How do you reformat hard drive on the Canon Vixia HF20?

[afhrhs@gmail.com]

I have the Vixia HF20 and have read the entire manual and can't find an answer to this problem:

When I check my "memory available" by going through the function tab on the camcorder, it says I have used 25gb of 32gb. I have deleted all of the scenes through my computer and have checked it manually and confirmed there are no "scenes or videos" on the camcorder itself...thus, I am perplexed on how to reset (or reformat?) the camcorder to delete the 25gb it shows is still on there.

I had this problem at Christmas (morning actually) and was able to figure out how to reset it so it deleted the whole thing. I can't remember how to do it. The index in the manual says RESET is on page 150, but there is no mention of any resetting on that page.

Any help you can give me on how to erase the 25gb still on my camcorder would be greatly appreciated. Thanks -

Confused in St. Louis

[Bif]

I have the HF100 which has no internal memory so I can't help you too specifically. On the same menu that shows you "card info" or "memory info" you should find an "initialize" command. If you are set so what you are looking at is the internal memory that "initialize" command is the "reformat" command and should allow you to reformat the internal memory.

I highly recommend you do so and perhaps do so before each new project. We generally reformat external cards before each new project use.

Bruce Foreman

[arco1]

"I have deleted all of the scenes through my computer...."

I have the HF S21, so it might not be the same, but Canon wants you to do all file management using the camera. Deleting scenes while hooked to your computer leaves all sorts of references to your original footage on the camera. My guess is that the camera still reserves the file space for that footage even though you've deleted it. The 'correct' way to delete footage is using the playback menu. (Yeah, I know, not the easiest way to do things - what was Canon thinking here?)

Use the 'initialize' command in the menus. Or you might try 'deleting' the scenes (again) if they appear on the camera's playback menu.


Jim