Other SD format option than disk utility?

[tpcollins]

I'm still having problems with my Macbook Pro reading the SD cards from 3 different brands of game trail cams. Before when I uploaded pics on my old Dell laptop, I never had a problem - only with the Macbook that I've had for 2 years.

I have over a dozen SD cards that will not read on the Macbook nor in any of the trail cams. The disk utility on the Mac will not format them and they're no good.

Is there a program that I can download - and even pay for - that will work better than the hassle I have now? Thanks.

 

[Bending Pixels]

Do these cams use a different file format or....? The only time I've had an issue with reading a SD card is when the card itself goes bad (which does happen).

 

[tumas]

You can try to use the terminal and diskutil.
In order to erase and format any usb drive or sd card, the following commands should work:

diskutil list (this will show you all your disks and partitions)
If you have a standard installation and only an SSD installed, the sd card probably will be labeled as /dev/disk2)

Erase the sd card (disk 2 ?!), name it "newdisk" and format it as JHFS+ (=Mac OS Extended (Journaled)):
diskutil eraseDisk JHFS+ newdisk /dev/disk2

Make sure to use the right disk, because this is going to erase the whole drive.

For more information have a look at http://www.theinstructional.com/guides/disk-management-from-the-command-line-part-1

 

[tpcollins]

Thanks tunas, I was able to save one SD card, and the other 12 are dead I guess. Thanks.

I think from now on I use my old Dell.

 

[tpcollins]

Update:

I made an appointment at the Apple store near me and after a bit of checking, the service guy concluded my SD reader was bad. Being out of warranty and requiring a large board to be replaced it was going to run about $300 for the repair. He suggested just getting a card reader that plugs into the USB. Stopped at Best Buy and for $15, I got one the reads SD and Pro Duo for my Sony cam.

And I was able to salvaged 10 of the 13 "bad" SD cards I had. I'm good.