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Question

Corrupt CF card, software isn't working...

Apr 3, 2012 1:54PM PDT

Hi all,

I have a huge problem with one of my CF cards. I had a shoot on Sunday where the card worked perfectly, I looked at all of the photos on the camera during and after the shoot, and all looked good. By the time I got home and tried to upload the files that evening, the card had gone haywire. It would no longer load on the camera (it was just a black screen, wouldn't even load the menu with the card inserted. Tried this on two cameras, so it definitely wasn't a camera issue) and tried to upload them to the computer. It initially recognized that the card was inserted and I could see the files, but I couldn't see thumbnails and couldn't open the files or load them from the card.

So far, I've tried PhotoRescue, CardRaider, Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery, and ZA Recovery, and none of them worked. Most of them wouldn't even recognize that the card was inserted.

Now, I've read on a couple of forums that I should try to format the card and then the recovery software might be able to recover the files from the formatted card, but I'm nervous to do that. What should my next step be?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
If the photos matter.
Apr 3, 2012 1:58PM PDT

My next move is a photo printer you see all over. Slip in the card and see if they can put them on CD for you.

Next? http://www.drivesavers.com

Hopefully none of the recovery software wrote to the cards and dinged it up too bad.
Bob

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printer?
Apr 3, 2012 2:02PM PDT

I never thought to take it to a printer. If my computers won't read it, how could theirs?

I will absolutely get rid of the card after this, but I am surprised that it went out so quickly, this card isn't more than about 9 months old.

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It's an old trick we use.
Apr 3, 2012 2:23PM PDT

Sorry but I can't guess much beyond those machines you see for printing digital photos and transfer to CDR must do a better job at reading millions of folk's cards. Or else suffer the consumers asking the stores for help.

It's a well worn/known step when this happens.
Bob

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Answer
PS. Since it's ONE card
Apr 3, 2012 1:59PM PDT

Be sure to retire that card after all this passes. These do not last forever.