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How do I reformat the memory stick on my Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P200?

I have a bit of a dilemma: I need to reformat a memory stick to be able to work with my Sony camera, a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P200, but I don't have a clue how to do it. Can you help me out, Dave? Thanks!


Dave's Answer:

Actually, Sony has a good support site where you can thankfully type in your model number rather than trying to navigate through their impressively large range of different products. I did just that, typing in DSC-P200, and immediately got the following set of frequently asked questions:

Sony DSC-P200 Digital Camera: FAQ

As you can see, you're not the first to ask this particular question. Click on How to format the Memory Stick or disc and you find that ... it doesn't actually lead to an article, but instead to a search of the entire Sony knowledge base, with 76 matches. Ugh. Indeed, the #1 match talks about networking errors you can encounter with your Sony PSP, of all things.

It's buried in the results, but one of the articles there is How to format the Memory Stick media in the camera [hopefully that link will work for you too. It's article #C400281].

That document explains that you format the memory stick - which will delete all pictures stored on the device as part of the process - by doing the following:

  1. Insert the Memory Stick media® to be formatted in the camera.
  2. On the camera, turn the MODE DIAL to the SETUP position.
  3. Turn on the camera.
  4. Using the CONTROL BUTTON, press the DOWN ARROW button to select MEMORY STICK TOOL.
  5. Press the center of the CONTROL BUTTON.
  6. Press the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW button to select FORMAT.
  7. Press the RIGHT ARROW button.
  8. Press the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW button to select OK.
  9. Press the center of the CONTROL BUTTON.

Hopefully those instructions will help you get going again with your Sony digital camera. Good luck!



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Comments

HI.
I has a Sony Cybershot MPEGMOVIEVX camera, and when she turns it on, the display says there is no memory stick in, but there is on in. It's a Sony memory stick so everything should work, but it doesn't. It's a new one because I broke the other {memory stick}. It used to do this occasionally, and it would stop on it's own and the problem would be over, you could take and save pictures fine. But now, it's completely incorporative. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Shawna

Posted by: Shawna at March 26, 2007 8:03 PM

Your instructions worked great. I had the same problem on the same camera and it's back to working great. Thanks!

Posted by: brian at February 10, 2008 7:13 PM

Hello Dave, thanks for the energetic answer to how to program a memory stick but guess what, you lost me at question 1 and I'm not stupid. There is no dial for setup and there is no down arrow. I've got a Sony CybershotDSC S700 and it's a stupid job really. It tells me I'm plugged in to a USB- I know that! It says usb mode mass storage internal memory switch on menu and sends me in a round the loop to where I started from. I want to unlock the bleeping memory card, get access to the delete function to rid the so called filled internal memory which really shouldn't impede using the card anyhow, and take some photos - I only have 7 of them in total anyhow!

Posted by: Anna at March 14, 2008 9:35 AM

Hi
When my Sony Digital Camera is on, I am not able to access any options. Only access appears when one particular memory stick is in.
Am I able to recover my photos and film off this memory card?

Posted by: sonja at June 15, 2008 9:48 PM


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