How to Clear SD Memory

The SD card is a small, extremely portable memory format commonly used in digital cameras and game consoles such as the Nintendo Wii. As you store and save more data on your SD card, the available memory is depleted. Eventually you need to clear data from the card if you hope to store any new data on it. Fortunately, clearing the memory from any SD card is easily done from your home computer and only takes a few minutes.

Things You'll Need

• SD to USB adapter

Instructions

1. Locate the SD card ports on your computer. They will be clearly labeled. If your computer lacks SD ports, don't fret. SD to USB converters are available that let you connect any SD card through one of your PC's USB ports.

2. Insert the SD card into your PC. If you need to use an adapter, insert the card into the adapter first, and then put that into any of your computer's USB slots.

3. Click the Start button on the taskbar and open My Computer/Computer. A shortcut also is available by pressing the Windows Key+E.

4. Right-click the icon or text representing the SD card and select "Open" to view the contents of the card.

5. Select the contents to be deleted from the card. Pressing Ctrl+A selects everything on the card. Holding Ctrl while clicking allows you to select individual files and binds them together in a group.

6. Press the Delete key and confirm the action when finished. To completely delete all of the files from your computer, go to your computer's Recycle Bin, right-click it, and choose to empty its contents.

Tips & Warnings

• Many SD compatible devices allow you to delete data from the card using the device itself. Refer the the device's user manual for specific information on how this is done.

• Back up any data on your SD card before deleting. Once deleted from the card, it can never be recovered unless it's backed up on your computer or another memory device.

References

• SDCard: SD Card
• SDCard: SD Technology Overview
• Microsoft: Delete Files You Don't Need Anymore