What do I do if I need to format my USB stick or SD card?

USB flash drives and SD cards are easy and reliable to use, but what happens if your playback device (be it a projector, TV, computer, media player, etc.) does not recognize the drive at all? You may need to format your storage device before it will work properly.

So, what does it mean to format? Basically, your storage device's format or “file system” is a language it uses to communicate with other devices. All of your devices need to speak the same language to work together.

AtmosFX recommends using FAT32 format, which is the most common format used for most projectors including the AtmosKIT Plus projector. If you're using a non-AtmosFX device, you may want to consult your user manual or contact the manufacturer. Keep in mind that this format does not support files larger than 4 GB or drives larger than 32 GB.

IMPORTANT: Back-up your files before formatting, as this process will erase all content off of your storage device.

METHOD 1: Windows Computers

Step 1 - Connect the storage device to your computer and wait for your computer to detect the device.
Step 2 - Open the Windows "file explorer" from the Start menu, or by pressing the Windows key + E. This window displays all of your connected drives in the left side panel.
Step 3 - Locate your storage device in the left side panel and right click on it.
Step 4 - Select "Format" from the pop-up menu to open the formatting tool.
Step 5 - Select your Format from the "File system" menu (FAT32). Do not adjust the other settings. You may pick a new name or "Volume label" for your drive.
Step 6 - Click on "Start" to begin the formatting process, then click "OK" in the pop-up window. Remember, all the data on your storage device will be deleted.

METHOD 2: Mac OS X Computers

Step 1 - Connect the storage device to your computer and wait for your computer to detect the device.
Step 2 - Use the keyboard command Shift + ⌘ + U to open the "Disk Utility".
Step 3 - You will see a list of your connected drives in the left frame of Disk Utility. Select your storage device. Make absolutely sure you select the right one!
Step 4 - Select the "Erase" tab to open the formatting tool.
Step 5 - Select the format "MS-DOS (FAT)" from the format options menu. You may also name your storage device.
Step 6 - Click on "Erase..." and then click "OK" in the pop-up window to begin the formatting process. Remember, all the data on your storage device will be deleted.

Mac OS X users may need to take an additional step to use their digital downloads on an external storage device. For more information, please check out this article about Mac computers and “dot underbar" files.