Is format needed

Just purchased a Garmin Nuvi 54LM, I am going to also get a 4GB micro sd card with adapter for extra storage should I need it in the future.

Should I format the micro SD card prior to using ??

Joe

 

It wouldn't hurt. Sometimes devices like cell phones won't recognize the card until after it's formatted.

 

I'm posting under the guise that format has bus slightly misunderstood, not only should you format you most certainly HAVE to format to use the drive.

In laymen's terms format means delete in reality it means build a filing cabinet, if the drive doesn't contain a filing system that operating system can read such as fat32 or NTFS then it can't use the drive as mcdonah pointed out.

 

Most cards come pre-formatted these days. It still doesn't hurt anything to format it again in the device you intend to use it in. I'm just curious though, do you really need a memory card for a GPS?

 

I'm an idiot, misread micro SD.

You don't need to format them sorry guys.

 

@ cabbiinc, I had run out of memory on one of my GPS units and needed the micro card to store new map updates, I honestly don't remember if I formatted the old micro card or not and wanted to be sure with the new card - also as an aside; I have found out throught some research that Garmin products do not use a standard for inserting the micro sd card, with the GPS screen facing up, some cards go in with the writing up and some with the writing down, looking inside the slot with a flashlight it is possible sometimes to see which side the contacts are on, I will be calling Garmin prior to inserting the card, hopefully they can tell me which is the correct way

Joe

 

Talked to Garmin tech support today, they recommend formatting the card prior to use and I received the Garmin GPS 54LM today and there is an icon indicating the correct way to insert the micro sd card, the icon is in the card slot.

Joe

 

@plodr, I didn't ask that question, I just formatted the micro card to FAT 32, I also found that the card reader I have, because it is a few years old, would NOT recognize the micro SDHC card when I put the micro card into the adapter and then into the computer, I wound up attaching the USB cable that came with the GPS from the GPS to the computer and then the GPS and the micro card were recognized right away in "my computer" and I did the format from there, apparently the older card readers will not read the newer HC and XC cards, so for $13.00 I just ordered a new card reader from the EGG, Kingston brand.

I did read somewhere on the Garmin site that either FAT or FAT 32 were acceptable formats.

Joe

 

>>May I ask how you got such a good picture for the forum. Some forums I click prntscn then paint and can do it that way but others need the url. Is there some way to do it without having to login such as at Ph Bu?

 

>>Thank you for your reply.