Using Disk Utility to formatting Micro SDHD 10 card

Question

Using Disk Utility to formatting Micro SDHD 10 card

The first time I formatted the 32gb Micro sdhd card with MS-DOS/FAT for the car's camera...all was well. Then recorded some HD movies with the camera as I drive (the car's camera has a built-in DVR), then attached to the MacBook Pro via USB to download. The computer would not recognize the Micro SD card and want to initialize...hmm! So, open Disk Utility and format as ExFAT...5hrs pass and it's still half way...7hrs pass and it's still half way.

I don't think it's doing anything as it starts halfway, and a minute left which stretches to 7hrs. I tried both MS-DOS/FAT and EXFAT...same thing. Is there any solution?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1)

Posted on Dec 10, 2012 6:52 PM

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Answer 1

babowa

Level 9

78,103 points

Dec 10, 2012 7:03 PM in response to Ralston Champagnie

I'm not at all knowledgeable about Windows formats, but one thing I noticed in your post: you say it's a camera card? Usually camera mfr's suggest that the card be formatted in the camera. Here is an example of one of mine (from a Canon):

I have no problem copying the contents to my iMac.

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Answer 2

Dec 10, 2012 7:29 PM in response to babowa

I'll have to look at the camera's manual...IICR, it doesn't matter if it's formatted with the camera or the computer. Also, I had formatted the Micro SDHD card before with the computer and it was readable by the computer and mounted on desktop.

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Answer 3

babowa

Level 9

78,103 points

Dec 10, 2012 7:36 PM in response to Ralston Champagnie

Well, most camera mfr's claim that it should be formatted in the camera. Occasionally, I'll empty my SDHC card via delete/empty trash, but do then format it within the camera just to make sure. I've never tried to format it with DU. It it's worked for you, great!

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Answer 4

Dec 10, 2012 7:54 PM in response to Ralston Champagnie

Regardless where that SDHC card is formatted, you should take great care that it is properly unmounted from the Mac desktop before you disconnect the camera. Otherwise, you could corrupt that data card, as several posts in the community have discovered.

Secondly, it is important to know if the Camera is compatible with iMovie '11. Here is the iMovie Supported Camera selector. If your videos are in AVCHD video format, here is how to get them off the camera.

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Answer 5

Dec 10, 2012 8:38 PM in response to Ralston Champagnie

Well, it's quite possible that the card is corrupt as I can't formatt it with the camera (it's not hightlighting so I can select it. The camera's manual doesn't specifically state that the Micro Sd card should only be formatted with the camera. Interestingly, the camera says the disk is full but my Mac only sees 8.4mb in the left hand side of disk utility. I forgot to mentioned that I tried using Windows XP that's also on my Mac via Virtualbox and that just gave me a headache trying to go throught that system,,,( really can't stand Windows...I have been using Macs since the late 80's, so you can understand)

My best bet is to consult Kingston on how to recover a corrupted Micro SDHD card.

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Answer 6

babowa

Level 9

78,103 points

Dec 10, 2012 8:47 PM in response to Ralston Champagnie

Ahhh, I owned a Kingston stick once. Have never purchased another Kingston product since (and never will). My cards are all either Sandisk or Verbatim.

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Answer 7

Dec 11, 2012 3:18 AM in response to Ralston Champagnie

Don't overlook the SDHC holder for that micro-SD card. Sometimes, the write-lock slider gets inadvertently repositioned to lock. Eyes that have been staring at computer screens for many years may not notice.😉

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Answer 8

babowa

Level 9

78,103 points

Dec 11, 2012 9:42 AM in response to VikingOSX

Ah, yes, didn't even think of the card reader (I used to have one that refused to read (actually wasn't capable of reading) my high speed cards).

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