Belkin F5U140 user manual Formatting Your Media Card, Quick Format

P73880-B_F5U140-man.qxd 7/22/02 5:56 PM Page 6

Installation Procedure for

Windows Operating Systems (cont.)

Formatting Your Media Card

If you are using your media card for the first time, or there is currently no data on the card, it is recommended the card be formatted using the provided format utility. This application will take over the Windows operating system’s format normally executed from the “My Computer” window.

Unlike the Windows operating system’s format, the Belkin format utility will actually do a low-level format so that it is guaranteed to work with digital media device(s) such as digital cameras or digital camcorders, etc. A low-level format completely erases the media card then writes the appropriate file system data instead of just writing zeros in the media.

To access the format utility directly, select “Programs”, then select “Belkin Flash Media Reader-Writer” from the program list. Choose the “Digital Media Formatter”, then follow the on-screen instructions, or right-click on the drive icon from the “My Computer” window, and choose “Format”.

There are two options available in the format utility: Quick and Full Format.

Quick Format

This option will erase all data content in the media but does not recover bad blocks. Quick Format will check to see if the number of bad blocks in the media is within allowable limits.

A large number of bad blocks usually indicate worn-out media.

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