Utility for formatting SD video cards in Linux Mint 19

[wpshooter]

Is there a utility (other than Gparted) specifically / geared toward formatting SD video cards
available for Linux Mint 19 mate ?

Thanks.

[Anoep]

SD video cards????? You mean a regular SD card which you are using in your videocamera???


Check this if you mean a SD card:
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3176712 ... linux.html
https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/write-for ... ard-linux/

[wpshooter]

SD video cards????? You mean a regular SD card which you are using in your videocamera???


Check this if you mean a SD card:
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3176712 ... linux.html
https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/write-for ... ard-linux/

Am formatting these SD cards for use in my Browning Hunting Trail Cameras.

The second link that you gave is what precipitated my question. However, that listing
only mentions Windows and MAC, I don't see any mention of Linux.

So, is there anything other than and better than Linux Mint Gparted or the Linux Mint
Disk utility for formatting SD cards ?

Also, why is Gparted so much faster at formatting SD cards than the disk utility ?
When you format using Gparted, is it in essence doing the same thing that is done
when using Windows fast format because once you give SD card FAT32 parameter
and a label/name and then apply those changes the format takes only about 2 seconds.

Is Linux disk utility in essence doing a "low level" format ?

Thanks.

[wpshooter]

To follow up, I tried formatting some of the SD cards using the Linux Mint DISK utility
(the long version) and when I took them back out to the Browning trail cameras to try, the cameras
would not even recognize them, so looks like it is back to good of Gparted.

[all41]

To follow up, I tried formatting some of the SD cards using the Linux Mint DISK utility
(the long version) and when I took them back out to the Browning trail cameras to try, the cameras
would not even recognize them, so looks like it is back to good of Gparted.

I used Mint to format a camera sd card after which it was no longer recognized by the camera.
I compared to a second sd card that was still working and found two files on the working card.
I copied those files to the formatted card and that fixed the problem.

sdcard.png

The two .ind files were copied over to the formatted card. This card is formatted fat16

[JerryF]

Maybe a silly question but don't the cameras have an option to format SD cards?

[all41]

Maybe a silly question but don't the cameras have an option to format SD cards?

And of coarse I tried that route--don't recall exactly what the problem with that was.
I will will offload the pictures and repeat the process to refresh my memory (pun intended)

[wpshooter]

Maybe a silly question but don't the cameras have an option to format SD cards?

My understanding from Browning Trail Cameras is that the camera does not
format the card - only has the ability to delete / wipe the data stored/saved
on the card.

I also have a Spypoint camera that does not either format the card nor does
it have any ability to delete the images off of the card.

hmmmm, I notice that the boot flag is not set when the SD card is formated
using the DISK utility, I just reformatted them using Gparted and
I set the boot flag to ON. Hopefully, this will solve this problem.

[JerryF]

@wpshooter
None of my SD cards got flagged as boot when formatted by/for my digital cameras. Maybe Browning cameras require it though.

Too bad the Browning doesn't format.

[JerryF]

...
I will will offload the pictures and repeat the process to refresh my memory (pun intended)

Good one!

[all41]

Well mine indeed required more than just copying the missing files over as I errantly remembered.

I finally made an iso image of the original (working) 2GB card using dd, and then wrote that image to
the larger sd (since I only have one sd slot). Then the camera recognized and formatted the card and made the entire
drive space available.
There must be some hidden files that do not show in linux

[JerryF]

@wpshooter

Which model do you have? The reason I ask is that I arbitrarily downloaded the manual to the Strike Force 5PXD and it shows that when you perform a Delete All, it formats the card too (see last paragraph).

Shutter_050.jpg

I've found that deleting/formatting cards within a camera is the best way to keep it compatible for the camera. I do understand that it may not be practical because the camera might be mounted and not easily accessible though.

[JerryF]

..
Also, why is Gparted so much faster at formatting SD cards than the disk utility ?
When you format using Gparted, is it in essence doing the same thing that is done
when using Windows fast format because once you give SD card FAT32 parameter
and a label/name and then apply those changes the format takes only about 2 seconds.

Is Linux disk utility in essence doing a "low level" format ?

.
This thread is very interesting!
.
This is what happens when I reformatted my 4 GB SanDisk SD card in Gparted:

Shutter_001.jpg

.
Summary:

• Calibrates
• Clears old file system signatures by writing zeros in some areas
• Sets the partition type to FAT32
• Creates a new FAT32 file system

Now as for the Disks utility, there are several combinations of options:
.
Erase has two:

Shutter_002.jpg

.
Partitioning has three:

Shutter_003.jpg

.
Unfortunately, I don't know what's happening in the background with which commands that are being performed.
.
I do remember in Windows, the fast format is just deleting the references to the files, but the actual file content is still there.

[wpshooter]

@wpshooter

Which model do you have? The reason I ask is that I arbitrarily downloaded the manual to the Strike Force 5PXD and it shows that when you perform a Delete All, it formats the card too (see last paragraph).

Shutter_050.jpg

I've found that deleting/formatting cards within a camera is the best way to keep it compatible for the camera. I do understand that it may not be practical because the camera might be mounted and not easily accessible though.

Thanks for that.

I just always assumed that it was JUST deleting all of the data/videos/photos.
Looks like the description of the function should be, delete all and reformat card.

My digital camera (not trail camera) says on the function "reformat card".