Format Memory Card?

Question

What happens if you format a memory card on a digital camera? Are all the pictures gone forever?

Answer 1

When you format a memory card it doesn't "delete" all the info on the card.  All the information is still on the card, but now your camera or  a computer won't recognize it without special recovery software.  If you formatted it and then took a whole bunch of pictures, then the ones that were there are probably gone for good.

Answer 2

well you will loose the all the pictures on the card. you should upload them to a computer or something before formaing it.

hope this helps

jani

Answer 3

The three answers are right.

However, once you have copied all your image files to your computer, be sure to format the card .... this refreshes the card, writes new file folders to it and writes a new image index file ... this is the file that can become corrupted if you are in the habit of deleting images from your card using the delete button.

Your card was designed to last over 25 years ... even if you formatted it everyday ... not formatting it can cause all kinds of headaches.

Answer 4

Yes, when you format it, it wipes all things.

Answer 5

When you format a memory card, the memory on the card is deleted. Permanently. If you don't want to loose the data, upload it onto your computer first, and then format it.