Formatting an SD card/Linux: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:08, 9 April 2023

This is an add-on section for formatting an SD card to FAT32.

This page is for Linux users only. If you are not on Linux, check out the Windows or Mac pages.

Instructions

Before beginning these steps, copy all of your SD card's contents to a folder on your computer.

The commands in this guide are case-sensitive. Enter them exactly as written, or there may be unintended consequences.

Make sure your SD card is not inserted
Open a terminal window and type watch lsblk.
Insert the SD card and watch for a new device appearing in lsblk.

Observe the output for the new device. It should match something like this:

NAME        MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
mmcblk0     179:0    0   3,8G  0 disk
└─mmcblk0p1 179:1    0   3,7G  0 part /run/media/user/FFFF-FFFF

Take note of the name of the device that now appears. In our example above, it was mmcblk0p1
- If RO is set to 1, make sure the lock switch is not slid down
Hit CTRL + C to exit the menu
Type sudo fdisk /dev/<device name>
Enter t and then enter 0c
Enter a and then p - observe the output, and make sure the device is now formatted correctly.
If there are no issues, enter w - this will save changes and exit the fdisk prompt.
Type sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/<device name> -s 64 to reformat the new partition.
- If the SD card is over 32GB in size, change 64 to 128
Type sudo eject /dev/<device name>, then remove and reinsert the SD card.
Copy your data back onto the SD card.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 {{warning|The commands in this guide are case-sensitive. Enter them exactly as written, or there may be unintended consequences.}}
-<tabber>
-|-|fdisk=
-<span>
 # Make sure your SD card is '''not''' inserted
-# Open a terminal window and type <code>watch lsblk</code>
+# Open a terminal window and type <code>watch lsblk</code>.
-# Insert the SD card and watch for a new device appearing in lsblk
+# Insert the SD card and watch for a new device appearing in lsblk.
 # Observe the output for the new device. It should match something like this: {{#tag:syntaxhighlight|
-NAME        MAJ:MIN RM  SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
+NAME        MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
-mmcblk0     179:0    0 29.7G  0 disk
+mmcblk0     179:0    0   3,8G  0 disk
-└─mmcblk0p1 179:1    0 29.5G  0 part /run/media/user/FFFF-FFFF
+└─mmcblk0p1 179:1    0   3,7G  0 part /run/media/user/FFFF-FFFF
 |lang=text}}
-# Take note of the name of the device that now appears. In our example above, it was <code>mmcblk0</code>, but it could show up as <code>sda</code> or <code>sdb</code>, if you use a USB adapter
+# Take note of the name of the device that now appears. In our example above, it was <code>mmcblk0p1</code>
 #* If <code>RO</code> is set to 1, make sure the lock switch is not slid down
 # Hit CTRL + C to exit the menu
-# Type <code>sudo umount /dev/<device name>*</code> (do not replace the <code>*</code>)
-# Install the <code>fdisk</code> and <code>dosfstools</code> packages using your package manager of choice
 # Type <code>sudo fdisk /dev/<device name></code>
-# Enter <code>o</code>, this will create a new MBR partition scheme
+# Enter <code>t</code> and then enter <code>0c</code>
-# Enter <code>n</code>, then press enter until you're returned to the prompt
+# Enter <code>a</code> and then <code>p</code> - observe the output, and make sure the device is now formatted correctly.
-#* The default values will work fine for all consoles
+# If there are no issues, enter <code>w</code> - this will save changes and exit the fdisk prompt.
-# Enter <code>t</code>, then enter <code>0c</code>
+# Type <code>sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/<device name> -s 64</code> to reformat the new partition.
-# Enter <code>a</code> and then <code>p</code> - observe the output, and make sure the device is now formatted correctly: {{#tag:syntaxhighlight|
+#* If the SD card is over 32GB in size, change </code>64</code> to <code>128</code>
-Disk /dev/mmcblk0: 29.72 GiB, 31914983424 bytes, 62333952 sectors
+# Type <code>sudo eject /dev/<device name></code>, then remove and reinsert the SD card.
-Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
+# Copy your data back onto the SD card.
-Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
-I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
-Disklabel type: dos
-Disk identifier: 0x########
-Device                Boot  Start      End  Sectors  Size Id Type
-/dev/<partition name>        8192 62333951 62325760 29.7G  c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
-|lang=text}}
-# If there are no issues, enter <code>w</code> - this will save changes and exit the fdisk prompt
-# Type <code>sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/<partition name> -s 64</code> to reformat the new partition
-#* If the SD card is over 32GB in size, change <code>64</code> to <code>128</code>
-# Type <code>sudo eject /dev/<device name></code>, then remove and reinsert the SD card
-# Copy your data back onto the SD card
-</span>
-|-|parted=
-<span>
-# Make sure your SD card is '''not''' inserted
-# Open a terminal window and type <code>watch lsblk</code>
-# Insert the SD card and watch for a new device appearing in lsblk
-# Observe the output for the new device. It should match something like this: {{#tag:syntaxhighlight|
-NAME        MAJ:MIN RM  SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
-mmcblk0     179:0    0 29.7G  0 disk
-└─mmcblk0p1 179:1    0 29.5G  0 part /run/media/user/FFFF-FFFF
-|lang=text}}
-# Take note of the name of the device that now appears. In our example above, it was <code>mmcblk0</code>, but it could show up as <code>sda</code> or <code>sdb</code>, if you use a USB adapter
-#* If <code>RO</code> is set to 1, make sure the lock switch is not slid down
-# Hit CTRL + C to exit the menu
-# Install the <code>parted</code> and <code>dosfstools</code> packages using your package manager of choice
-# Type <code>sudo parted /dev/<device name> mklabel msdos</code>
-# Type <code>sudo parted -a opt /dev/<device name> mkpart primary fat32 0% 100%</code>
-# Type <code>sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/<partition name> -s 64</code> to reformat the new partition
-#* If the SD card is over 32GB in size, change <code>64</code> to <code>128</code>
-# Type <code>sudo eject /dev/<device name></code>, then remove and reinsert the SD card
-# Copy your data back onto the SD card
-</span>
-|-|KDE Partition Manager=
-<span>
-# Make sure your SD card is '''not''' inserted
-# Open KDE Partition Manager, inputting your password as needed
-# Insert your SD card and click <code>Refresh Devices</code>. The new device that shows up in the left pane is your SD card
-# Click your SD card, then click the <code>New Partition Table</code> button at the top of the window
-# When asked, choose <code>Ms-Dos</code>. Do '''NOT''' use <code>GPT</code>
-#* [[File:KDE Partition Manager - MBR.png]]
-# Right click the <code>unallocted</code> space in the right pane and select <code>New</code>
-# When selecting your filesystem, choose <code>FAT32</code> from the drop-down menu. The window should look like this:
-#* [[File:KDE Partition Manager - New Partition.png]]
-# Click <code>OK</code>, then click <code>Apply</code>, then <code>Apply Pending Operations</code>
-# Eject and reinsert your SD card
-# Copy your data back onto the SD card
-</tabber>
 {{hg imported|Guide_3DS}}
 [[Category:General guides]]