Digital camera accessories

[lilie_red]

Hello,

today, I was trying to upload my pictures into my laptop from my olympus camera (xD card 1gB) via usb (no card reader). Then a message shows up - there is a problem with a device. So I disconnect it, just to find out that there is something wrong with the card. the obvious screen with options "turn off/ format" is there. And now I am stuck. I searched the net and there are quite a few threads with similar problem, but honestly, I didnt get the solutions at all. I always thought that when you format the card, all data is erased (and I really dont see how this will help with getting your images back). Im going this week with it to local tech support centre, hopefully they will be able to retrieve them..... but honestly, is there any chance of getting them back?

THanks in andvance,

Lily
   

[bdery]

Hi and welcome!

Corrupted data is always really scary. It seems this is what you have. A recovery software could retrieve the data, IF you cana ccess the card somehow.

Regarding formatting, there are two types of format ; regular and low level. Regular simply reinitializes the card, without actually erasing the data. That means IF you formatted you card with a "regular" setting, and IF it started working again, you SHOLD be able to find your images with a recovery program.

On the other hand, low level erases the data one byte at a time, meaning that this kind of format really erases the data. No recovery possible.

If you end up deciding to format, make sure you try a regular format first. You could also try the card in a card reader, or on aothe computer, first.

Good luck.

[ShutterbugGail]

Some of this information may help. There are suggestions for recovering lost images with software, including one program that is free.

http://www.digicamhelp.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=access;action=display;num=1180274031

Formatting does not necessarily remove all images, despite what the manuals say. If your digital camera has a low level format (not all do), that may remove all images.

Good luck and let us know if you have further questions.

[lilie_red]

Aaah thanks for the advices, Ill definately check that!!
but anyways, its fixed now (and my images are all saved, yay! )

[ShutterbugGail]

Great to hear!!! How did you fix them, or did it just work itself out somehow?

[lilie_red]

Something like that, I went to te tech centre, there they plugged out the card and battery  to take a look at it and to tell me they just can format your card and are forbidden to use feeware software for retrieving data. and when they plugged card and battery in again - it just worked! We all were just "what the [heck]?"


[edited by admin according to the Q&A Forum terms of use: http://www.digicamhelp.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=about;action=display;num=1179658019]

[shiv21]

lilie_red, This sounds similar to the problem I have with my memory card. However I have tried taking the card out and the batteries etc and replacing them but it does not make any difference.

This HAS happened before and I was forced to format the memory card which deleted many photographs I had taken on my 21st birthday. Needless to say I was extremely upset.

However, once I formatted the memory card, it started working again as normal (only all the images were gone).

I never looked into image recovery at the time as I didnt think such a thing existed.  Now I am starting to think....what IF....I go ahead and format the memory card. Then try image recovery software which might recover my birthday AND holiday photos?

Does anyone think this is possible? If so, can anyone recommend a good image recovery software...I know some are free and some you need to pay for but to be honest, I dont care how much it costs if it means getting my photos back.....

Thanks x

[bdery]

Hello shiv21,

there are many programs out there, I've used the free PC Inspector once and it worked, and you can read this for more information:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/processing-photos/photo-recovery/photo-rescue-tutorial.php