How to use Windows XP to format an SD card?
Hi all,
I'm working with Windows XP and got an SD card thingy that plugs into my USB port. My PC can read the SD card, and I can even read photos off of it that I loaded into the card from a Mac. The card appears to already be formatted in FAT (which I assume is FAT16 since the other drives list theirs at FAT32). Problem is, I'd like to know how to format these SD cards myself if that ever becomes necessary. The SD card object from the Object Exchange talks about selecting clusters, etc. so I would like to know how do I do all of that formatting, cluster sizing, etc. on Windows XP. What do I have to click on to get into that mode? (Where is that rabbit hole and how do I jump down it?).
thanks,
Mark
I'm working with Windows XP and got an SD card thingy that plugs into my USB port. My PC can read the SD card, and I can even read photos off of it that I loaded into the card from a Mac. The card appears to already be formatted in FAT (which I assume is FAT16 since the other drives list theirs at FAT32). Problem is, I'd like to know how to format these SD cards myself if that ever becomes necessary. The SD card object from the Object Exchange talks about selecting clusters, etc. so I would like to know how do I do all of that formatting, cluster sizing, etc. on Windows XP. What do I have to click on to get into that mode? (Where is that rabbit hole and how do I jump down it?).
thanks,
Mark

Comments
Click on SEcure Didital Storage device (E[noparse]:)[/noparse]
Click File in Task Bar
In Drop Down Panel Select format
In format select FAT not FAT32
You too could have done this! How does that line go??
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.
www.ss64.com/nt/format.html
file-system is FAT
allocation unit size is 32K or 64K
OBC
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New to the Propeller?
Getting started with a Propeller Protoboard?
Check out: Introduction to the Proboard & Propeller Cookbook 1.4
Updates to the Cookbook are now posted to: Propeller.warrantyvoid.us
Got an SD card connected? - PropDOS
There's another saying they use in Sumatra:
"Teach a drowning man how to fish... and he will become fish food."
Seriously, though, I Googled through this last night using things like "How do you format SD cards in Windows XP?"
I used the help index that comes with my HP laptop, etc. etc. etc. My wife, who is more familiar with Windows than I, went through the same thing. We couldn't find it. One problem I always encounter with using computers is that, on one level, people refer to things by one name, but then in another level, the level that is actually used to document things, they use a different name. In fact, I'm gonna guess that SD cards are "actually" referred to as removables or mass storage or non-rotating non-quantum bit-oriented Asimov devices, or somesuch thing that makes it impossible for a newbie to find.
Like they say in Sumatra, "If you don't know what keywords to use, you're screwed."
your lessons, however, are deliriously appreciated,
And my thanks to you, too, Ron!
Mark
(GONE FISHIN)
Show him the Propeller and he will open the window and fly free in the sky and will be in heaven!
Post Edited (ErNa) : 8/30/2008 5:44:21 PM GMT
Thats a better reference.
BTW Its interesting that you recommend the DOS Format command rather than the one under XP.
I did some tests on that up to 2G and found there was no difference in speed. Not with the drivers in OBEX anyway. The same SD Card
was formatted under DOS and then again using· XP.
Ron
Post Edited (Ron Sutcliffe) : 8/30/2008 3:51:43 PM GMT
(and since I'm obviously a DOS guy.. [noparse]:)[/noparse]
OBC
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
New to the Propeller?
Getting started with a Propeller Protoboard?
Check out: Introduction to the Proboard & Propeller Cookbook 1.4
Updates to the Cookbook are now posted to: Propeller.warrantyvoid.us
Got an SD card connected? - PropDOS
thanks for the link to interfacing sd media. It's a nice warm fuzzy to know there are plenty of ways to do this. I guess I won't be needing my teddy bear anymore.
Mark
2. install windows on the emulator system
3. run a format command
it hasn't been done before, but it can be done!?
Post Edited (Robot Freak) : 10/29/2008 6:53:53 PM GMT