Can deleting some (not all) files off Mavic Mini micro-SD card possibly cause problems?

Underwaterguy · Nov 14, 2020

Hi, I have a 1/2 full 128GB card that has many test clips I don't want to keep. (I archive cards once full as a backup.) Can I open the card on my Mac desktop, drag specific files to trash, empty trash and continue to use the card? Wondering if it can increase the possibility of corrupt writing of files in later flights. Thanks!

Brockrock · Nov 14, 2020

I do occasional commercial jobs - real estate, roof inspections... - and to minimize file corruption, I always format the SD card prior to those flights. You probably would be OK removing media such as images and video, but I'm wondering why you would want to leave anything on the card after that. An SD card is not a good data storage medium. It is meant for data collection and then transfer - IMO.

Meta4 · Nov 14, 2020

Underwaterguy said:
Hi, I have a 1/2 full 128GB card that has many test clips I don't want to keep. (I archive cards once full as a backup.) Can I open the card on my Mac desktop, drag specific files to trash, empty trash and continue to use the card? Wondering if it can increase the possibility of corrupt writing of files in later flights. Thanks!

There's no reason to launch your drone with any files on the card.
Once you've copied them to your computer, format the card.

THE CYBORG · Nov 14, 2020

The only file I keep on my SD card is a text document with my contact details in it.
When I format the card I put it back, If you format it uses exFAT.

Barbara · Nov 14, 2020

What everyone else said....I delete all files every time I transfer them and frequently format the card.

StantonZ · Nov 14, 2020

One thing hasn't been mentioned: you may find that the card/files have been "write protected" by the OS, in which case you will have to use something like Diskpart (google it) to remove the write protection. This may not be necessary if you format the card (lose all files), but I tend to keep some files on my SD card (and delete others). YMMV.

Deleted member 103366 · Nov 14, 2020

On the other hand I rarely, if ever, format the card.

One thing someone with knowledge could perhaps answer, is it possible to 'wear out' mSD card memory if you keep using the same memory space over and over again?
I assume the 'camera' writes to the first available space on the card, if correct and you frequently empty the card then talke mpre photos etc. you repeatedly write to the first few regions of the card and infrequently write to the remainder etc. etc..

StantonZ · Nov 14, 2020

PhiliusFoggg said:
On the other hand I rarely, if ever, format the card.

One thing someone with knowledge could perhaps answer, is it possible to 'wear out' mSD card memory if you keep using the same memory space over and over again?

No. This is not a record player.

Meta4 · Nov 14, 2020

PhiliusFoggg said:
On the other hand I rarely, if ever, format the card.

One thing someone with knowledge could perhaps answer, is it possible to 'wear out' mSD card memory if you keep using the same memory space over and over again?

Technically ... yes.
But you are unlikely to encounter this.
Modern SD cards usually have a lifespan in the order of 100,000 write cycles today and SD cards include circuitry to manage wear-leveling, that is, spread out writes over the storage media evenly to avoid "hot spots"—pages that are written too frequently and therefore failing early.
You could format a card once per day for 100 years and still not be halfway to 100000 cycles.

SkyeHigh · Nov 14, 2020

PhiliusFoggg said:
On the other hand I rarely, if ever, format the card.

One thing someone with knowledge could perhaps answer, is it possible to 'wear out' mSD card memory if you keep using the same memory space over and over again?
I assume the 'camera' writes to the first available space on the card, if correct and you frequently empty the card then talke mpre photos etc. you repeatedly write to the first few regions of the card and infrequently write to the remainder etc. etc..

In addition to the wear-levelling mentioned, when you ‘delete’ files they aren’t actually removed but the space previously used is marked as available for re-use. In most operating systems the new recordings will start from the next available free space on the disk/card and will eventually use the previously used space that was marked for re-use.

The positive side to this means less chance of writing over the same area repeatedly but the downside means the data is spread over a wider area of the storage medium. Normally not an issue with current hi-speed cards.

Formatting the card still doesn’t delete the files (they can be recovered with the right tools) but it resets the file structure to a known good state.

Deleted member 103366 · Nov 15, 2020

Great stuff guys, thanks

Garatshay · Nov 15, 2020

THE CYBORG said:
The only file I keep on my SD card is a text document with my contact details in it.
When I format the card I put it back, If you format it uses exFAT.

That's a great idea - thanks for sharing it. In Canada, most drones have to be registered (unless sub 250g), but having contact details on a card is a great backup - and more likely - I suspect - to see it returned if it ever goes astray...

Dale D · Nov 15, 2020

Underwaterguy said:
Hi, I have a 1/2 full 128GB card that has many test clips I don't want to keep. (I archive cards once full as a backup.) Can I open the card on my Mac desktop, drag specific files to trash, empty trash and continue to use the card? Wondering if it can increase the possibility of corrupt writing of files in later flights. Thanks!

As part of my pre-op check list, I always make sure I have a completely full and formatted card. I have never used a full 128mb card, even after using 3 full batteries. I am not completely sure why you would want to leave any data, whatsoever, on the SD card. I just drag the files to a desktop or a folder and deal with those files as I need to.

I usually set up a project folder on the iMAC ("New Folder"), then, two more folders named "project name-drone video", and "project name-drone stills." I drag these folders into the Import window of Premiere to start editing. A third folder, "project name-Music" is also used.

Soxer · Nov 15, 2020

THE CYBORG said:
The only file I keep on my SD card is a text document with my contact details in it.
When I format the card I put it back, If you format it uses exFAT.

Oh Cyborg, now you've made me feel so dim!

Why didn't I think of that, it's such a simple and (hopefully) foolproof way of letting finders get in touch without having to splash your details all over your equipment.

I'll be doing this for my drone, cameras and maybe my phone from now on.
Thank-you for the idea!

Dale D · Nov 15, 2020

Soxer said:
Oh Cyborg, now you've made me feel so dim!

Why didn't I think of that, it's such a simple and (hopefully) foolproof way of letting finders get in touch without having to splash your details all over your equipment.

I'll be doing this for my drone, cameras and maybe my phone from now on.
Thank-you for the idea!

Yes- it's a great idea but you have to remember to type in the details of your information after formatting each and every time.

Soxer · Nov 15, 2020

Dale D said:
Yes- it's a great idea but you have to remember to type in the details of your information after formatting each and every time.

Hi Dale,
I suppose a permanent copy of the text file on the (computer) desktop, to copy over to the card after each format would make it easy - and presumably not take up too much memory? I'd be reluctant to use a shortcut on the desktop as I'd probably go and copy the shortcut without the required info.

Dale D · Nov 15, 2020

Soxer said:
Hi Dale,
I suppose a permanent copy of the text file on the (computer) desktop, to copy over to the card after each format would make it easy - and presumably not take up too much memory? I'd be reluctant to use a shortcut on the desktop as I'd probably go and copy the shortcut without the required info.

A small text file with your information probably would not even take more than a few kilobytes of memory. You can keep it on the desktop. Using memory is not the problem!

The problem is that it is one more thing to do before you remove the SD card from the card reader and re-insert it into the drone. In addition, it would have to be a very savvy person who finds your drone! That finder person would have to know about each drone (where is the memory card stored this drone model???), and then insert that memory card into their computer (PC or MAC) and recover your data in order to find your name, etc. In my mind, it is not worth the extra few minutes to bother to do this.

dawgpilot · Nov 15, 2020

StantonZ said:
No. This is not a record player.

That's incorrect. MicroSD cards do suffer from memory sectors wearing out, but it takes thousands of deletes and rewrites to the same sector to have that occur. For 99 percent of users that will never be a problem.

Underwaterguy · Nov 15, 2020

Thanks for all the great replies. I learned a lot. I was seeing (in searches) that data on this type of card has an estimated 5-10 year lifespan. I trim all my clips and store the "keepers" on drives, but having the original cards stored in a safe spot gives me the option to go back an retrieve originals if necessary. The fact that they are tiny and quite inexpensive is the main reason I'm going continue with the workflow I use. (I won't try deleting just certain clips off of a card, though.)

KurtpH · Nov 15, 2020

SkyeHigh said:
In addition to the wear-levelling mentioned, when you ‘delete’ files they aren’t actually removed but the space previously used is marked as available for re-use. In most operating systems the new recordings will start from the next available free space on the disk/card and will eventually use the previously used space that was marked for re-use.

The positive side to this means less chance of writing over the same area repeatedly but the downside means the data is spread over a wider area of the storage medium. Normally not an issue with current hi-speed cards.

Formatting the card still doesn’t delete the files (they can be recovered with the right tools) but it resets the file structure to a known good state.

Yes, the valuable upside of this that I have encountered in the past, prior to the "cloud," was that with some version of Disk Doctor I was able to recover something off something long after I was sure I had removed it from a card, which was handy back then when a hard drive failed.

Can deleting some (not all) files off Mavic Mini micro-SD card possibly cause problems?

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