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SDFormatter is often recommended to format the SDCard.

https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/a/19928/39410

http://elinux.org/RPi_Easy_SD_Card_Setup#Using_NOOBS

I have never heard of this software before using the Raspberry Pi.

Is it critical to format your SDCard with this software before using the Pi? What if the SDCard is brand new? Are there alternatives that can be used if you have problems with it?

Can I just use the built in Windows tools or some other free software?

e.g. http://alternativeto.net/software/easeus-partition-manager-home-edition/?license=free

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opticyclic
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3 Answers3

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There is no requirement to use the tool provided by the SD Association. Formatting the card in Windows using the Windows formatter may also work.

However, there is a strong recommendation to use the tool. At least for SD, SDHC and/or SDXC cards. Different OSes and different formatting tools may have varying ideas about how to format an SD-card, many of which will not result in a smile on your face when trying to boot an R-Pi with it. At least when using this tool you'll be certain the result will be "up-to-spec".

ADDITION: For example, some formatting tools, may only format the first partition or use less compatible formats like FAT, NTFS or exFAT. This results in a card of which the full capacity is no longer available. SDformatter will erase the entire card and create a single partition formatted to FAT32. FAT32 being the format of choice for use with the Raspberry Pi.

Mausy5043
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Perhaps I have been fortunate, but I have had no problems using SD cards that are brand new nor older cards that have been reformatted.

Thus, to answer the question as posed, NO you don't HAVE to, since I have had much success with multiple installations on 8 Raspberry Pi's without issue. This includes B+, 2B, and Zero models.

Perhaps use the sdformatter as a troubleshooting step if you do encounter issues?

adengle
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It should not matter which tool is used to format the SD card. Using a non SD alignment aware tool might place the partition on the card incorrectly or use an incorrect block size for the file system thus decreasing the obtainable performance.

Using the tool provided by the SD Association creates a FAT32 with optimum parameters. There might be also other tools which are aware of the pecularities of the SD cards.

user39703
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