'Delete' is greyed out, so how to clear SD card?

nithig · 12 Mar 2014

My SD card from a digital camera (Canon IXUS 130) needs to be cleared. I can delete one image at a time which requires several moves for each image. Clearly not practical after many shots taken.

While it's easy to navigate to the SD Card (when it's in the reader slot) and to load the images to computer I have not been able to figure out how to delete them after 'Select All' has the images all highlighted. R click either does not show a ' Delete' function Or this Delete is greyed out.

Can anyone tell me how to delete such images from the SD Card without the laborious one at a time option available on camera?

Much appreciated if you can share.

kind regards,

ICIT2LOL · 12 Mar 2014

Nithing I can only suggest go into Computer and right click on the disk and Format.

nithig · 12 Mar 2014

Hi ICit2lol,

thx!

when I tried to do this (ie format) I discovered that the SD Card is 'Write Protected' (which I guess is what's stopping me from deleting) so my question now becomes:

How to I change the SD card from being 'Write Protected' to Not protected?

BrightBlessings · 12 Mar 2014

Make sure the SD card lock is off. Little sliding switch on side of card.

ThrashZone · 12 Mar 2014

Here's a picture of one with a switch on the side,

carwiz · 12 Mar 2014

Some cameras have a special format. I wouldn't format it on the PC--Use the camera format option. When viewed on a PC, there's usually a special folder name for photos. If you click on that in the left panel (Windows Explorer) all the photos will be listed in the right panel. To delete the photos, click Edit in the tool bar, click on Select All, then click on Delete. This deletes the photos and leaves the format and folders intact.

nithig · 12 Mar 2014

Thanks BrightBlessings and also carwiz

I'm afraid I've managed to make a meal of it by knocking out the little locking mechanism on top left
of the SD Card. This happened when I followed a youtube vid showing how to cover the right side notch with cellotape to remove the protection.
Fortunately I can still access the images which had already been d/loaded to the computer HD.

Today I shall have to purchase a new SD Card!

Ah ... lessons :). Carwiz I'd like to understand yr comment but I'm not sure exactly what the steps are. I generally just move my photos from the SD Card via Windows Explorer to a folder in Pictures.

Of course I will encounter this problem with the new SD Card so may the exploration of how to delete images/ or remove Write Protection, continue.....

Madgic · 14 Jul 2014

"Of course I will encounter this problem with the new SD Card so may the exploration of how to delete images/ or remove Write Protection, continue...."

When I upload my photos, I select them all, Ctrl X to cut, then Ctrl V to paste into a new folder on my PC - card is then empty, but I do occasionally reformat to clear all the junk and revitalise the card.

I have 887Gb of photos stored currently, so very important to have a good system!

ICIT2LOL · 15 Jul 2014

Hmm going back to formatting that disk it should work if you use diskpart to format it - I stand to be corrected of course. Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

then Format a HDD or USB