# xD memory card advice **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 25, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xd-memory-card-advice/381710 "2006-11-25T02:27:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![homeskillet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@homeskillet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/homeskillet)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xd-memory-card-advice/381710/1 "2006-11-25T02:27:31Z")
My roomie’s xD memory card is being tempormental. When in the camera it now says, “ **Card not Initialized** ”. Searching the internet, it seems the card is fuct. He last had it in a multi-card reader and now it doesn’t work. Any advice would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xd-memory-card-advice/381710/2 "2006-11-25T03:29:21Z")
Did he format the card from the computer when it was in the card reader? Or did he delete images from the computer? Never do that, but that may have already happened. You’ll need to do a low level format in the camera. Do you get the message when you try to do a format? ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xd-memory-card-advice/381710/3 "2006-11-25T05:41:03Z")
I always **copy** from the card to the computer, never **move** or **delete**. I do all my card work inside the camera, F-10, and I have never had a card go bad. I have used the card to move files and such but I always **format** in the camera afterward. Now I have a flash drive that will work in my 98se equipment and I don’t need the xD card for that anymore. I have always be able to fix messed up cards by doing the format in the camera as **Telemark** suggested. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2006, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xd-memory-card-advice/381710/4 "2006-11-25T07:01:36Z")
Are you trying to save the data, or do you just want to make the card work again? If the former, chances are, the data is still on there and the directory structure has gotten corrupted. [Try this free utility](http://www.pcinspector.de/download.asp?language=1#smart_recovery) if you want to recover the files. ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xd-memory-card-advice/381710/5 "2006-11-27T15:06:05Z")
I’ve got 3 xD cards for my Fuji S7000. On two of them, I can only read x number of pictures from my external reader before it refuses to recognize any more. The camera is able to write to the cards and displays the pictures on the camera back without incident. I now have to hook the camera up to the computer to retrieve the photos instead of using the external reader. I don’t know why this is. Try using just the camera to read the pictures. Oh, yeah, and format the card in the camera as well… ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xd-memory-card-advice/381710/6 "2006-11-27T17:05:44Z")
Another vote for formatting the card in the camera. All cameras have this option in the _tools_ section. I have also had success by formating the card while it’s in the card reader. Right click in the drive (the card may be drive:E, or F or somesuch letter) and select options or properties and then select format. I’ve brought cards back from the brink with both methods. ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xd-memory-card-advice/381710/7 "2006-11-29T14:56:28Z")
This is from my manual for the Fuji S7000: > [@](#): > > When using a new Memory Card, or a Memory Card > that has been initialized by a PC, be sure to initialize > (format/initialize) the card with your digital camera > before using it. > … > Notes on Using media with a PC > > - If you intend to take photos using a media that has > been used on a PC, format the media on your > camera. > - When you format a media in the camera and then > shoot and record images, a directory (folder) is > automatically created. Image data is then recorded > in this directory. > - Do not change or delete the directory (folder) names > or file names on the media from your PC as this will > make it impossible to use the media in your camera. > - Always use the camera to erase image data on a > media. > - To edit image data, copy the image data to the PC’s > hard disk and then edit the copied data. > - Do not copy files other than those that will be used > by the camera. Apparently the format process used by the computer O/S is different from the way the camera formats the card. The card is still readable by the computer, but the way the camera accesses and writes the data is different.