Working with digital images

[Donna Hansen]

I have a question about uploading photos from an SD card that is used in a Kodak EasyShare DX6440.  The camera belongs to a friend and I was going to get the images from his card and put them on a CD for him because his computer isn't working.  I have a Dazzle SD card reader that I use for my own digital images, but I have an HP Photosmart 850 camera.  The card reader will not read the card that's been used in the Kodak.  It says the card has not been formatted.  Does anyone know of a way I can get the images from the card?  I'm not able to see them by looking through Explorer either.  Help!

[Mike54]

Hi Donna and welcome, my guess would be that to read a card used in a specific camera you need to have the software installed for that camera. Check with your friend and see if there is a CD that came with the Kodak.

[Donna]

Thanks for the suggestion.  I did download the Kodak software and still had no luck.  The Kodak software wouldn't detect that I have a card reader and there wasn't an option to try to detect it.  I tried everything I could think of and finally gave up.  I tried a card reader on a PC at work and it read the card fine.  

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi Donna,

A few questions:

What operating system are you using? Also, have you tried connecting the camera to the computer directly via the usb cable that came with the camera (instead of using the reader)? It is strange though that the card reader doesn't work. Is it a multi-card reader?

[Donna]

I have Windows XP.  No, it's not a multi-card reader, it only reads SD cards.  I didn't have the cable to try to connect the camera to my computer, so that's why I was struggling with trying to get the card reader to work.  I went through all the interactive help on the Kodak website, but none of it resolved the problem.  It really is strange....since all I did is plug the card reader into my PC and I never had to load any software for it.

[ShutterbugGail]

Donna,

Do you recall if XP recognized the card reader?

Do you see an icon for the reader when you double click on your computer icon? It should be listed under "Devices with Removable Storage."

If you don't see it (the USB plug needs to be plugged in) then perhaps you need a driver. Though Windows recognizes many usb devices maybe you need to install a driver for the reader you're using. I know you said you went to Kodak's site but have you peeked around the site of the manufacturer of the Dazzle card reader?

[Donna Hansen]

Gail,

Yes, my computer recognizes the reader.  I can see and it works perfectly fine for reading my SD card that I use in my HP digital camera.  That's why it's such a mystery that it won't read the card used in the Kodak camera.

[ShutterbugGail]

Donna,

I think this is one where you're really going to have to contact the manufacturer of the card reader, or Kodak. If they recommend you format the card via the card reader itself (something that should only be done, imho, as a last resort), then you may lose your images. If I had to go that route, I'd go first to a store that has a photo mini-lab or kiosk where you can insert the card in hopes that I could at least get some prints.

If you can find a neighbor or someone who has another card reader, I'd try that too. I do hope you find a solution and, when you do, that you'd take a few moments and share it with us.

Good luck!

[Donna]

Gail,

That's what I did.....I used another card reader on a different computer to get the images.  There was no problem with it then.  I didn't want to format the card and lose the pictures.  I can't explain it!

Thanks for your suggestions!

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi Donna,

So glad to hear a success story. Thanks for taking time to share. I know the information will help a lot of other folks.