I have lost my instructions and need to format my Nikon D70 compact flash card. How do I do it please?

The D70 uses CF (compact flash) cards - I hope you are simply misnaming the CF card. But, if you did use an SD card, it would explain how you could have bent a pin.

I understand that Nikon is moving away from CF cards because of the 'bent pin issue' as well as the limited capacity of the CF card.

So, first I would try a CF card (any size) in the reader. If it still doesn't work, then I think you might check with a camera repair shop. If it is a bent pin, they can fix or replace the card reader. Note that the D70 body can be replaced with an EX rated used body for under $90 at https://www.keh.com/shop/nikon-d70-6-1-megapixel-digital-slr-camera-body-only-9782.html

Thus, I wouldn't pay $100 to have the reader fixed unless there are extenuating circumstances. Good luck.

Hi!
if you want use the 4G you make sure your memory cards is compatible to 4G. then now you have got stuck when you back the 512!? all you have to do is to reformat your camera in to software. Thanks!!!

A 4GB CompactFlash card should work in your Nikon Coolpix, but you may only be able to use 2GB of it's space once formatted correctly. This camera formats the cards in the FAT file system. That basically means that one can only use up to 2GB of memory (2048 MB).

Check out this site for instructions:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/222-newly-formatted-4gb-compact-flash-card-out-of-memory-digital-camera/

I’m happy to help further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_69f3cc28d95bf514

Hi, The Rate: Commonly the users, rate Nikon D80 in 4 - 4.5 score out 5 scale
Product detail: Nikon D80 comes to replace Nikon D70s. Memory card : flash cards. The new Nikon D80 features 10.2 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop), 11-area AF system (new version of Multi-CAM 1000, similar to D200), Compact body (smaller, lighter than D70/D70s), improved user interface, and 2.5? 230,000 pixel TFT LCD with 170 degree viewing angle. This camera has a removable protective cover.
For complete detail of this product you can get from this web address: http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/noprint/D80_noprint.pdf

Guide to recover deleted photos from Nikon D70?
Connect Nikon with PC
Using a USB cable or putting SD card into an SD card reader to connect Nikon with Computer.
Scan Nikon d70- Running the Nikon Photo Recovery,you can choose Nikon media drive and click "Start Scan" for scanning
Recover deleted photos
After scanning, you will see all recoverable media photos and videos with file type. At last, click "Recover" to recovering deleted Nikon D70 photos.
This Photo Recovery also can recover all photos files from Nikon D3100 like JPEG, BMP, TIFF, GIF, etc. Support all Nikon camera.
For full details please refer to Nikon D70 Manual.- https://guideusermanual.com/product-name-d70-manual&po=4425&lang=English

The D70 has known issues with certain cards / capacities. Nikon has identified the cards and capacities that are guaranteed to work with the D70 specifically, on their page dedicated to this info linked below:

http://support.nikontech.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9601

It seems that only Lexar and Microdrive cards that are 4Gb are supported (some with significant limitations) and no card greater than 4Gb is supported at all, regardless of manufacturer.

This camera allows at most a 4GB CF card, are you trying to use something larger, or does it do this with any size card? Also make sure card isnt write protected. Failing either of these suggestions, its possible that something has happened to the card slot internal to camera, they can be quite fragile.

It means you need to format your compact flash card.  Or...it may be that you've been bitten by the infamous BGLD problem (Blinking Green Light of Death) that caused my D70 to eventually be replaced by Nikon.  Thankfully it was under warranty at the point, which yours will not be.  
If you haven't ever formatted your card, this is probably the problem.  To do so, just hold the two buttons that say "for" in red on them down for a second so that the letters "FOR" start to blink, then do it again while seeing that.  Let go and wait a couple of seconds.  The FOR will be replaced by numbers that tell you how many images you have left on the card until it is full.  I format my cards EVERY time I put a card back in the camera.  This prevents bad locations from cropping up on the card and creating bad images (corrupt).

You can connect the camera to the computer via a USB cable and use the camera as the card reader. It will show up as a mass storage device. You should then be able to copy the images to your PC and format the card once recovered.

could be bent pin in the memory card slot