Do you know if a memory card ever just stops working right because of use? It seems like lately we have had a bit of trouble with our camera, and I wondered if it was the memory card. We have one card that we've been using for about 2 1/2yrs. Rarely is anything stored on the internal memory. Does anyone have experience with cards going bad? TIA

By Brandy on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 09:12 am:

I do know they can go bad..if you have the money i would invest in another one to see if maybe that's the problem = ) ...

By Kaye on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 09:28 am:

Also how long has it been since you reformatted it? You are supposed to do that after each use, but honestly I only do it every couple of months or so.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 10:56 am:

You should reformat your card every time you download your pics from it. I was told this by the photographer/sales manager at Wolf Camera. He also said to do it 2 or 3 times in a row, each time. If you don't reformat every time you clear the pics off the card, *noise* is left behind and will affect the quality of the new pics you take - that's why they may begin to look grainy.

Sometimes I get a card error on my Sony, and occasionally on my Canon too. Usually all it takes is to remove the card and reset it. Although I did have a Sony memory stick go bad and I had to discard it.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 01:38 pm:

Wow! I did NOT know that! I've only reformatted it 2 TIMES since we've had it, and that's when it asked me to!!! I will remember and start doing that. Thank you a lot for the info.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 05:25 pm:

Deanna, I didn't know it either until a year or so ago. LOL

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 10:33 am:

I learned that from Momsview, in the last year, and not from my DH who is a professional photographer! Some teacher he is! LOL! Now, we format the card, often, and usually a couple of times, since it doesn't take that long.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 10:54 am:

I format mine probably 3 times each time. My Canon formats very quickly, but the Sony takes a while. It did make a difference in the quality of the Sony pics - I had never reformatted the memory sticks and the pics were very grainy and unclear. Once I started reformatting, the images were great.

However - just like anything else, the cards can go bad, so it's still possible you have a bad one.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 03:04 pm:

That's really great info. I'm going to start doing that every time I dump it. The thing is though, I dump it frequently...like every 5-10pics usually. Should I do it EVERY time? Is it the # of pics on it or just the whole process dumping the pics?

My Kodak formats very quickly too. I feel enlightened. Thanks everyone!!

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, March 9, 2006 - 03:18 pm:

When you transfer pics off of your card and clear your card, there is still *noise* left behind. That's why they recommend doing it every time you clear your card.

By Reds9298 on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 07:38 am:

Okay...thanks again for all the info.

By Lorebunde on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 01:22 pm:

Not to sound like a dummy but was does it mean to reformat it?

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 01:10 am:

It cleans all the data off the card and lets you start again fresh.

By Grandma2jah on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 07:24 pm:

My Camera won't work after two months. Even fresh recharged batteries doesn't work in it.

I may have dropped it.

By Tripletmom on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 08:25 pm:

Thanks for the info I've had my camera since December and never formatted it.Only the once when I first put my memory card in. I didnt know I had to Thx again

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 09:50 pm:

Grandma2jah, wouldn't it still be under warranty?

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 10:15 pm:

Most sales persons will not mention the formatting thing to you. And I am not even sure if all of the user manuals state that.

I learned this from a professional last year when I bought my Canon, and he admitted that most sales people never tell you this.