Memory cards are an essential part of life for many of us today: whether they hold all of our beloved pictures taken on our digital camera or our phone, we want them to stay in top condition, to ensure our data stays safe.
At eProvided, we know how frustrating it can be when storage devices fail, but if you have no back-up copies, it can be much worse — you feel absolutely devastated. We specialize in recovering data on storage drives, helping you get your beloved pictures back using the latest and most innovative techniques.
Extending your Memory Card’s Life.
However, prevention is better than cure. Next, what can you do to help keep your memory card performing at its best? Read on for our five top memory card health tips. To illustrate, think through these approaches to protect your storage drive lifespan.
1: Avoid Deleting Pictures Directly on your Camera
Try to resist deleting images directly on camera. Believe it or not, deletion can reduce a memory card’s life. In addition, the fewer times you create or delete data on your card, the better it will perform. Erasing pictures all at once, after adding them to your primary drive, allows you to delete them without affecting a card’s lifespan. Therefore, read & write cycles, due to deletion, shortens the memory card’s lifespan. Use the entire memory card space before deletion if possible.
2: Turn the Camera Off while Removing/Inserting Memory Cards
This can be easily done. Specifically, you remove your flash memory card from your camera, or put it back in. Last, you forget to switch it off first. If your camera is accessing the data on your card during removal, this can cause read/write errors. In fact, it can harm your memory card.
Also, avoid removing the memory card while formatting it. This will cause damage. To illustrate, you should be able to see your card accessibility by a green or red light on the camera.
3: Ensure Clean Storage
When storing your memory card, make sure you use the protective case it was packaged with. Above all, never leave it out loose, dust can amass on it. Dust can affect the lifespan and performance. But what if it already has dust or dirt on it? Use a soft cloth to wipe it clean before you put it into the camera. Also, avoid using solvents. If you’re using your camera on the beach, make sure no sand gets near the card or the camera’s internal components. Sand can be as harmful as dirt & dust.
4: Format your Memory Card Regularly
While you might think deleting pictures from your memory card via your computer empties the card, this may still leave data (such as file names) behind. Instead, format your card in the camera (or other device) you intend to use it with — this eliminates all data, and reduces the risk of potential errors leading to data loss. This is a great way to help your card stay clean and healthy, ready for fresh use again and again.
5: Take your Card out of your Computer Sooner, Not Later
When transferring images from your memory card onto your computer, it can be easy to absentmindedly leave it in afterwards. Generally, cards tend to offer between 10,000 and 100,000 write/erase cycles. Even though you may not be using the card on your computer, it will continue to access it. Therefore, this contributes to the total cycles. And, to ensure a long life for your memory card, remove it from your computer as soon as you’ve finished transferring data. Format it in your camera after removing it.
At eProvided, we’re dedicated to helping people just like you keep the data that matters so much: devices hold huge amounts of our lives nowadays that the slightest hiccup can lead to great upset — especially if you lose your favorite images or vital documents. We hope these tips help you get the most out of your memory cards, but if you ever have any problems, give us a call on 1-866-857-5950 (toll-free)!