137 EnglishINTRODUCTION TO THE OPTION SETTING MENUFormatting (initializing)A card must be formatted with this camera:i After purchasing, when used for the first time, ori If it was formatted using a personal computer or another digital camera.The card cannot be formatted if the lock switch is set to the “LOCK” position.Proceed with the format procedure after setting the lock switch to theunlocked position.CAUTIONCaution during formattingi Do not turn off the power to the camera or eject the card during formatting.Formatting erases the datai When a storage medium is formatted, all recorded files on the medium areerased. Protected data (pages 53 and 99) is also erased, so beforeformatting a card, any data you want to keep should be copied to yourpersonal computer’s hard disk or other storage medium.Caution regarding disposing/transferring the card (recovering data froma reformatted card)i If a card is reformatted or the data is erased from the card using thecamera or a computer, the card’s control data may be merely modified andthe data itself may not be completely erased from the card.i In some cases it may be possible to recover the data from a reformattedcard using special software for that purpose. However, if the camera isused to execute a full format, it will be impossible to recover the data evenby the use of data recovery software.i If you are disposing of a card, it is recommended that you physicallydestroy it. If you are transferring the card to someone else to use, it isrecommended that you use the camera’s full format function to reformatthe card, or use commercially available software for erasing card data.Managing data is the responsibility of the user.
