Problem - Memory (NOT) Full

[Rob MacKillop]

My X100 won't let me take photos, saying my memory card is full. It's the same memory card I use all the time. I empty it after each upload to my computer. It is completely empty.

Any idea what to do?

Rob

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry - problem fixed by re formatting the card. Don't know why it happened, but we can all sleep tonight

 

[Dave Green]

Do you empty it - or format it?

Have you tried formatting it in camera?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Well, ever since I bought the X100, the first time I formatted the card, and thereafter just deleted everything after upload. Never had a problem. Should I be formatting every time? And, yes, I do the formatting in camera - only takes a second.

 

[Dave Green]

I format the card every time I start a new shoot.

Did formatting it work?

 

[Larry Bolch]

Formatting a card in the camera is a very good habit. Like hard-drives, cards become fragmented and can corrupt images and even—as you experienced—cease to work at all. Formatting restores the card to the pristine state the camera wants to see, and can most efficiently use. You may notice all around better performance.

 

[Beth Carter]

i format the card in camera every time i shoot too.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

OK. Lesson learned

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Ooohh, that's I Interesting you should say that, Larry especially.
I've not formatted my cards in...... Years.
Maybe I should, especially as I have a wedding coming up in two weeks :/
Would want anything to happen now would I?

 

[Paul Lange]

Hi Rob, Good that you fixed it but FYI I suspect that the issue was caused by reading the card on a Mac and a PC. If I remember this the right way round Macs create a hidden file on the card where it stores trashes for writing over at a later date. The Mac ignores these files but PCs and some cameras do not and classify them as stored data not be we overwritten.

I suspect this is what caused it but regular formatting will cure this issue anyway.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Ah, never thought of that. Thanks, Paul, you might well be right.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I have heard of the Mac card issue, but have yet to experience it with either X100 or X-Pro1

No idea why it would effect some and not others - but I read my files from SD card with a reader, then pop the card back into the camera, and have not seen any issues.

I only reformat when the card is full - and I've copied that card load of images to hard disc.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

So, to sum up, it seems to happen only rarely, and is easily fixed. If only the other problems in life were so simple...

 

[Paul Lange]

I think you migration from PC to Mac is at the root of the cause. If you only use Mac now it shouldn't happen again.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

OK, Paul. Cheers.

 

[Larry Bolch]

OK, Paul. Cheers.

I did not realize it was a Mac. However, there is a tiny lock on the side of the card that will prevent the Mac from writing hidden files. Of course, you need to remember to engage it and disengage it again when you return the card to the camera. If you had accidentally engaged the lock, it too would prevent the camera from writing.

Formatting is best, and prevents the problems.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Well. I'm learning a LOT from this thread. Many thanks, Larry!

 

[Dan Cattermole]

How weird guys...... I've just been flicking through some images on my Oly, and 'card error' appeared on the screen!! WTF!! Lol.
You've cursed it Rob. Lol.
Just sacrificed a few decent images following a good clean camera format and it's back to its Full functional self.....
Even I've learned something from this. Thanks for raising this subject in coinsidental and good time Rob

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Amazing! Ain't life weird?