Formatting an SD card/Windows: Difference between revisions

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(remove 3DS-specific text)
(mandate sd association formatter for all sizes, note that volume label should not start with 3DS)
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== What You Need ==  
== 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>
*<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>


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<li><translate><!--T:22--> Insert your SD card into your computer</translate></li>
<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><!--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: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>
<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>
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<li><translate><!--T:29--> If the SD card is larger than 64GB, choose 65536</translate></li>
<li><translate><!--T:29--> If the SD card is larger than 64GB, choose 65536</translate></li>
</ul></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:31--> Ensure that "Quick Format" is selected</translate></li>
<li><translate><!--T:32--> Click "Start"</translate></li>
<li><translate><!--T:32--> Click "Start"</translate></li>
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<li><translate><!--T:10--> Run <code>SD Card Formatter</code> from the Start Menu</translate></li>
<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: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:14--> Ensure that "Quick Format" is selected</translate></li>
<li><translate><!--T:15--> Click "Format"</translate></li>
<li><translate><!--T:15--> Click "Format"</translate></li>

Revision as of 18:32, 29 May 2023

Other languages:
  • English

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

  1. Insert your SD card into your computer
  2. If the SD card has any files and folders on it, copy everything to a folder on your computer
  3. Run SD Card Formatter Setup (the .exe file) in the downloaded .zip file with Administrator privileges, then install the program
  4. Run SD Card Formatter from the Start Menu
  5. Select your SD card’s drive letter for "Select card"
    OOjs UI icon information-warning.svg Make sure you choose the correct drive letter, otherwise you might accidentally erase the wrong drive!
  6. Enter anything that does not start with 3DS for "Volume label"
  7. Ensure that "Quick Format" is selected
  8. Click "Format"
  9. Click "OK"
  10. Wait for the format to finish
  11. Click "OK"
  12. Close SD Card Formatter
  13. Run guiformat.exe
  14. Select your SD card’s drive letter for "Drive"
    OOjs UI icon information-warning.svg Make sure you choose the correct drive letter, otherwise you might accidentally erase the wrong drive!
  15. 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
  16. Enter anything that does not start with 3DS for "Volume label"
  17. Ensure that "Quick Format" is selected
  18. Click "Start"
  19. Click "OK"
  20. Wait for the format to finish
  21. Click "Close"
  22. 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).
  1. Insert your SD card into your computer
  2. If the SD card has any files and folders on it, copy everything to a folder on your computer
  3. Run SD Card Formatter Setup (the .exe file) in the downloaded .zip file with Administrator privileges, then install the program
  4. Run SD Card Formatter from the Start Menu
  5. Select your SD card’s drive letter for "Select card"
    OOjs UI icon information-warning.svg Make sure you choose the correct drive letter, otherwise you might accidentally erase the wrong drive!
  6. Enter anything that does not start with 3DS for "Volume label"
  7. Ensure that "Quick Format" is selected
  8. Click "Format"
  9. Click "OK"
  10. Wait for the format to finish
  11. Click "OK"
  12. Close SD Card Formatter
  13. If the SD card had any files and folders on it before the format, copy everything back from your computer
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