When i turn on my camera it says the memory card needs formatting i follow the instructions but it doesnt work and keeps saying to format the memory card. this happens over and over and i cannot take pictures.

To understand the photo loss situation, consider a scenario: You format a memory card in Digital Camera, and start to capture some pictures. However, while capturing pictures, your camera shuts down due to low battery. Now, after recharging battery, when you try to access those photograph on the card, you receive the following error message on camera screen:

The Card requires formatting: Additionally, the camera is unable to capture any new photographs.

The main cause for the above error message is corruption of memory card due to conking of battery while a read/write operation was running.

These memory card needs to be formatted before you save any new pictures. It is always a good practice to take backup of card and format it before use. This enables you to fight with any damage done to the memory card and to erase the old data saved on the card. However, the probability of card getting corrupted again (after you have saved new data) still exists.

First try formating with an external SD Card reader connected at PC and test it.