Format? im new to this camera and when i was fooling around i clicked "format" to see what it was and pressed "yes" and then all my pictures were gone? what happened? please help me im so confused =/

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Hi, The solution is to format the memory card or initialize the memory card. Note formatting the memory card will delete all the pictures or data stored. Formatting memory card
1. Press the MENU button in any mode.
2. Move the 5-way scroll button to the right and press the confirm button to enter the SETUP menu.
3. Move the 5-way scroll button down and enter the FORMAT menu. Press the confirm button and the "Format?" dialog box appears. Select "Yes" to start formatting. Select "No" to cancel.

hi, if you connect the camera to your computer and open the folders in file veiw you should be able to simple drag around them and press delete

sorry your pictures are lost.

by pressing format and yes, you have instructed the camera to clear all data from its internal memory and to set the memory ready to accept new data.
the old data is not stored in any trashcan like on a pc.

when you format something it deletes everything leaving it how it came from the factory, it's possible that you had corrupted files and the camera advised to format, next time cancel

Have you tried to put the card in a card reader and connect it to your computer? Card readers can be purchased at just about any store that sells electronics or camera supplies. They cost around $20 or less. You put the card in the card reader, attach it to your computer and click on start and then my computer.You should be able to see something that says digital media or mass storage. Highlight that and that right click. It should give you the option of formatting the card. It will erase everything and format it for you. Then you can try it in the camera. If this doesn't work then it should be looked at. Good luck

There still may be hope, depending on whether your camera conducted a low-level format or not. Please see this post for several free recovery software that you can download. You'll need to use a card reader with these programs though: http://camerarepair.blogspot.com/2007/12/recovering-those-accidentally-lost.html

Sounds like you will need to format the memory card. This will permanently erase all the data from the card and then you will be able to use it again. To format the card: Press the Ok button - right arrow to Mode Menu - down arrow to Card tab - right arrow to card setup - right arrow to format option. You will see format yes or no. Choose Yes and press ok. This will clear the picture error message and the cards can be used again.

i just had this problem too! the way i fixed it was to:
press the review button click the menu (center) button go all the way to the right side "settings" area (a little cogged wheel and wrench) format the camera ---> yes reset the camera ---> yes
make sure you don't have any valuable pictures still on the camera, because this will delete them, override any of your previous settings (like no sound, or different sounds) and basically reset the camera to original factory settings. 
this worked for me, so i hope it will work for you, too!

I have a camera like that, and I also went through that problem when I wanted to erase the whole XD picture memory card ! You have to go to SET UP function y click FORMAT, then when the camera asks you for the approval of your command you have to click the virtual OK "key" located to the left side of the screen ! If you just press the physical "square button" when you order to FORMAT it won´t do it !