New camera how do I reformat my SD card?

I just got this beautiful camera yesterday from Amazon. I got a 16 GB sd card. No idea why guess I was trying to save money after this huge purchase. Anyway I only have 7 pictures available to take up on the SD card and already lost like 3 pictures again no idea why. Been awhile since I even used a camera. I use to run through digital cameras like tissues cause they were never good enough but took a 2 year break from even using one. So I dont remember much on how to use one and this beauty sure fits all the empty spaces in my life and obsession with cameras but along with it it has a lot of buttons and stuff to with it. So what I need help with (at the moment) is formatting my SD card to get more room. Or if I have to I will purchase a better SD card with more room. Thank you in advance.

Formatting is available from one of your menus, it should be easy to find in your manual...

Enjoy your new camera, I have the same model and love it...

Pat in NH

Welcome

Have a look in your manual...It has all this type of information...

In your owners manual, go to the Index page....look up "Formating SD cards/memory cards"......then look in your cameras menu and find the wrench icon on the left of the screen. Click OK. Scroll through to find the Format command.

Thanks for the welcome and advice Rocky!! You also Pedroj - The D5100 is absolutely stunning.

Fotojack I did exactly that and it worked. Going to glue myself to the owners manual right now and try out everything!

Welcome to the site!

Welcome to the site.

Ditch the user manual, and download the reference manual instead - lot more in depth then the former

Go into your menu, find formant hit YES, then Ok and you set to go.

Menu > Setup Menu > Format Memory card > Yes > OK

I hope you didn't some totally cheap and crappy card because they do crap completely out with time.