Video/memory card problem with my new Mini 3 Pro

Meta4 · Dec 9, 2022

BroomRider said:
It seems there is a difference between details in the formatting between what DJI supplies, & what WinDoze supplies.

There isn't.
The default quick format in Windows works just fine in DJI drones.

RogerDH · Dec 9, 2022

Meta4 said:
There isn't.
The default quick format in Windows works just fine in DJI drones.

Yes, and I've found that that's generally been true for all the cameras I've used: I've had only problems with Windows formatting a couple of times with some off-brand action cameras.

However, the SD Association says that formatting routines provided in OSs may not format an SD/SDHC/SDXC card for most efficient usage because they are designed to work with all sorts of external storage. The SD Memory Card Formatter app that they provide, on the other hand, will put a card in a "like new" state because it's the same formatting used on the vast majority of SD cards on the market.

BroomRider · Dec 10, 2022

RogerDH said:
Yes, and I've found that that's generally been true for all the cameras I've used: I've had only problems with Windows formatting a couple of times with some off-brand action cameras.

However, the SD Association says that formatting routines provided in OSs may not format an SD/SDHC/SDXC card for most efficient usage because they are designed to work with all sorts of external storage. The SD Memory Card Formatter app that they provide, on the other hand, will put a card in a "like new" state because it's the same formatting used on the vast majority of SD cards on the market.

Exactly, which is why I use that & referred to it, just not by name. I was tired when I wrote my post & just didn't feel like finding the exact name with a link included, although I did supply that in 1 of my earlier posts.

nuclearscott · Jan 26, 2023

If you have "write caching" on in Windows and you don't properly "Eject" the SD card using the "Eject" function, you can corrupt the SD card by just pulling it out. Did you eject the sd card, or did you just pull it out? Maybe the cause. Anyway, I always format mine in the drone and then, after recording video, I plug the card into my computer, I copy all files to a desktop folder. They play better off the hard drive than the card. I sort through which videos I want and delete the rest. I don't worry about file numbers being reset because I name the folders on my computer accordingly.

Luggruff · Jan 28, 2023

nuclearscott said:
If you have "write caching" on in Windows and you don't properly "Eject" the SD card using the "Eject" function, you can corrupt the SD card by just pulling it out. Did you eject the sd card, or did you just pull it out? Maybe the cause. Anyway, I always format mine in the drone and then, after recording video, I plug the card into my computer, I copy all files to a desktop folder. They play better off the hard drive than the card. I sort through which videos I want and delete the rest. I don't worry about file numbers being reset because I name the folders on my computer accordingly.

I 100% always eject my card, except if the computer has been turned off. Today, I experienced the same issue as the OP though. Luckily, it seems I am still able to just put the card back into the drone, then download the footage to the RC controller. Then after that, I could not view the files by connecting the RC to my PC, but had to take out the card and do it (reluctantly afraid this also might end up corrupted). However, it worked fine.. it just took a million years to transfer to the RC.

Had a real heart attack due to this, considering todays flights where both flights that required escort from the military, and took quite some time to get the take-off approval. So it was not just any footage either.

Meta4 said:
There's no need to do extensive testing for something as simple as using an SD card in a DJI drone.
It exactly the same as using an SD card in any other camera device.

Of course there must be a serious defect in DJI's use of SD cards.
It's a mystery why none of millions of users have found it before you though.

Well, I found this thread and registered to this forum solely because I have the same problem. Why are you even in here making crazy statements like this, when you have not witnessed it? Also, Rich Z have already linked to other threads where people have this issue. All you have to do is read before you reply. If you do not have anything good to say, don't say anything at all. It's common knowledge.

For OP: I have not tried your solution, but might later. Right now I need to calm down and enjoy the footage after the initial shock... and INSANELY long time copying the files to the RC - as it copies in 2-4 MB/s. Luckily I have a dehumidifier that outputs cold air so I sat the drone on top of the fan of it so the drone did at least not shut down automatically due to overheating - and it was also lucky I had an extra battery as it took two in order to transfer everything (more than two hours - so also drained my RC) :'D

BroomRider · Jan 28, 2023

While I can't duplicate nor confirm the problems some others have claimed with the SD cards formatting, I'll offer a list of what I do, & have not 1nce had any issues.

I'll presume that the drone, controller & computer have all had their latest updates.

Due to the possibility of there being some sort of mismatch or incompatibility between how the drone, controller, & computer formats the SD cars, I go to the source & use SD Card Formatter.

I use the Samsung Pro Plus brand & type cards (for me, I use the 128 GB in my drone, & the 512 GB in my controller).

I've only had to format the 2, 1nce, back when I bought them last summer, & not encountered any difficulties since (or ever).

I have the M3P drone, & the RC controller.

When I'm done flying, taking photos &/ video, I turn off both the drone (no overheating!) & the controller before I take the SD card out of my drone, & put it into the reader slot in my computer. I then select the files I wish to move & save, & then transfer them to my machine; I don't use my desktop – I have a DJI folder set up on my hard drive in which I keep all my DJI media files.

I check the files to ensure that the transfer was completed correctly, & maybe I'll even review them. They do play much better & smoother directly from my hard drive, rather than from the SD card.

Or, if I want to save them to the SD card from my controller, it's the same process, using a 2nd reader in my USB port.

I don't bother trying to move those large files via US cables while the cards are still in their respective units, it's just way too slow.

I then go back to the card(s) & delete the files with which I just worked.

Before I remove the card(s), I make sure to use the “Eject Media” button, & then remove the card(s) back to their respective units.

I then do any recharging needed, generally using the charging hub rather than leaving the battery in the drone.

That's the procedure I've used, & since last summer & maybe ~150 miles (ca. 241 km)? of flying (I can't recall exactly) I've never 1nce encountered any problems.

I can't say that it'll fix the issues others have mentioned previously in this thread, but it's worked for me flawlessly, & I use the very same tools & techniques for anything else that I have that use SD cards.

Felix le Chat · Jan 29, 2023

DJI device format to clear microSD card is best. You answered your own question in post #16. Took videos with drone on desk. Put card in PC and they were there. Formatted the card on the PC and after recording more clips, took it out of drone and put it back into PC card reader to find exactly the same problem you originally had. Micro SD card not duff: DJI devices like the flavour of their own card format process, they don't like PC formatted microSD's.

thomasoes · Jan 30, 2023

I had that problem and ignored the bit saying it could not read the card and I said no to scan and repair and the files still opened to read on that card

Meta4 · Jan 30, 2023

Felix le Chat said:
DJI devices like the flavour of their own card format process, they don't like PC formatted microSD's.

I format in the computer after each flight and have been doing that with DJI drones hundreds of times since 2014.
DJI devices have no problem with cards formatted in the PC.

Sparc343 · Feb 3, 2023

I've had no problem for quite some time (formatting from PC most frequently, only formatting from drone to reset the filename 'counter')... Up until day before yesterday! Only this has occurred on my Mini 2 (so this is definitely NOT a "new" problem)!

And go figure, prior to this I just have some "standard footage". Not to say I haven't gotten some decent imagery but, this was one of my better "recording sessions" to date, and of course it's "corrupt" >.<

Tufargon · Feb 3, 2023

Sparc343 said:
I've had no problem for quite some time (formatting from PC most frequently, only formatting from drone to reset the filename 'counter')... Up until day before yesterday! Only this has occurred on my Mini 2 (so this is definitely NOT a "new" problem)!

And go figure, prior to this I just have some "standard footage". Not to say I haven't gotten some decent imagery but, this was one of my better "recording sessions" to date, and of course it's "corrupt" >.<

It's probably if you didn't end the video before shutting down. Turn the drone and controller on then start recording then end it and it will likely fix it.

Sparc343 · Feb 3, 2023

Tufargon said:
It's probably if you didn't end the video before shutting down. Turn the drone and controller on then start recording then end it and it will likely fix it.

Actually I received some error message WHILE recording. I didn't catch the actual message because I was too busy paying attention to my flight rather than reading the screen! I came back and landed though, changed batteries and continued on. The "continuing on" was a "mistake" but oddly enough I have already been able to "recover" everything from after "continuing on". The video I really really really desire to "recover", is going to take some extensive "work" if I don't wind up taking a binary dump / sector by sector "image" of the card and sending it to an actual data forensics pro if necessary...

Tufargon · Feb 3, 2023

Sparc343 said:
Actually I received some error message WHILE recording. I didn't catch the actual message because I was too busy paying attention to my flight rather than reading the screen! I came back and landed though, changed batteries and continued on. The "continuing on" was a "mistake" but oddly enough I have already been able to "recover" everything from after "continuing on". The video I really really really desire to "recover", is going to take some extensive "work" if I don't wind up taking a binary dump / sector by sector "image" of the card and sending it to an actual data forensics pro if necessary...

Don't know how much experience you have on recovering stuff but you shouldn't need to go through all that. There are programs that can recover most if not all stuff depending on how many times the card or drive has been formatted and what type of format they've been done at. Good luck anyway. Looks like you're a little too pissed off to talk to at the moment. I've been an IT computer tech since 1995 so I've seen a lot of chit.

Sparc343 · Feb 3, 2023

Tufargon said:
Don't know how much experience you have on recovering stuff but you shouldn't need to go through all that. There are programs that can recover most if not all stuff depending on how many times the card or drive has been formatted and what type of format they've been done at. Good luck anyway. Looks like you're a little too pissed off to talk to at the moment.

Oh no, not really "pissed"; I am a little urked that Meta4 has seemingly not really contributed anything besides skepticism though. Besides that, I too have a history in I.T. so I am not completely sitting in the dark, thankfully. But yes, I will need some high level "recovery" for the main video I want/seek. Windows Explorer doesn't even recognize ANYTHING on the SD card.

You get the "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" message if you try. Using "basic" "file recovery" tools, you can get pretty much every picture/video besides the main one I'm interested in. I'm pretty sure that the data for it will be present on the card still, but it's going to require something more serious than consumer level recovery software...

Tufargon · Feb 3, 2023

Sparc343 said:
Oh no, not really "pissed"; I am a little urked that Meta4 has seemingly not really contributed anything besides skepticism though. Besides that, I too have a history in I.T. so I am not completely sitting in the dark, thankfully. But yes, I will need some high level "recovery" for the main video I want/seek. Windows Explorer doesn't even recognize ANYTHING on the SD card. View attachment 160203You get the "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" message if you try. Using "basic" "file recovery" tools, you can get pretty much every picture/video besides the main one I'm interested in. I'm pretty sure that the data for it will be present on the card still, but it's going to require something more serious than consumer level recovery software...

Try what I said. Turn the drone and controller on. Start a video recording then stop it. Then check again if the file is readable.

Sparc343 · Feb 3, 2023

BTW (by the way), for the posterity of anyone reading this post in the future, some decent "consumer level recovery software" includes (but is not limited to):

- Recuva ~ Recuva - Free Download
- PhotoRec (TestDisk & PhotoRec) ~ TestDisk Download
- FreeUndelete ~ FreeUndelete - OfficeRecovery.com

Meta4 · Feb 3, 2023

Sparc343 said:
I am a little urked that Meta4 has seemingly not really contributed anything besides skepticism though.

And you know that your issue is due to a formatting issue?
I stand by every word I've posted in this thread.
DJI drones have no problem with using windows to format SD cards.

Sparc343 said:
Actually I received some error message WHILE recording. I didn't catch the actual message because I was too busy paying attention to my flight rather than reading the screen!

The message is probably captured in the recorded flight data.
I'm betting it had absolutely nothing to do with formatting your SD card.