intelligent-sounding answer I've gotten to this question, which has been asked and answered many times in these forums, never with any consensus of opinion.>
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Davia
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Alan Smallbone
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Ruffian
Senior Member
A CF card has a limited number of write times, probably 100,000. After this number and the card could possibly go DOA.
One problem with your theory: formatting the card is included in the write times figure, so your theory is essentially moot.
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Macro
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Ditto. I figure there is less chance for corruption by formatting with the device that does the writing.
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I always format my CF, MD's after downloading the pics.
I have never had any of the problems like missing pics, overwrighting pics, etc.,etc. that you hear other people complaining about.
I have three Canon cameras, G1, D30 and D60 and use my CF and MD's in all of them.
I also have a 20GB Image Tank that I have never had any problems with. Before I download my CF, MD's to my IT I make sure the IT's HD has been formatted and after downloading the pics from IT to my computer HD I reformat the IT HD to make sure it is clean for the next download.
It has always worked for me.
Bill
I have never had any of the problems like missing pics, overwrighting pics, etc.,etc. that you hear other people complaining about.
I have three Canon cameras, G1, D30 and D60 and use my CF and MD's in all of them.
I also have a 20GB Image Tank that I have never had any problems with. Before I download my CF, MD's to my IT I make sure the IT's HD has been formatted and after downloading the pics from IT to my computer HD I reformat the IT HD to make sure it is clean for the next download.
It has always worked for me.
Bill
Fred Phillips
Senior Member
Pardon my computer illiteracy but could you advise how you format an IT Hard Disk. I know how to format CF cards (in the camera--mine is an S2) but how do you format the IT to work with a PC (Dell 450MHz, Win 98)
Any help would be greatfully received.
Fred
J
Joe Peoples
Guest
Joe Peoples writes:
I always copy the files, then move them, formatting once I'm absolutely sure the photos were safely transferred onto my computer's hard drive. Even if what you say is true about shortening the CF card's life, it's better to replace the card than ruin a shoot because of a faulty transfer.
slipe
Senior Member
I participated in the CF card speed tests for my camera and noticed my times were higher that others with the same card. I read the instructions more carefully and it said to format. After formatting I had the same speed as the others with the same brand of CF. I always format now.
Fred,
I'm running Windows XP Pro on my computer but if you installed the IT drivers for Windows 98 it should be about the same.
When you connect the IT to your USB port the system should recognize the IT as a removable drive and you will be able to see it along with the rest of your drives under "MY Computer". If you only have a floppy-drive A, HD-Drive C and CD Rom-Drive D the IT should be drive E. Just right click on the drive and a drop-down menu will appear with a option to "Format"
the drive. Click on format and a window will open with options on it. Checkmark "Quick Format" and click on start. Make sure you use the FAT32 format.
Hope this helps.
Bill
I'm running Windows XP Pro on my computer but if you installed the IT drivers for Windows 98 it should be about the same.
When you connect the IT to your USB port the system should recognize the IT as a removable drive and you will be able to see it along with the rest of your drives under "MY Computer". If you only have a floppy-drive A, HD-Drive C and CD Rom-Drive D the IT should be drive E. Just right click on the drive and a drop-down menu will appear with a option to "Format"
the drive. Click on format and a window will open with options on it. Checkmark "Quick Format" and click on start. Make sure you use the FAT32 format.
Hope this helps.
Bill
Fred Phillips
Senior Member
Bill
Many thanks. My XDrive arrives Monday and I want to be sure I can set it up quickly as I'm leaving on a long trip the following week with my new Fuji S2 and want to be sure all is understood and in working order.
Fred
Dian
Member
I actually investigated flash chip when I had to use them for a project at work. I only looked at Intel & AMD flash though. I assume the ones that they use inside CF behaves similarly.
The flash chips' life depends on how many times you erase/format it. Some chips can handle 10,000 (Intel) erases, some chips can do up to 100,000 (AMD). The difference between erase and format is just the FAT table as someone mentioned. Because of this, I always format the CF since it won't fragment as much.
Someone mentioned that they MOVE the pictures, then format them. Moving is basically copying and then erasing. That means you do 2 "erases" per transaction and that would reduce the life of the CF. Unless of course, the software would check whether the CF is empty first and wouldn't erase it for the 2nd time when you format. I doubt the software is that smart
dian
The flash chips' life depends on how many times you erase/format it. Some chips can handle 10,000 (Intel) erases, some chips can do up to 100,000 (AMD). The difference between erase and format is just the FAT table as someone mentioned. Because of this, I always format the CF since it won't fragment as much.
Someone mentioned that they MOVE the pictures, then format them. Moving is basically copying and then erasing. That means you do 2 "erases" per transaction and that would reduce the life of the CF. Unless of course, the software would check whether the CF is empty first and wouldn't erase it for the 2nd time when you format. I doubt the software is that smart
dian
dmlove
Senior Member
Fred, two things: 1) you probably will not need to format initially; at least, with my IT, I didn't need to; and 2) make sure you take pictures and test the Xdrive before you leave!
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Ken Phillips
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All kinds of old camera and motion picture bodies, lenses, tripods, enlargers, mostly gathering dust, because digital is immediate! NO Canon 1200mm f/5.6.
dmlove
Senior Member
Well, I copy the files from the IT to the hard drive, or move them, but I still format the IT once I'm sure the copy was successful and I've burned the pix to a cd.
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Davia
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Jeff/UK
Senior Member
cause i thought they were full.....
TwistedMelon
Leading Member
Format Pros:
Bruno
- Faster
- Clears the FAT (File Allocation Table) in one shot leaving it wide open for new files with no fragmentation
- Less clicking and selecting to accomplish.
- NONE.
- NONE.
- Slower
- Individually selecting images in-camera is insane
- Batch selecting in your OS and deleting can lead to problems with the card that your camera won't like - possibly leaving you with no choice but to format the card in-camera anyway.
Bruno
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