How to delete files on SD card

TrailRunner · 12-09-2014, 08:52 PM

Hi there,

After the first time I downloaded pics to Lightroom I was then able to delete them in the file manager on my PC (using Windows 8.1). However, now I can't seem to delete the next several hundred photos. They've been downloaded to LR fine, but when I try to delete them, it says they're being deleted, but then when I go back to the parent file and click it, they're all still there. I've tried repeating, but it just does the same thing. Any ideas? Gotta figure this out or I won't be able to take more pics :-(

Oldbayrunner · 12-09-2014, 09:01 PM

DO NOT Delete or format your SD card with your computer. Use your camera to delete or better yet use reformat in your tools menu. That will erase all the photos on your card.

**sergysergy** · 12-09-2014, 09:02 PM

Yep, do it from the camera. Make sure they are not protected

RichG · 12-09-2014, 09:07 PM

Had the same experience trying to delete files from the PC. The others are right. Do it from the camera and formatting is less likely to garble things than selectively deleting.

Adam · 12-09-2014, 09:15 PM

Originally posted by TrailRunner

Hi there,

After the first time I downloaded pics to Lightroom I was then able to delete them in the file manager on my PC (using Windows 8.1). However, now I can't seem to delete the next several hundred photos. They've been downloaded to LR fine, but when I try to delete them, it says they're being deleted, but then when I go back to the parent file and click it, they're all still there. I've tried repeating, but it just does the same thing. Any ideas? Gotta figure this out or I won't be able to take more pics :-(

Is your card write protected?

stevebrot · 12-09-2014, 09:47 PM

Once more, joining the chorus!

Use your camera's format function as the best way to do a bulk delete on a card
Don't use your computer operating system's format feature
If you do end up with a corrupted SD card (not recognized by your camera), use the formatting software from the SD Association: https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
Again, don't use your computer operating system's format feature

Steve

abmj · 12-09-2014, 09:55 PM

Echoing the above. Plus - spend a couple bucks and buy a spare SD card. They are cheap, take up no room and are good insurance against a card failure or loss. We should NEVER hear someone say they can't take more pictures because the card is full.

TrailRunner · 12-09-2014, 10:26 PM

awesome, thanks all! wow, much easier :-)

hks_kansei · 12-09-2014, 10:55 PM

Odd, I have always deleted excess photos from my SD card using my PC without a problem.

If I want to selectively delete a few files (or selectively keep a few) using the camera takes forever.

Granted, I always connect my camera to the PC using the Pentax cable, and I delete the files through Windows explorer. (I haven't taken the SD card out of my camera in at least 4 years)

old4570 · 12-09-2014, 11:16 PM

Yeah , same here ..
I don't read from the camera any longer , I just pull out the SD card and read it through a SD card reader and PC , then just do a fast format after a file transfer ( Copy Paste ) to my computer .
The only cards that seem to have issue , are the cheap no brand ones ..
Just avoid cheap no brand SD cards ...

cats_five · 12-10-2014, 12:48 AM

I plug the USB cable into my camera and use Bridge to download and delete images from the camera. Been doing this for several years, not hit a problem yet. If I do I'll simply reformat the card in the camera, which is what I did when I first started using it.

Paul the Sunman · 12-10-2014, 05:13 AM

There is a known problem (and solution) on some macbook pros with Sandisk SDHC cards. The computer sees the card as read-only, even when the card lock is in the off position. The solution is bizarre: set the lock slider half way between lock and unlock. If you get it just right (not too hard) it is writable again.

I frequently let Aperture delete my photos from the card after download, and it's never caused a problem.

bobell69 · 12-11-2014, 09:49 AM

Originally posted by Adam

Is your card write protected?

Problem is that after you have deleted them, you need to empty the trash can on the computer desktop before you take out the card from the card reader

Paul the Sunman · 12-11-2014, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by bobell69

Problem is that after you have deleted them, you need to empty the trash can on the computer desktop before you take out the card from the card reader

No! Not the case on any computer system I know of. However, you do require that no application is using the card when you try to "eject" it.

**ramseybuckeye** · 12-11-2014, 07:58 PM

Another plus 1 for formatting the card in camera to delete photos. Formatting the card with the computer can cause problems.

12-09-2014, 08:52 PM	#1
TrailRunner Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 46	How to delete files on SD card Hi there, After the first time I downloaded pics to Lightroom I was then able to delete them in the file manager on my PC (using Windows 8.1). However, now I can't seem to delete the next several hundred photos. They've been downloaded to LR fine, but when I try to delete them, it says they're being deleted, but then when I go back to the parent file and click it, they're all still there. I've tried repeating, but it just does the same thing. Any ideas? Gotta figure this out or I won't be able to take more pics :-(

12-09-2014, 09:15 PM	#5
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,593	Originally posted by TrailRunner Hi there, After the first time I downloaded pics to Lightroom I was then able to delete them in the file manager on my PC (using Windows 8.1). However, now I can't seem to delete the next several hundred photos. They've been downloaded to LR fine, but when I try to delete them, it says they're being deleted, but then when I go back to the parent file and click it, they're all still there. I've tried repeating, but it just does the same thing. Any ideas? Gotta figure this out or I won't be able to take more pics :-( Is your card write protected? Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

12-09-2014, 09:47 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Once more, joining the chorus! Use your camera's format function as the best way to do a bulk delete on a card Don't use your computer operating system's format feature If you do end up with a corrupted SD card (not recognized by your camera), use the formatting software from the SD Association: https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/ Again, don't use your computer operating system's format feature Steve

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12-09-2014, 09:01 PM	#2
Oldbayrunner Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1,665	DO NOT Delete or format your SD card with your computer. Use your camera to delete or better yet use reformat in your tools menu. That will erase all the photos on your card.

12-09-2014, 09:02 PM	#3
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,169	Yep, do it from the camera. Make sure they are not protected

12-09-2014, 09:07 PM	#4
RichG New Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 7	Had the same experience trying to delete files from the PC. The others are right. Do it from the camera and formatting is less likely to garble things than selectively deleting.

12-09-2014, 09:55 PM	#7
abmj Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Central California Posts: 600	Echoing the above. Plus - spend a couple bucks and buy a spare SD card. They are cheap, take up no room and are good insurance against a card failure or loss. We should NEVER hear someone say they can't take more pictures because the card is full.

12-09-2014, 10:26 PM	#8
TrailRunner Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 46 Original Poster	awesome, thanks all! wow, much easier :-)

12-09-2014, 10:55 PM	#9
hks_kansei Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 834	Odd, I have always deleted excess photos from my SD card using my PC without a problem. If I want to selectively delete a few files (or selectively keep a few) using the camera takes forever. Granted, I always connect my camera to the PC using the Pentax cable, and I delete the files through Windows explorer. (I haven't taken the SD card out of my camera in at least 4 years)

12-09-2014, 11:16 PM	#10
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551	Yeah , same here .. I don't read from the camera any longer , I just pull out the SD card and read it through a SD card reader and PC , then just do a fast format after a file transfer ( Copy Paste ) to my computer . The only cards that seem to have issue , are the cheap no brand ones .. Just avoid cheap no brand SD cards ...

12-10-2014, 12:48 AM	#11
cats_five Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 835	I plug the USB cable into my camera and use Bridge to download and delete images from the camera. Been doing this for several years, not hit a problem yet. If I do I'll simply reformat the card in the camera, which is what I did when I first started using it.

12-10-2014, 05:13 AM	#12
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,842	There is a known problem (and solution) on some macbook pros with Sandisk SDHC cards. The computer sees the card as read-only, even when the card lock is in the off position. The solution is bizarre: set the lock slider half way between lock and unlock. If you get it just right (not too hard) it is writable again. I frequently let Aperture delete my photos from the card after download, and it's never caused a problem.

12-11-2014, 09:49 AM	#13
bobell69 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Courtenay BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 498	Originally posted by Adam Is your card write protected? Problem is that after you have deleted them, you need to empty the trash can on the computer desktop before you take out the card from the card reader

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12-11-2014, 12:34 PM	#14
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,842	Originally posted by bobell69 Problem is that after you have deleted them, you need to empty the trash can on the computer desktop before you take out the card from the card reader No! Not the case on any computer system I know of. However, you do require that no application is using the card when you try to "eject" it.

12-11-2014, 07:58 PM	#15
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,290	Another plus 1 for formatting the card in camera to delete photos. Formatting the card with the computer can cause problems.