Formatting an SD card/Windows: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 18:32, 29 May 2023

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

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

What You Need

For all SD cards: the latest version of SD Formatter
For SD cards 64GB or larger: The latest version of guiformat

Instructions

Insert your SD card into your computer
If the SD card has any files and folders on it, copy everything to a folder on your computer
Run SD Card Formatter Setup (the .exe file) in the downloaded .zip file with Administrator privileges, then install the program
Run SD Card Formatter from the Start Menu
Select your SD card’s drive letter for "Select card"

Make sure you choose the correct drive letter, otherwise you might accidentally erase the wrong drive!
Enter anything that does not start with 3DS for "Volume label"
Ensure that "Quick Format" is selected
Click "Format"
Click "OK"
Wait for the format to finish
Click "OK"
Close SD Card Formatter
Run guiformat.exe
Select your SD card’s drive letter for "Drive"

Make sure you choose the correct drive letter, otherwise you might accidentally erase the wrong drive!
Select a size for "Allocation unit size"
- If the SD card is 64GB, choose 32768
- If the SD card is larger than 64GB, choose 65536
Enter anything that does not start with 3DS for "Volume label"
Ensure that "Quick Format" is selected
Click "Start"
Click "OK"
Wait for the format to finish
Click "Close"
If the SD card had any files and folders on it before the format, copy everything back from your computer

Common errors with guiformat

Failed to open device: GetLastError()=32

Close everything that may be using the SD card, such as any File Explorer windows.

GetLastError()=1117

Your SD card write-protection switch may be enabled. The lock must be flipped upwards to allow writing to the SD card (including formatting).

Insert your SD card into your computer
If the SD card has any files and folders on it, copy everything to a folder on your computer
Run SD Card Formatter Setup (the .exe file) in the downloaded .zip file with Administrator privileges, then install the program
Run SD Card Formatter from the Start Menu
Select your SD card’s drive letter for "Select card"

Make sure you choose the correct drive letter, otherwise you might accidentally erase the wrong drive!
Enter anything that does not start with 3DS for "Volume label"
Ensure that "Quick Format" is selected
Click "Format"
Click "OK"
Wait for the format to finish
Click "OK"
Close SD Card Formatter
If the SD card had any files and folders on it before the format, copy everything back from your computer

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 == What You Need ==
-*<translate><!--T:4--> '''For SD cards 32GB or smaller''': the latest version of <tvar name="sdformatter">[https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter/sd-memory-card-formatter-for-windows-download/ SD Formatter]</tvar></translate>
+*<translate><!--T:4--> '''For all SD cards''': the latest version of <tvar name="sdformatter">[https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter/sd-memory-card-formatter-for-windows-download/ SD Formatter]</tvar></translate>
 *<translate><!--T:5--> '''For SD cards 64GB or larger''': The latest version of <tvar name="guiformat">[http://ridgecrop.co.uk/index.htm?guiformat.htm guiformat]</tvar></translate>
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 <li><translate><!--T:22--> Insert your SD card into your computer</translate></li>
 <li><translate><!--T:23--> If the SD card has any files and folders on it, copy everything to a folder on your computer</translate></li>
+<li><translate>Run <code>SD Card Formatter Setup</code> (the <code>.exe</code> file) in the downloaded .zip file with Administrator privileges, then install the program</translate></li>
+<li><translate>Run <code>SD Card Formatter</code> from the Start Menu</translate></li>
+<li><translate>Select your SD card’s drive letter for "Select card"</translate>{{warning|<translate nowrap>Make sure you choose the correct drive letter, otherwise you might accidentally erase the wrong drive!</translate>}}</li>
+<li><translate>Enter anything that does not start with '''3DS''' for "Volume label"</translate></li>
+<li><translate>Ensure that "Quick Format" is selected</translate></li>
+<li><translate>Click "Format"</translate></li>
+<li><translate>Click "OK"</translate></li>
+<li><translate>Wait for the format to finish</translate></li>
+<li><translate>Click "OK"</translate></li>
+<li><translate>Close SD Card Formatter</translate></li>
 <li><translate><!--T:24--> Run <code>guiformat.exe</code></translate></li>
 <li><translate><!--T:25--> Select your SD card’s drive letter for "Drive"</translate>{{warning|<translate nowrap><!--T:26--> Make sure you choose the correct drive letter, otherwise you might accidentally erase the wrong drive!</translate>}}</li>
@@ Line 29: / Line 39: @@
 <li><translate><!--T:29--> If the SD card is larger than 64GB, choose 65536</translate></li>
 </ul></li>
-<li><translate><!--T:30--> Enter anything for "Volume label"</translate></li>
+<li><translate><!--T:30--> Enter anything that does not start with '''3DS''' for "Volume label"</translate></li>
 <li><translate><!--T:31--> Ensure that "Quick Format" is selected</translate></li>
 <li><translate><!--T:32--> Click "Start"</translate></li>
@@ Line 60: / Line 70: @@
 <li><translate><!--T:10--> Run <code>SD Card Formatter</code> from the Start Menu</translate></li>
 <li><translate><!--T:11--> Select your SD card’s drive letter for "Select card"</translate>{{warning|<translate nowrap><!--T:12--> Make sure you choose the correct drive letter, otherwise you might accidentally erase the wrong drive!</translate>}}</li>
-<li><translate><!--T:13--> Enter anything for "Volume label"</translate></li>
+<li><translate><!--T:13--> Enter anything that does not start with '''3DS''' for "Volume label"</translate></li>
 <li><translate><!--T:14--> Ensure that "Quick Format" is selected</translate></li>
 <li><translate><!--T:15--> Click "Format"</translate></li>