a question about SD cards

[vash]

something isn't working.

say I put a microSD card in my GoPro. I format it using the GoPro Camera. now when I stick it into my desktop computer, it will show some file. DCIM or something.

my camera, it shows a file FUJI (or something)

what is that? it will recognize that it is a goPro or Fuji file in there?

I ask because I cannot seem to copy a GMX (fishfinder) file onto a previously used SD card I pulled from my old GoPro. do I need to reformat the SD card with my fishfinder first?

I am so lost at this I am not sure I am even asking the question correctly!!

[Bill Douglas]

Try formatting it with FAT16 using the computer It's the older one. I think the newer one is FAT32 and one of the devices may not like it

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Try formatting it with FAT16 using the computer It's the older one. I think the newer one is FAT32 and one of the devices may not like it

Something like this. Modern PCs have several different formats that they can use. I would be surprised if anything still used FAT16, but it's possible.

I think Windows often wants to use NTFS (by default?), but I think NTFS is Windows proprietary, so lots of other stuff doesn't recognize it. FAT32 is usually pretty universal.

What you probably need to do is read the manual for the fish finder and figure out what format it requires, and then ready what formats the GoPro is compatible with. Hopefully, there's some overlap.

Or, have SD cards for each and don't share.

[Bill Douglas]

I thought it might have been similar to the problem with my older Moultire game camera. It needed a "slow" SD card formatted in FAT16. That way the camera could use it and the computer could still see it.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I thought it might have been similar to the problem with my older Moultire game camera. It needed a "slow" SD card formatted in FAT16. That way the camera could use it and the computer could still see it.

That could be the case. I'd be surprised by anything using FAT16 these days, but then these relatively simple devices just might.

[cabmandone]

Nomal to see DCIM (Digital Camera Images). I get that when I connect my cards from my trail cameras. It recognizes the card as a mass storage device and assigns a drive letter. You click and see DCIM folder. Open the folder and there's your images from the device.

Do a full format (uncheck the quick format) but make sure what format the fish finder needs. Most are FAT32 IIRC.

[vash]

I do this on my Desktop?

thanks you guys.

[stevej37]

I don't know the answer to your question.....but I bought a GoPro 8 last year and ended up returning it to Amazon.
The app for the GP would not communicate with my Chrome computer. I tried everything...and finally gave up and returned it.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by masraum

That could be the case. I'd be surprised by anything using FAT16 these days, but then these relatively simple devices just might.

If they are less than 2gb in size, it would be possible.

Only true universal format is FAT32. Depending on how Windows formatted it, it could be ExFAT which is an extension to FAT32 but is newer and may not be available on embedded platforms. Fairly sure it isn't available on Mac.

Once the file system itself is taken care of, some hardware will create different format files in different locations but DCIM is pretty standard - at least for cameras and android devices. It simply defines a common directory structure and file naming format and some indexing/thumbnailing options.

[GH85Carrera]

Most devices have the ability to format the card themselves. Put in a brand new card, and tell it to format it.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by vash

I do this on my Desktop?

thanks you guys.

Desktop, laptop... whatever. Yeah just do a full format. That should delete the DCIM folder which I'm guessing is why you're having difficulty.

[KFC911]

As others have said, it doesn't sound like anything is wrong at all. Just open the DCIM file/folder for your pics ...

[vash]

okay. now i'm jonesing to get home so I can format my card.

you all the truly knowledgeable. at first I was, "hey, who are you calling Fat(32)?"

[KFC911]

Cliff, it doesn't sound like you need to reformat your card. Just open the DCIM folder and look at your pics.

edited: I just reread your OP... OK .... mebbe you do .

another edit: and that was before Nick pointed it out

[cabmandone]

^^^
He said his problem is that he can't copy a file to the card. Card could be full of pics? I'm assuming he has the file saved on the computer, plugs the sd card in, right click, copy and paste to the SD but it's not copying.


BTW vash... make sure you've saved any pics you might want that are in the DCIM file before you format!

[john70t]

I'm guessing the GoPro or Fishfinder use proprietary or specialized file formats for their cards which work with their program best.
There is probably file conversion software for anything.
Get a USB universal card reader for a few bucks so the physical computer connection problem is solved at least.