256GB Red Mag taking ages to format

[Wahab Iqbal]

Hi guys,
I just bought a second hand redmag and started formatting it. It has been formatting for the last 2 hours... Is this normal? It hasn't said "Format Failure" or anything like that, just taking ages and ages.
Thanks,
Wahab

 

[Stacey Spears]

Are you talking about the mag for the camera? 1.8" or min mag? Even a secure format takes well under a minute. Maybe send a camera log file to Red.

 

[Wahab Iqbal]

Yeah a 1.8" Redmag for the camera. Its actually still saying on the camera screen "Formatting the INTERNAL digital magazine"

 

[Wahab Iqbal]

Oh wait, it's sorted itself out! Thanks Stacey, a bit weird though, it's like it knows I was complaining about it to the forum and sorted itself out.

 

[Stacey Spears]

I would generate a log file and submit a ticket to Red just reporting it took over two hours to format a 256 GB card.

Do you have other 1.8" mag's? If so, can you format them? See how long they take. Help sort out if it is a mag or camera issue.

 

[Michael McLaughlin]

Don't know if this pic will come thru but, uh... if your camera is sentient; run if it does this.

 

[Wahab Iqbal]

Thanks Stacey, I will do that later. The thing is it's not doing it anymore so I assume the camera crashed and it was done and the screen stayed like it was...? Who knows?

Michael, if I start writing in 1s and 0s, well you know the machines have taken over!

 

[Michael McLaughlin]

COLBOL is your friend.

Thanks for the news so far, looking at adding SSD into my simple mix.

 

[Stacey Spears]

The camera keeps stuff in the log for a while. Probably worth sending to them.

 

[ericyoung]

If you format it again, does it take the same length of time?

If that is the case, try a "secure format" in camera - I believe that will force it to attempt a write to every section, and will map out any dead/dying ones. This could take a long time, so don't do it during a shoot! SSDs have finite write cycles, and they are all overprovisioned to allow remapping.

 

[Wahab Iqbal]

Sorry for the late reply Eric and thanks for the comment. Literally the card has been fine for the last month it was just that day... It was so odd...