Help - SD Card Says Need Formatting and Can't get photos off

[AnnieP]

HELP - I've just returned from a photography weekend away - and my new 16GB memory card is saying it needs formatting when I put it in the computer and tired to remove the photos.

I have reinserted it back into my camera, and its saying the same thing, also tried another computer ... does anyone know how I can get my photos off.... I feel sick to the stomach at the thought of loosing about 600 photos.....

Thanks

Ann

[William]

Out of curiosity Annie , Did you format it in your camera before using it ?

PS : The only reason I asked was it is usually the first thing to do

[hide][top]1 – Format a new memory card as soon as you get it

Even if your memory card came “preformatted,” it’s still a good idea to format them again with your own camera. And, only format the card from the camera itself (and NOT when it’s inside a card reader that’s connected to your computer). This will make sure the memory card is using a file system the camera recognizes.

[AnnieP]

William - I think in my excitement I forgot but it saved all my photos and I could view them on the camera ok.

[Dazz1]

William - I think in my excitement I forgot but it saved all my photos and I could view them on the camera ok.

That proves it indeed was using a recognisable file system. If you do decide to format a new SDcard, use the low level format, as otherwise it only rewrites the directory structure.

Unfortunately, it sounds like a failure has occurred.

[William]

Hmm, That may be the problem, I always wondered why though , Annie there are heaps of Image retrieval options like this one , Maybe worth a try

http://www.cardrecovery.com/?rid=google&kid=cr0103

[AnnieP]

GOOD NEWS... Call me Inspector Clueso - I found a really great free data recovery program... it worked on an old SD card which I formatted .... so I bit the bullet and formatted my new card - I'm running the program now, and already it has recovered 70 photos and counting!!
http://download.cnet.com/TestDisk-an...-10511775.html

Phew! But now I have learnt two things....

1 - As William said - Always Format a new card
2 - Use the empty dual card slot for jpeg back up

Thanks for all your speedy responses!

[William]

Good news Annie , Glad I could help, Thankfully I have'nt had that problem, I read years ago to format a new card in the camera , BTW , I download from the camera leaving the card in , I delete the images once in the Pooter , Then Format , Cause of what I do thats every day , Have'nt had a failed card or problem , Ever , Touch wood

[ameerat42]

Annie. For future reference - IGNORE THAT MESSAGE if you know your card has been working OK before and you haven't done much to it, like only saved pics on it.

I get that message OFTEN when I change from a WinXP to a Win 7 OS.
Am.

[Dazz1]

Annie. For future reference - IGNORE THAT MESSAGE if you know your card has been working OK before and you haven't done much to it, like only saved pics on it.

I get that message OFTEN when I change from a WinXP to a Win 7 OS.
Am.

Am, are you sure not not thinking of the (annoying) message that says it needs repairing? That one you can ignore. Not sure I've seen one about formatting except when it can't make any sense of the card at all.

[ameerat42]

Am, are you sure not not thinking of the (annoying) message that says it needs repairing? That one you can ignore. Not sure I've seen one about formatting except when it can't make any sense of the card at all.

My GRUMBlest apologies. I sure DO mean that one, Wets. Thanks for reminding me, as I haven't had it for ages.
m.

[arthurking83]

I sometimes get the same message that Am is referring too.

It says something like this card needs to be formatted for it to work correctly or some such message ... I mainly see this on some of the cards I use in my Android devices and plug them directly into a card reader on the PC.

You can ignore as Am suggests, but if you do that too often the PC may suddenly not see any of the files on the card .. or the card itself.